Alright, folks, let me tell you about my latest adventure. I decided to try my hand at remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001, you know, that super fancy watch. I saw it in the store once, all shiny and sleek, and thought, “Why not give it a shot?” It’s not like I have anything better to do, right? Plus, I figured it would be a fun challenge. And, I want to put it on an online store so that maybe I can make some money, after all, no one will say no to money.
So, I started by gathering all the info I could find. This watch, it’s a real beauty. White gold, 39mm case, charcoal gray dial with this cool hobnail pattern. And let me tell you, that pattern, also known as Clous de Paris, it’s a pain to recreate. But I was determined.
First, I tried to design the watch case. I grabbed some modeling clay, you know, the kind kids play with, and started shaping it. I measured and re-measured, trying to get that 39mm diameter just right. It took a few tries, but I finally got something that looked like a watch case. But it’s far from that shiny white gold look.
Next up was the dial. That charcoal gray color, it’s not something you can just mix up with any old paint. I went through a bunch of different shades, trying to find the right one. And the hobnail pattern, oh boy. I tried using a toothpick, a fork, even a textured rolling pin, but nothing gave me that perfect Clous de Paris look. It was frustrating, to say the least. Finally I gave up the hobnail pattern, but I got the color right.
Then there’s the movement. Now, I’m no watchmaker, so I didn’t even attempt to recreate the actual mechanics. Instead, I bought a cheap quartz movement online. It’s not the same, but hey, it tells the time, right? I just hope no one will notice it from the outside.
Putting it all together was another story. I used superglue, tape, whatever I could find to stick the pieces together. It wasn’t pretty, but it kinda looked like a watch. From a distance. In the dark. Okay, maybe not, but I was proud of my little creation.
Finally, I set up an online store. I took some pictures of my watch, wrote a fancy description, and listed it for sale. I’m not expecting to sell it for the same price as the real deal, but maybe someone will appreciate my effort. Or at least give me a good laugh. I set the price at 100 bucks, just for fun.
Results?
- Case: Looks like a lump of clay, but it’s round.
- Dial: The color is spot on, but the pattern is more “abstract art” than Clous de Paris.
- Movement: It ticks. That’s about it.
- Sales: Surprisingly, someone bought it! Maybe they didn’t look at the pictures closely enough.
In the end, my Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001 remake is far from perfect. But it was a fun project, and I learned a lot. Plus, I made a hundred bucks! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another watch I want to try and remake. Wish me luck!