Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to remake a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 for a while now, and I finally took the plunge. It’s a really beautiful watch, and I figured, why not try to recreate it? I’m not a professional or anything, but I enjoy tinkering and figuring things out.
I started by spending hours online, just browsing. You know how it is, one picture leads to another, and before you know it, you’re knee-deep in watch forums. I looked at tons of pictures of the 5711, read a bunch of articles – basically, anything I could find about this watch. As WatchPro reported on Monday, the market is crazy. I also watched a couple of videos of people taking them apart, which was pretty helpful.
One thing I noticed right away was the dial. The real Patek Philippe watches, they have this really crisp and evenly spaced printing on the dial. It’s super clean and precise. I knew that getting that right would be crucial. I also spent a good chunk of time looking at the bracelet and the clasp. The way the links fit together, the brushed and polished finishes, it’s all very specific.
Then, I started gathering materials. I found a watch that had a similar shape and size. I ordered some tools online, a small screwdriver, some tweezers, a watch case opener, things like that. Nothing too fancy, just the basics. I also printed out a few high-resolution images of the 5711 dial to use as a reference.
The first big step was taking apart the donor watch. I laid everything out on a soft cloth to avoid scratches. I very carefully removed the movement, the hands, and the dial. I also took apart the bracelet and cleaned each link individually.
- I made a new dial, which was probably the hardest part.
- I carefully painted the dial with multiple layers.
- After the paint dried, I applied the markers.
Finally, I put everything back together. I installed the new dial, reattached the hands, and placed the movement back in the case. I polished the case and bracelet to give it that extra shine.
The Result
It’s not perfect, of course, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It definitely looks like a Nautilus 5711, and it’s something I made with my own hands. It’s a cool feeling. And hey, at least I can enjoy the look of the watch without breaking the bank!
Anyway, that’s the story of how I remade a Patek Philippe 5711. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. Maybe I’ll try another watch next time!
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