Okay, let’s talk about that time I tried to remake the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227G-010. Yeah, you heard that right. Now, I’m no watchmaker, but I’ve always been fascinated by these intricate timepieces, and the Calatrava, man, that’s a classic.
So, I saw this 5227G-010 online. White gold case, 39 mm, black dial – it looked sharp. I did a little digging around. I found out it’s got this 324 S C caliber movement inside. Sounds fancy, huh? I read somewhere it’s made of 213 parts and has 29 jewels. Honestly, I don’t even know what half of that means, but it sounded impressive.
The price tag on these things? Astronomical. I saw one listed for over $28,000. Yeah, not in my budget. But I thought, maybe, just maybe, I could try to replicate the look.
The Mission Begins
First, I needed to find a watch case that was similar. I spent hours browsing online stores, you know, those places that sell all sorts of watch parts. I finally found a 39 mm case that looked somewhat similar. It wasn’t white gold, obviously, but it had that same kind of simple, elegant shape.
- Hunt for the Case: I wanted something that felt like the 5227G-010, you know? Not an easy task. Hours of sifting through sites.
- Dial Dilemma: Black, shiny, and those hour markers! How to get that right?
- Movement Mystery: Forget about making a real one. I just needed something that ticked.
Then came the dial. That black dial with the simple hour markers is iconic. I found a plain black watch face and tried to apply some silver markers. Let me tell you, that was a challenge. Getting them straight and evenly spaced was a nightmare. I messed up a few times, but I finally got something that looked halfway decent.
Now, the movement. There was no way I was going to make a working movement, let alone something as complicated as the 324 S C. I just grabbed a cheap quartz movement from another old watch. It ticked, and that was good enough for me. It’s about 9.24 mm thick, pretty close to the original.
Putting it All Together
Assembling the whole thing was another adventure. I nearly lost a few of those tiny screws, and my fingers definitely weren’t made for this kind of delicate work. I’d heard of the Calatrava Reference 96 that started in 1932, and I bet those watchmakers had way more patience than me. But eventually, I managed to get it all together.
The result? Well, it wasn’t a Patek Philippe, that’s for sure. It didn’t have that luxurious feel or that precise movement. But you know what? It kinda looked like a Calatrava. From a distance, at least. And I had fun making it. It gave me a whole new appreciation for watchmakers and the craft.
This little project reminded me of those old vintage Calatravas I’ve seen pictures of, the ones that are super collectible now. Maybe one day I’ll actually own a real one. Until then, I’ll keep tinkering and learning. Who knows what I’ll try to remake next?
Click to consult