So, I got it into my head that I wanted to try my hand at remaking one of those fancy Patek Philippe watches. You know, the Calatrava 5227J-001. Not to sell or anything, just for the fun of it, a little project to see if I could.
First thing I did was hit up the internet, looking for any info I could find about these watches. Found out they’re sold at specialty stores, not just any watch shop. And they ain’t cheap! I saw some were going for over $32,000! I ain’t made of money, but I figured I could make something that looked the part, at least from a distance.
Gathering Intel
I dug around and found pictures, descriptions, anything that could give me a sense of what makes this watch tick. There’s this one place, Chrono-something, they had a bunch of details. Also, I learned about reference numbers and serial numbers. Apparently, the reference number tells you the model and all that, and the serial number is unique to each watch. I just wanted to make something that looked like the real deal, so I focused more on the looks.
Sourcing the Parts
- Casing: I found a cheap watch with a similar round shape. It wasn’t gold like the real 5227J-001, but it was close enough. I figured the color was something I could work on later.
- Watch Face: This was tricky. I couldn’t find an exact replica, so I got a plain white watch face and decided to get creative. I printed out a picture of the real Calatrava face and, using some tiny brushes and a lot of patience, tried to copy the design. It wasn’t perfect, but it kinda looked like it from a couple feet away.
- Hands: I found some watch hands online that were similar in style to the ones on the Patek. They were a bit too long, so I carefully trimmed them down with some wire cutters.
- Strap: No way was I getting a real leather strap. I went to a local craft store and found some brown leather-like material. Cut it to size, punched some holes, and attached a buckle I salvaged from an old belt.
Putting It Together
This was the real test. I took apart the cheap watch, carefully removed the original face and hands, and started putting in my makeshift parts. It was fiddly work, I used tweezers, toothpicks. I broke a few things along the way, but I kept at it. Finally, after a lot of swearing and a few near-disasters, I had something that resembled a watch.
Finishing Touches
The casing was still the wrong color, so I got some gold-colored paint and gave it a few coats. It wasn’t real gold, obviously, but it gave it that shiny look. I also added some clear varnish to protect the paint and the watch face I’d so painstakingly painted.
In the end, I had something that, if you squinted and didn’t look too close, kinda sorta looked like a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227J-001. It didn’t cost me $32,000, more like 50 bucks. It won’t fool any experts, but it was a fun project. And hey, it tells the time! Well, most of the time. Sometimes the hands get stuck, but that’s part of its charm, right?
This whole thing taught me a lot about watches, and it gave me a new appreciation for the real deal. Those Patek Philippe folks, they know what they’re doing. Me? I think I’ll stick to admiring them from afar.
Click to consult