Okay, guys, so I’ve been working on something pretty cool and I wanted to share the whole process with you. I decided to try my hand at remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001, and let me tell you, it was quite the journey!
First off, I started by gathering all the information I could find about this watch. It’s a beauty, with a 39mm case and a silvery dial that just gleams. It’s made of 18ct rose gold, which is what gives it that luxurious look. I learned that it’s also known as the 6119R-001, and it’s got this manual winding caliber 30-255 PS thingy that apparently gives it a 65-hour power reserve. Sounds impressive, right?
I began by doing lots of research into the design. I spent many hours checking out photos and videos of the watch, trying to understand every little detail. It’s got these rose gold numerals that stand out against the silvery dial, and a sapphire crystal case back that shows off the inner workings. I think the case is about 8.08mm high, and it’s water-resistant up to 30 meters. Not that I’d take it swimming, but hey, it’s good to know.
Breaking Down the Specs
Then I made a list of all the specs. Diameter is 39mm, and the inner diameter is 31mm. The thickness of this inner part is just 2.55mm, which is crazy thin. The number of parts is 164, so I knew it was going to be a complicated project.
The next step was to figure out the materials. 18ct rose gold isn’t something you just find at your local store, so I had to do some digging to source that. It wasn’t easy, and it certainly wasn’t cheap, but I managed to get my hands on some.
The Making of the case
I chose to start working on the case. Getting the rose gold to the right shape and size was a real pain. I had to melt it down and mold it, which was a whole new experience for me. Then, I created the dial. Getting that silvery finish just right took a lot of trial and error, but I finally nailed it. It took a lot of polishing and sanding, but eventually, I got it to look just like the real thing.
The numerals were another challenge. I crafted each one individually and placed them carefully on the dial. It was a tedious process, but seeing them all lined up perfectly was so satisfying.
After that, I assembled all the parts, which was like putting together a very complicated puzzle. Everything had to fit just right, or the whole thing would be off. It took a few tries, but I finally got it all together.
Final Touch
Finally, I worked on the strap. I didn’t make this from scratch, but I did find a high-quality leather strap that matched the original pretty well. I attached it to the case, and just like that, I had a watch that looked remarkably like the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001.
It wasn’t easy, and there were definitely times when I wanted to give up. But seeing the finished product made it all worth it. It’s not perfect, but it’s my own take on this classic watch, and I’m pretty proud of it.
So there you have it, folks. That’s how I spent my last few weeks, tinkering away and trying to recreate a masterpiece. I hope you enjoyed hearing about my adventure. Let me know what you think in the comments!
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