Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with watches for a while now, and I’ve always been a huge fan of Patek Philippe. There’s just something about their craftsmanship that gets me. Recently, I decided to take on a fun little project: remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. Yeah, I know, it’s a pretty ambitious one, but hey, why not?
I started by gathering as much information as I could about this watch. I mean, I really dug deep. The Calatrava 6119R-001 is a beauty with its classic round case, that neat “Clous de Paris” pattern, and that rose gold look. It’s about 39mm in diameter and just over 8mm thick, so it’s not too bulky, which I like.
First off, I spent days just studying the design. Looked at a ton of pictures, read every article I could find, and even watched a bunch of videos. The original has this manual wind caliber 30-255 PS movement, which is a whole other beast. I’m not a professional watchmaker, so I knew replicating that exactly was out of the question. But I was determined to get the look and feel right.
I started with the case. Getting that perfect 39mm diameter was crucial. I used some materials I had lying around to craft a similar-looking case. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. Polishing it to get that shiny, classic look took forever, but it was worth it. The case back on the original is sapphire crystal, but I opted for a regular one to keep it simple. Afterall, this is just a personal project for fun.
Next up was the dial. The 6119R-001 has this elegant white dial that I really wanted to recreate. I experimented with different materials and finally settled on something that looked pretty close. I carefully marked out where the hour markers should be, trying to mimic the original layout as much as possible.
The hands were another challenge. They’re so delicate and precise on the original. I managed to find some similar-looking hands and painstakingly attached them to the dial. It was a bit fiddly, but I got there in the end.
Of course, the “Clous de Paris” or hobnail pattern was a big part of this watch’s charm. I tried a few different techniques to replicate that pattern. It wasn’t perfect, but I managed to get something that looked decent enough. It’s all about the details, you know?
- Gathered information and studied the design.
- Crafted a 39mm case and polished it.
- Created a white dial and marked hour markers.
- Attached hands to the dial.
- Replicated the hobnail pattern.
After weeks of tinkering, I finally had something that resembled the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. No, it’s not a perfect replica, and it definitely doesn’t have that intricate movement inside. But it looks pretty good, and I’m really proud of how it turned out. The original is priced at around $24,000 on average, and these can range from $11,000 to $84,000 depending on various things. This remake? Well, it cost me a lot of time and effort, but it was totally worth it for the experience.
It was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. Plus, it’s always cool to have a unique piece that you made yourself, right? I mean, this is no Patek Philippe masterpiece, but it’s my little tribute to one of my favorite watches. Hope you enjoyed hearing about my little adventure!
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