Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001 for a while now. You know, the one with the rose gold and the silver dial? It’s a real beauty. I finally got around to it, and let me tell you, it was a journey.
First things first, I gathered all my materials. I mean everything. I even made a detailed list. It’s a complex piece, so I had to make sure I had every tiny little component, from the rose gold for the case to the sapphire crystal for the back. Then I printed out a few pictures of the watch from different angles. You know, just to have a good reference, really get a feel for the dimensions.
Then came the fun part – starting the actual remake. This was no walk in the park. The Calatrava is known for its “Clous de Paris” pattern, that hobnail guilloche. I spent hours, maybe even days, just practicing that pattern on scrap metal. It’s all about precision, and man, it took some real effort to get it right. My hands were practically cramping, but I didn’t give up.
- Figured out the diameter needed to be exactly 39mm. That’s what the specs say, and I wanted to be as accurate as possible.
- Worked on the case height next, aiming for 8.08mm. Let me tell you, getting that measurement spot-on was tricky.
- Water resistance was another thing. I wanted to make it resistant up to 30 meters, just like the original.
Once I had the case sorted, I moved on to the dial. That silver dial with the rose gold hour markers? Pure elegance. I carefully applied each marker, making sure they were perfectly aligned. Then I added the dauphine-style hands, those little details that really make the watch what it is. My hands are shaking now just remenbering it, but it was worth it in the end!
Next up was the movement. Patek Philippe movements are known for being complex, so I knew I had my work cut out for me. I spent a good chunk of time just studying the schematics, trying to understand how everything fits together. Then, piece by piece, I started assembling it. It was like putting together a really complicated puzzle, but eventually, it all came together.
Finally, after what felt like forever, I put the finishing touches on the watch. I carefully placed the movement inside the case, attached the strap, and gave it one last polish. And there it was, my very own remade Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. This whole thing probably took me a year, maybe even more, to get it just right.
The feeling of accomplishment?
Absolutely incredible. It wasn’t perfect, of course, but it was pretty darn close. And you know what? It felt amazing to wear something I had made with my own two hands, something that I knew every little detail of. That’s really the thing about this watch, it is special because of how much care and time it takes to make it. It was tough, it was frustrating at times, but in the end, it was totally worth it. I learned so much during this whole process, and I’m already thinking about what I want to remake next!
Click to consult