Alright, you wouldn’t believe the project I just wrapped up. I’ve been itching to share this one, ’cause it’s a doozy. I decided to remake the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001. Yeah, that super classy, ridiculously expensive watch. I’m no watchmaker, but I love a good challenge, and this one was calling my name.
So, first off, I dove deep into researching this bad boy. This ain’t your average wristwatch. We’re talking a 38mm platinum case, about 8.3mm thick. The real kicker? A hand-engraved dial with black enamel. Pure artistry. It runs on the caliber 240 ultra-thin self-winding movement, with about 48 hours of power reserve. Limited edition, only 10 pieces when it came out in 2015. Price tag? Over 100 grand retail, and still around 80-something on the secondary market. Crazy, right?
I started by sketching out the design. I got measurements, studied every picture I could find, trying to capture all the details. The case was the first hurdle. Platinum? Not in my budget. I opted for a high-grade stainless steel instead. I got a cheap watch with a similar case size and started to modify it. Sanding, polishing, getting that smooth, soft curve from lug to lug. It was a pain, but slowly it started to look the part.
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Sourcing the Movement
Next up, the movement. Obviously, I couldn’t get my hands on a real caliber 240. I found a decent automatic movement online that was thin enough and had a similar power reserve. It wasn’t perfect, but it was close enough for this project. Fitting it into the modified case took some doing, had to make some adjustments, but eventually, it was snug as a bug.
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The Dial
The dial was the real challenge. Hand-engraved with black enamel? Yeah, that’s way beyond my skill level. I experimented with a few techniques. First, I tried to print the design, but the details were too fine, it just looked blurry. I even considered trying to hand-paint it, but let’s be real, I’m no artist. Finally, I found this online tutorial about etching on metal with black enamel paint. It’s not the same, I know, but with a steady hand, a magnifying glass, and a lot of patience, I managed to get something that looked halfway decent.
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Putting It All Together
After weeks of work, it was time to assemble everything. Carefully putting the movement into the case, attaching the dial, placing the hands. Each step was nerve-wracking. One slip and all that work could be ruined. But I took it slow, double-checked everything, and finally, it was done.
The final result? It’s not a Patek Philippe, not by a long shot. But it’s my version of it, and I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It’s got the look, the feel, and yeah, it tells time. It’s a reminder of the hours I put in, the challenges I faced, and the satisfaction of creating something with my own two hands. It’s rough around the edges, sure, but that’s part of the charm. It’s got character, just like me.
This project taught me a lot. Patience, precision, and a whole lot of respect for real watchmakers. Would I do it again? Maybe. But for now, I’m just gonna enjoy wearing this bad boy and telling the story of how it came to be. It’s not every day you get to remake a masterpiece, even if it’s just a humble imitation.
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