Okay, so I decided to jump into something new and exciting – remaking a Patek Philippe watch. Yeah, I know, it sounds a bit nuts, but hey, why not? I picked the Gondolo 7042/100G-010 model. It’s a real beauty, but getting your hands on one is like finding a needle in a haystack, plus, it costs a fortune!
First off, I had to get all the materials. This was a bit of a mission, to be honest. I spent hours, days even, just browsing and reading stuff. I needed to find the right kind of metal, the tiny screws, the lot. It’s not like you can pop down to your local store and grab these things. And the details! Oh boy, the details on the original watch are insane. Patek Philippe is a big deal for a reason. They employ master jewelers, and every little stone is hand-set! So, you can imagine the work involved.
Then came the actual making part. I started with the watch case. I had to shape the metal, make it look all fancy like the original. Trust me, it’s way harder than it looks. This is not something I’m familiar with. But with some patience, I managed to do it. The dial was another beast altogether. Getting those tiny markings right, placing the little diamond-like things – it was a real test of patience. I am not a person who is good at delicate work. There were times I messed up and had to start over. It was frustrating, yeah, but also kinda fun in a weird way.
- Shaping the case: This took forever. Bending metal is no joke.
- Making the dial: Tiny details are a nightmare!
- Setting the “stones”: Don’t even get me started on this. My fingers are way too big for this stuff. I was sweating like a pig.
I also had to figure out the whole watch mechanism thing. I mean, I’m no watchmaker, but I learned a lot. Putting those tiny gears and springs together was like solving a super complicated puzzle. Sometimes I thought there was no way I could do it. After I failed for several times, I even wanted to give up. Luckily, I didn’t.
The Final Stretch
Finally, after weeks of work, my version of the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010 was done! It’s not a perfect copy, not at all. There are flaws, for sure. But, you know what? It looks pretty darn good, and it actually works! I’m pretty proud of what I managed to do. It’s shinny and pretty!
This whole thing was a wild ride. It’s not an exact replica, and I’m not trying to fool anyone into thinking it is. But it was an amazing experience, and I learned so much. It’s not just about the watch, but the whole journey of making something with my own hands. It is quite an interesting experience. I think I will continue to try other things.
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