Alright, so the other day I got this wild hair to try and remake a Patek Philippe watch. Not just any Patek Philippe, mind you, but the Gondolo 7042/100G-010. Yeah, that super fancy one with all the diamonds. I know, I know, it sounds crazy, but hear me out.
Getting Started
First off, I did a bit of digging. Turns out, this Gondolo thing is named after some retailer in Rio de Janeiro. Fancy, right? Anyway, I quickly realized that getting a real one of these watches is basically impossible. Long waiting lists, exclusive boutiques, the whole nine yards. That’s when the idea hit me – why not try to remake one myself?
The Real Work Begins
So, I started by researching the heck out of this watch. I looked up every picture, every spec, every little detail I could find. I’m talking about the case, the dial, the movement, the diamonds – you name it.
- Case: I found out it’s made of white gold. Cool, but not exactly something I could just whip up in my garage.
- Dial: This was tricky. It’s got this guilloché pattern, and it’s covered in diamonds. Not to mention the Patek Philippe logo.
- Movement: This is where things got really complicated. I’m no watchmaker, so I had to figure out how to get a movement that would at least look the part.
- Diamonds: I did some research and realized there are 55 diamonds in the fold-over clasp, around 0.23 ct. Getting these was not easy, but I managed to find some decent alternatives.
Then I went and bought some tools I’d need. Looked up some guides online, watched some videos of people doing watch stuff. Felt like I was getting the hang of it, you know?
Spent the next few weeks just messing around, trying to get the parts right. Had to order some stuff online, which took forever. Got a cheap watch movement to practice on, and boy, did I mess that thing up a few times.
Got the case looking okay, I guess. Not perfect, but close enough. The dial was a whole other story. Tried my best to copy that fancy pattern, but it was tough. Ended up using some regular stones instead of real diamonds, ’cause, you know, budget.
The hands were a pain too. Super tiny and delicate. Broke a few before I got them right. But hey, I was learning.
Putting It All Together
After what felt like forever, I finally had all the parts ready. Putting it all together was like, the most nerve-wracking thing ever. One wrong move and I could’ve ruined the whole thing. But I took it slow, followed the guides I found, and somehow, it all came together.
The Final Result
So, how did it turn out? Well, it wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. But you know what? It looked pretty darn good, all things considered. And the best part? It actually worked! It kept time, the hands moved, the whole deal. I was pretty proud of myself, not gonna lie.
In the end, my remake of the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010 wasn’t a perfect replica, but it was mine. It was a fun project, and I learned a ton along the way. Would I do it again? Maybe, maybe not. But hey, it was one heck of an adventure!
Click to consult