Hey guys, today I want to share with you my recent adventure of remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001. Yeah, you heard that right. That fancy watch that’s way out of my budget. But hey, a guy can dream and get his hands dirty, right?
I started this whole thing by looking all over the internet for info about this watch. I found some stuff about it being an “Art Deco style” and a “jewelry watch” with “timeless elegance”. I mean, it does look pretty slick. So, I spent a good chunk of time just staring at pictures of this beauty, trying to memorize every curve and detail. I found out that the real deal has a case made of 18k rose gold and the size is 28.6 x 40.85 mm. It’s also water-resistant to 30 meters, which is neat, but not something I was planning to test out with my remake.
Next, I had to figure out how to actually make this thing. I’m no watchmaker, but I’m pretty handy. First, I drew a bunch of sketches. I got some cardboard and started shaping it, trying to copy that “sinuous” case. It took a few tries, but I finally got something that looked kinda like the Gondolo. Then, I moved on to a sturdier material. I used some modeling clay and carefully sculpted it to match the shape I made with the cardboard. It was a bit messy, but pretty fun.
- Drew sketches based on the pictures.
- Shaped cardboard to get the basic form.
- Sculpted modeling clay for a more detailed model.
For the rose gold look, I found some metallic spray paint that had a similar color. After the clay model dried, I sprayed it a few times, making sure to get an even coat. It wasn’t real gold, but it had a nice shine to it.
The next step was the face of the watch. I printed out a picture of the Gondolo’s dial on some thick paper, making sure the size was right. Then I carefully cut it out and glued it onto the clay model. For the hands, I used some thin wire, bending and shaping them to look like the real thing. It was a bit fiddly, but I managed to get them looking decent.
- Found metallic spray paint to simulate rose gold.
- Printed and glued the dial.
- Used wire to create the hands.
Putting it all together was the most satisfying part. I carefully assembled the pieces, gluing the hands to the dial and making sure everything lined up. I even added a little strap made from some old leather I had lying around. I cut and stitched it to fit my wrist, just like a real watchband.
- Assembled all the parts.
- Added a leather strap for a finishing touch.
The Result
The final product wasn’t perfect, but I was pretty darn proud of it. It looked surprisingly like the Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001, at least from a distance. Sure, it didn’t tell time, and it wasn’t made of real gold or precious stones, but it was my own little piece of that “timeless elegance.” It was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. Maybe one day I’ll get my hands on the real deal, but for now, my homemade Gondolo is a pretty cool reminder that you can create something special with a bit of creativity and effort.
So, that’s my story of remaking a fancy watch. Hope you guys enjoyed it. Let me know if you’ve ever tried to recreate something you love, I’d love to hear about it! I think it is so cool!
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