Hey everyone, it’s your buddy here! Guess what? I got this crazy idea the other day to try and remake a Patek Philippe watch. Yeah, I know, it sounds nuts, but I’m serious! I’ve always been fascinated by these super fancy watches, you know, the ones that cost more than a car? So, I thought, why not give it a shot? The one I picked is the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010. Man, this watch is a real beauty, seriously elegant stuff.
First off, I started by gathering all the pictures and info I could find about this watch. I spent hours online, just staring at photos, trying to get every little detail in my head. Then, I tried to create a detailed plan.
Shaping the Case
The case of this watch, it’s not just a simple rectangle, you know? It’s got these subtle curves that are a real pain to get right. I started by getting some metal and started to cut and shape. I used a small saw to cut the basic shape and then used files to get it just right. I must have spent days just filing and sanding, trying to match the curves perfectly. My fingers were sore, but it was worth it when I finally got the shape right. It was a lot of trial and error, let me tell you. It felt like I was there forever, just working on that case. Filed it, sanded it, checked it against the pictures, and did it all over again.
The Dial
Next up was the dial. I decided to use a thin sheet of metal and started to create a basic dial shape. Man, cutting that small circle was tough! I used a compass cutter, but it was still tricky to get it perfectly round. Once I had the basic shape, I had to figure out how to add those fancy patterns. The Gondolo 7042/100G-010 has this beautiful guilloché pattern on the dial, and I tried to recreate it using some engraving tools. I practiced on some scrap metal first, and once I got the hang of it, I started on the actual dial. It was slow work, and I had to be super careful not to mess up. I used a tiny hammer and chisel to create the pattern, tapping away gently.
The Hands
Then came the hands. These are so delicate, and getting them right was a real challenge. I used some very thin metal strips and started cutting and shaping them. I needed a magnifying glass to see what I was doing, that’s for sure. After I shaped them, I polished them to give that shiny look. It took forever to get them just right, but it was so satisfying to see them come together.
Putting It All Together
Once I had all the parts, it was time to put everything together. This was the most nerve-wracking part. I carefully placed the dial into the case, then added the hands. I used some tiny screws to hold everything in place. Getting those hands attached to the movement was a real test of patience. My hands were shaking the whole time, I was so afraid of breaking something. But, after a lot of deep breaths, I managed to get it all assembled.
Finally, I made a simple leather strap. I’m no expert in leatherwork, but I managed to cut and stitch a decent-looking strap. It’s not perfect, but it does the job.
So, there you have it. My homemade Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010. It’s not a perfect replica, of course, but I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It was a ton of work, but I learned so much along the way. It’s definitely not something I’ll be doing every day, but it was a fun project. It’s not perfect, obviously, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. Would I do it again? Maybe not anytime soon, but it was one heck of an experience!
Hope you guys enjoyed this little adventure of mine. Catch you in the next one!
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