Okay, here’s my experience sharing about remaking a Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001.
Man, I gotta tell you about this crazy project I just finished. I decided, for some reason, that I wanted to try and remake a Patek Philippe watch. You know, those super fancy, expensive ones? Yeah, I’m talking about the Gondolo 4962/200R-001. It’s a beautiful piece, rose gold, diamonds, the whole shebang. It’s insane, I know, but I was feeling adventurous. So at first, I thought I have to get all the materials that as same as the original one.
First things first, I needed to find some decent parts. I mean, I’m not made of money, so I wasn’t exactly buying genuine Patek parts. I spent hours online, just digging through forums, websites, you name it. Then I searched a lot of suppliers to get the materials I needed, like the movement, case, and dial blank and other stuff. Let me tell you, finding a rose gold case that didn’t cost an arm and a leg was a nightmare. Most of them were trash, but I finally found a guy from china who had a pretty good replica case. The movement was another story, I couldn’t find the exact one, so I settled for a similar-looking one, but it’s not real gold, only gold color. It’s not perfect, but hey, it’s close enough. And I tried to get some tiny diamonds, but it’s also hard to buy some little dimonds with a small amount.
Once I had all the materials, the real fun started. I’ve always loved tinkering with watches, but this was a whole other level. I spent days just staring at pictures of the Gondolo, trying to figure out how it all went together. I watched countless videos of people assembling watches, hoping to pick up some tips.
Assemble the watch
Then came the assembly. Let me tell you, this was the most stressful part. I was so afraid of messing something up. I started with the movement, carefully placing it into the case. Then the dial blank. I have found a company to help me print the dial to make it looks like the real one. It took me forever to get it aligned just right. The hands were another challenge, especially the tiny second hand. I swear, I almost lost it a dozen times. And after that, I asked a jeweler friend to help me to set the diamonds on the bezel. You know that it’s a difficult job, and I do not want to break it.
- Prepare Tools: Got my loupe, tweezers, screwdrivers, the whole shebang. Felt like a real watchmaker for a second.
- Movement: Started with the movement. This is the heart, so I was extra careful. Took me ages to get it right.
- Case Up: Popped that movement into the case. Had to make sure it was snug and secure.
- Dial: Placing the dial was nerve-wracking. Got it aligned after a few tries, phew!
- Hands: Oh boy, the hands. These tiny things were a pain, especially that second hand.
- Strap: Finally, attaching the strap. Boom!
- Diamonds: Asked a friend to set them on.
But you know what? After a ton of trial and error, a few choice words, and a lot of patience, I finally did it. I assembled a watch that looked pretty darn close to the Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001. Sure, it’s not perfect, and it definitely doesn’t have the same value as the real thing. It may not as good as I expect, but it looks great for me. I think I can give it an 8 out of 10. I’m just an amateur, and this is already a big step for me.
The feeling of accomplishment when I finally put that watch on my wrist was incredible. I know it’s just a replica, but I made it with my own two hands. It’s not about the money or the prestige. It’s about the journey, the challenge, and the satisfaction of creating something. It’s a reminder that you can do anything you set your mind to, even if it seems impossible at first.
Click to consult