Okay, so I decided to do something pretty fun and challenging – I went and tried to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001, just like the ones you see in their fancy stores. I’ve always been into watches, not super deeply, but enough to appreciate a good one when I see it. And the Calatrava? It’s a real classic, super elegant, you know?
I figured, why not give it a shot? It seemed like a cool project to document and share with you all.
First things first, I needed to get my hands on some decent parts. I didn’t want to just slap something together that looked okay from far away. No, I wanted this thing to at least kind of resemble the original, both inside and out. So, I spent a good chunk of time just scrolling through online stores and forums, reading reviews, and basically trying to figure out where to get the best stuff without totally emptying my bank account.
Gathering Supplies
Eventually, I found a few online stores that seemed legit. They had a bunch of different parts, and the reviews were mostly positive. I ended up ordering a case, a dial, some hands, and a movement – the whole shebang. It wasn’t cheap, but it wasn’t as expensive as buying a real Patek Philippe, that’s for sure!
While I was waiting for the parts to arrive, I did some more research on the Calatrava 6119R-001 itself. I looked at tons of pictures, read articles about its history and design, and even watched a few videos of people taking them apart and putting them back together. I wanted to get a really good feel for the watch before I started my own project.
Getting My Hands Dirty
When the parts finally arrived, it was like Christmas morning! I carefully unpacked everything and laid it out on my workbench. I’m not gonna lie, I was a little nervous. This was the first time I was attempting something like this, and I didn’t want to mess it up.
I started by assembling the movement. This was definitely the trickiest part. Those little screws and gears are so tiny! It took a lot of patience and a steady hand, but eventually, I got it all together.
- First I attached the dial to the movement.
- Then carefully placed the hands on.
- Lastly, fitted the whole thing into the case.
It felt like it took forever, but seeing the watch slowly come together was super satisfying. After all the small parts are done, next, I carefully put the movement into the case, making sure everything lined up perfectly. This part was a bit nerve-wracking because I didn’t want to scratch anything. Once the movement was in, I attached the case back, and just like that, I had a (sort of) working watch!
Finally, I got myself a nice leather strap and attached it to the watch. I’ll be honest, the finished product looked pretty darn good! It wasn’t an exact replica, of course, but it definitely captured the spirit of the Calatrava 6119R-001. It was shiny, it was pretty, and it actually kept time!
I was really proud of how it turned out, especially since it was my first time doing something like this. It was a fun and rewarding project, and I learned a lot along the way. Would I do it again? Maybe! It was definitely a lot of work, but the feeling of accomplishment at the end was totally worth it. Plus, now I have a cool watch to wear around!
So, yeah, that’s my story of how I remade a Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. Hope you enjoyed it! If any of you have ever tried something similar, let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear about your experiences!
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