Okay, so I decided to remake the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010. I’ve always been a big fan of classic watches, and this one, with its elegant design, really caught my eye. It’s a beauty, isn’t it? I mean, that white gold and those diamonds, it is a feast for my eyes.
First thing I did was to study the watch thoroughly. The 7042/100G-010 is from Patek Philippe’s Gondolo collection, which, I found out, was named after a retailer in Rio de Janeiro, Gondolo & Labouriau. Pretty cool history, right? This specific model has a rectangular shape, which is a classic Gondolo style. The case is made of 18K white gold, and it measures 31 by 34.8 mm. Not too big, not too small, just right.
I started with getting the right materials. Finding the white gold wasn’t too hard, but making sure it was the right quality took some time. I wanted it to be durable, just like the original. Then came the diamonds. The original has 78 baguette diamonds on the bezel and lugs, and another 108 on the dial flange. I had to source similar diamonds, making sure they had that same sparkle and clarity. It was a bit of a process, but I finally got them all, oh my god, it cost me a lot!
- Sourcing Materials:
- Procured 18K white gold for the case and other components.
- Acquired 78 baguette diamonds for the bezel and lugs.
- Sourced 108 diamonds for the dial flange.
Then, I carefully shaped the white gold to match the watch’s case. The rectangular design is simple, but getting the proportions exactly right is key. I used some tools to cut and shape the gold. After shaping the case, I started setting the diamonds. Man, this part was the most difficult. Each diamond had to be precisely placed. The 78 baguette diamonds on the bezel and lugs were especially tricky, they needed to be perfectly aligned to give that seamless look. And then the 108 diamonds on the dial flange – each one meticulously set to ensure they caught the light just right. I spent a good amount of time on this, making sure everything was perfect. My eyes almost got blind because of this!
Detailed Diamond Setting
Bezel and Lugs: Carefully set 78 baguette diamonds, ensuring each one is perfectly aligned to create a seamless and continuous sparkle.
Dial Flange: Meticulously positioned 108 diamonds, each placed to maximize light reflection and enhance the overall brilliance of the dial.
After all that, I assembled the watch. The mechanism inside is what makes a watch tick, literally. I made sure the movement was working perfectly. Putting it all together, seeing the finished watch, it was worth all the effort. It looked almost like the original Patek Philippe, shining and elegant.
This whole project was quite a challenge, but also a lot of fun. I learned a lot about watchmaking, about the Gondolo collection, and about the work that goes into creating such a detailed timepiece. Would I do it again? Maybe! But for now, I’m just happy to admire the watch I made.
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