Alright, so I’ve been itching to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Gondolo, specifically the 4962/200R-001. It’s a classic beauty, but the price tag? Ouch. So, I thought, why not try to remake it myself? Yeah, I know, it sounds crazy, but I was bored and figured it’d be a fun project.
First off, I started by gathering a bunch of pictures and info about the watch online. I spent hours just staring at close-ups of the dial, the case, the movement, you name it. I needed to get a feel for every little detail. I even tried to find some technical drawings, but those were like gold dust.
Next, I started thinking about materials. Obviously, I’m not using real gold or anything, haha. I opted for some stainless steel for the case and a decent leather strap I found. For the movement, I decided to use a simple quartz movement instead of trying to replicate that crazy complicated mechanical one. I ain’t got time for that, nor the skills, to be honest.
Then came the tough part: actually making the thing. I started with the case. I took some metal and put it into the machine. I set up the measurements and the shape of the Gondolo 4962/200R-001, then I started to cut it. After I finished the main body of the case, I began to polish it. I spent a lot of time getting it into the right shape, just like the original. It was a lot of trial and error, and my hands were sore, but I was determined.
- Cutting the case: This was tricky. I had to make sure it was the right size and shape.
- Shaping the case: Lots of filing and sanding to get those smooth curves.
- Polishing the case: I wanted that shiny look, so I spent hours polishing it.
The dial was another challenge. I printed out a high-res image of the Gondolo’s dial and carefully cut it out. Then, I glued it onto a thin piece of metal and attached the hands. Getting the hands to move correctly with the quartz movement was a bit of a headache, but I managed.
Putting it all together was like assembling a puzzle. I carefully placed the movement inside the case, attached the dial, and secured the crystal on top. Finally, I added the strap. And boom, there it was – my very own “Patek Philippe Gondolo.”
The Result
Okay, I’ll admit, it’s not perfect. It doesn’t have the same weight or feel as the real deal. And the movement is obviously not as impressive. But, you know what? I’m pretty proud of it. It looks decent from a distance, and it was a heck of a learning experience. I felt a little satisfaction when I finally finished it.
Would I wear it out? Probably not. But it’s a cool little project that I can say I made myself. And who knows, maybe this is just the beginning. Maybe one day I’ll try to make an even better replica, or even design my own watch. For now, though, I’m just happy to have this little reminder of what I can achieve with a bit of time, effort, and a whole lot of patience. Plus, it didn’t cost me an arm and a leg like the real Gondolo! It is kind of interesting to make a replica of a watch. Maybe I will do another one next week.
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