Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this watch project for a while, specifically trying to make a decent copy of the Rolex GMT-Master II, the left-handed version. You know, the one where the crown’s on the other side? It’s a real beauty, but let’s be honest, the real ones are way too expensive. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands, literally.
First off, I spent hours just staring at pictures of this thing online, front, back, sides, trying to get every detail in my head. It is not an easy task. Then, I started sketching, drawing out the different parts, the bezel, the bracelet, the little details on the face.
I got some basic watch movements, nothing fancy, just something to make the hands tick. The real challenge was the case and the bezel. I tried a few different materials. Some cheap metals first. Then I used a 3D printer for prototyping, it helped a lot with getting the shape right, but it took forever to print each part, and I went through a ton of filament.
- First attempt: It was rough, way off. The bezel was too thick, and the crown was huge.
- Second try: A bit better. I started to get a feel for the size, but the details were still lacking.
- Third time’s the charm, they say: This one started to look like something. I switched to a better quality metal, and with a bit of polishing, it actually began to shine.
The bracelet was another headache. I had to make each link individually, and let me tell you, that’s a lot of tiny parts. Then I got to figure out how to make them fit together, like a tiny, shiny puzzle. I broke a few pieces and cursed a lot, not gonna lie.
Then there was the face, with all those tiny numbers and markers. I tried printing them, painting them, even using tiny stickers, it was a real test of patience. I even tried to copy that little date window, magnifying it and everything. What a nightmare! Finally, I found a way to print it on some special paper that looked pretty convincing.
Left-Handed Part
The biggest issue was making it left-handed. I had to basically mirror everything, which sounds simple but trust me, it messed with my head. The crown, the date window, everything’s flipped. I messed up a few times, ended up with some right-handed versions by mistake, but hey, practice makes perfect, right?
After weeks of tinkering, I finally had something that looked pretty darn close to the real deal. It wasn’t perfect, of course. A real watchmaker would probably spot the flaws in a second. But for me, it was a triumph. I wore it around, showed it off to my friends, even fooled a few people into thinking it was a genuine Rolex. It felt good, like I’d really accomplished something. Now I know that is not an easy job to do for most people, even for me. But I enjoyed it.