So, I’ve been messing around with watches again, and this time, I got it into my head to try and remake a Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse, the 5738R model. Yeah, I know, pretty ambitious, right?
First, I spent a good chunk of time just staring at pictures of the real deal. I needed to get a feel for the shape, the color, everything. The 5738R has this rose gold case that’s just beautiful, and the dial… oh man, the dial. It’s this really cool, almost sunburst-like finish.
After really examining it, I started by trying to get that case shape right. I took some scrap metal and used a hammer and other tools to mold it. It was tough. I bent, shaped, and cursed a lot, but eventually, I got something that looked vaguely like the Golden Ellipse case.
Next up, the rose gold color. I grabbed some paint I had lying around and mixed and messed around until I got something that looked close enough. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.
The Dial
- This was the hardest part, hands down.
- I knew I couldn’t replicate that sunburst finish exactly, so I had to get creative.
- Tried a few different things, experimented with different brush strokes, and even tried using some sandpaper to rough it up a bit.
Finally, after a lot of trial and error, I found a technique that looked kind of similar. It wasn’t the same, but it had that same sort of textured, light-catching quality.
Putting It All Together
Once I had the case and dial sorted, I had to put it all together. I managed to find some old watch parts and used them for the hands and the insides. It was a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster situation, but hey, it worked! Also, I spent time on the details. I added the little markers on the dial, the crown on the side, all those little things that make a watch a watch.
The Result
Okay, so it’s not a real Patek Philippe. Obviously. But you know what? I’m pretty proud of it. It’s got that Golden Ellipse vibe, and it was a blast to make. The whole process was a reminder that even if you can’t have the real thing, you can still have fun trying to recreate it. Maybe I’ll try another model next. I’m starting to get the hang of this whole watchmaking thing. It might not be perfect, but it’s mine, and that’s what matters.