Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Calatrava for a while now. That 6119G-001 model, man, it’s a beauty. But the real deal? Forget about it. Way out of my budget. So, I thought, why not try to remake one myself? I saw it costs over $33,000! I heard it from somewhere. It’s crazy!
I started by looking around everywhere online. That’s where I found some info. There is a retail price of $33,110. But the waiting list is long. It can be 9 months up to a year! I don’t have time to wait like that. I want it now. So I didn’t give up. I gotta find another way.
First, I needed to figure out what makes this watch tick, literally. I spent hours looking at pictures, watching videos, just trying to understand the design. The “Clous de Paris” hobnail pattern on the bezel, that’s the hardest part, I figured. It’s so detailed.
Then came the parts. I couldn’t use the real Patek Philippe parts, obviously. Those things are probably locked up tighter than Fort Knox. I found some decent-looking watch cases online, some hands that kinda matched, and a movement that I thought would work. Nothing fancy, just something to get the job done.
The assembly? Oh boy. That was a whole other story. I needed a tiny little screwdriver. I tried many times, putting it together, taking it apart, and put it together. My fingers felt like sausages. I almost gave up a few times, but I kept pushing. I wanted this watch on my wrist. It’s my dream.
My Watch
After many swear words and many many hours, I finally had something that vaguely resembled the 6119G-001. It wasn’t perfect, not even close. But it was mine. I wore it around the house, showing it off to my wife. She just rolled her eyes. But you know what? I felt like a million bucks.
- Case: Kind of looks like the real one, but it’s not white gold.
- Hands: They’re the right shape, I guess.
- Movement: It tells the time, so that’s a win.
- Bezel: I tried to recreate the hobnail pattern. It looks bad, but I don’t care. I made it.
So, yeah, it’s not a real Patek Philippe. It’s more like a Patek “Faux-lippe”. But it’s a reminder that you don’t always need to spend a fortune to get something you want. Sometimes, you just gotta get your hands dirty and make it yourself.
It’s a personal decision to make this watch. Is it worth the investment? I think it is.
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