Today, I want to talk about something I’ve been messing around with – remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001, you know, like the one on their official site. This whole thing started because I was looking at fancy watches online, and this Patek Philippe just caught my eye. It’s got this classic look with a cool textured pattern, they call it “Clous de Paris”. I was thinking, “I wonder if I can make something like that?”
So, I started digging around. This watch, the 6119R-001, it’s like $32,702. Yeah, I know, crazy, right? It’s got this 18K rose gold case, a silver dial, and it’s all put together with this manual winding thing, the caliber 30‑255 PS. I found out it takes about a year or more to make one of these. And the waiting list? Don’t even get me started, sometimes it is up to 8 years! That’s insane.
Getting Down to Business
First, I needed to get a good look at the watch. I spent hours staring at pictures, zooming in and out, trying to figure out every little detail. The case is 39mm wide and 8.08mm thick. It’s made of 18k rose gold, and the front has this “box-shaped” sapphire crystal.
- Finding the Materials: Okay, so I’m not using real gold here, obviously. I had to find something that looked the part without costing a fortune. I ended up using some brass alloy that I polished up to get that shiny, gold-like finish. For the crystal, I found some clear acrylic that I could shape and polish to mimic that “box” look.
- Making the Case: This was the hardest part. I used a small CNC machine to carve out the basic shape of the case from the brass. It took a few tries to get the size and shape just right. Then it was all about sanding and polishing to get that smooth, luxurious feel.
- The Dial and the Pattern: The dial was tricky, especially that Clous de Paris pattern. I tried a few different methods, including using a tiny engraving tool, but it wasn’t looking right. Finally, I decided to use a laser engraver, and that did the trick. It gave me that precise, textured look I was after.
- Putting It All Together: With the case and dial done, I had to put everything together. I used a cheap quartz movement, ’cause let’s be real, I’m not a watchmaker. Getting the hands and the movement to fit inside the case was a bit of a pain, but I managed it eventually.
The Final Result
After a ton of work, I finally had something that looked like the Calatrava 6119R-001. It’s not perfect, of course. I’m not a professional watchmaker, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It’s got that classic look, that textured dial, and that shiny, gold-ish case. When I put it on, I was surprised and admired every tiny detail over and over again. And every time I look at it, I can’t help but smile. It’s a reminder that you can make something cool and beautiful, even if you’re just a regular guy messing around in your workshop. It’s not about making it perfect, it’s about the process, the learning, and the satisfaction of creating something with your own hands.
So, that’s my story about remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. Maybe it’ll inspire you to try making something yourself. You never know what you can create until you try, right?
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