Alright, dudes, gather ’round, let me tell you about this little project I’ve been messing with. Been wanting to remake this Patek Philippe Gondolo, the 7041R-001, the original order, you know? It’s a classy piece, and I thought, “Why not give it a shot?” So, I did.
First thing I did was hit up some online stores, just browsing, seeing what’s out there. Found a bunch of places selling remakes, but none of them really screamed “top quality” to me. Prices were all over the place, too. Some were dirt cheap, which made me suspicious, and others were just crazy high. It’s a jungle out there, I’m telling ya.
Then I started digging deeper. I spent hours, days even, just looking at pictures of the real deal, the original 7041R-001. I wanted to get every little detail right. The shape, the size, the dial, the hands – everything. I even printed out some high-res images and stuck them on my wall. My wife thought I was going nuts, but I was obsessed!
Next step, I started collecting materials. This was a whole other headache. Finding the right kind of metal, the right leather for the strap, the right tools – it was like a treasure hunt. I went to all sorts of specialty stores, online and in person. Some guys looked at me like I was crazy when I asked for specific types of screws. But hey, details matter, right?
- Sourced the metal: Took forever, but I finally found a supplier with something close enough to the original.
- Got the leather: This was easier, thankfully. Found a decent piece online from a leather shop.
- Tools assembled: Already had some, but had to buy a few specialized ones for this project. Ouch, my wallet!
Then came the hard part – actually putting it all together. Let me tell you, it was a mess. I messed up so many times. Bent some metal, scratched some surfaces, even broke a few tiny parts. There were times I wanted to just throw the whole thing in the trash. But I kept at it, learning from my mistakes. I had to disassemble and reassemble parts multiple times. I was covered in grease and sweat, man, it wasn’t pretty.
After countless hours of work, countless failed attempts, and a whole lot of frustration, I finally did it. I made my own version of the Gondolo 7041R-001. It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. There were still a few tiny imperfections that bugged me. But you know what? I was proud of it. I made it with my own two hands. It looked pretty darn close to the original, at least to my untrained eye.
The Result
Holding that finished watch in my hand, it felt good. It wasn’t about having a fancy watch, it was about the process, the challenge, the learning. Would I do it again? Maybe. Would I recommend it? Only if you’re as stubborn and crazy as I am! It’s a tough road, but hey, the view from the top ain’t bad, even if it’s just a little bit crooked.
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