Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to remake this Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001, the one they call the “Gondolo Serata.” I heard it’s a jewelry watch, looks super elegant and stylish. It’s back in the Patek Philippe collection, and I thought, why not give it a shot?
First, I started digging around about this watch. I learned that this Gondolo line is named after some big-shot retailer in Rio, Gondolo & Labouriau. Seems like these watches are known for their unique shapes, not just your usual round ones. They have rectangular, tonneau, and all that. You know what I mean? They are not a regular type. I love irregular things so much!
Next, I tried to get my hands on the original watch. That was a bit tricky and actually I failed, but I managed to find some really good pictures and videos online. I studied them like crazy. I looked at every detail, every curve, every little gem. I printed out these pictures and stuck them all over my workshop. My wife thought I was going nuts! Haha!
Then came the fun part – choosing the materials. I wanted to get as close to the original as possible, but also keep it within a reasonable budget, you know? So, I chose a similar type of gold for the case. The original has a ton of diamonds, so I opted for some high-quality cubic zirconia instead. They sparkle just as nice, I think.
Once I had all the materials, I started working on the case. This was the hardest part, I’m telling you! Getting that unique shape right was a real pain. I had to make a few molds before I finally got it perfect. I spent days just filing and polishing.
- Making the mold: This took forever! I used some kind of special clay.
- Casting the case: I melted down the gold and poured it into the mold.
- Filing and polishing: This was the most time-consuming. I wanted it to be super smooth.
After the case, I started working on the dial. The original has a beautiful mother-of-pearl dial with a guilloché pattern. I found a similar mother-of-pearl piece and tried to recreate the pattern. It was not easy, let me tell you. I had to use some really tiny tools, and my hands were cramping like crazy. But I got it close enough in the end. I’m really proud of how it turned out.
The movement was another challenge. I couldn’t afford a real Patek Philippe movement, obviously, so I found a decent quartz movement that fit the case. I had to make a few adjustments, but it worked out in the end.
Setting the “Diamonds”
Finally, I had to set the cubic zirconia. This was probably the most tedious part. I used a tiny tweezer and a magnifying glass, and it took me hours to set each stone. My eyes were killing me by the end, but it was worth it. They look amazing!
And there you have it! My very own remade Patek Philippe Gondolo Serata. It’s not perfect, of course, but I’m pretty darn proud of it. It was a lot of work, but I learned so much along the way. And now I have a beautiful watch to show for it! It’s not the real deal, but it’s mine, and I made it with my own two hands. That’s something special, right?
Click to consult