Alright, so, I’ve been wanting to remake that Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010 watch, the one from their official flagship store, for a while now. You know, the one with all the diamonds and stuff. It’s a crazy beautiful watch, and I was like, “Why not give it a shot?”
First off, I started digging around about this watch. This Gondolo 7042/100G-010, it’s like a piece of jewelry, seriously. It’s all 18K red gold, with a gold bracelet and everything. And the dial, oh man, it’s covered in diamonds. Turns out, it’s from Patek Philippe’s Gondolo collection, which, I found out, was named after a retailer in Rio de Janeiro, Gondolo & Labouriau. Pretty cool history, right?
I realized that getting a real one was nearly impossible due to long waiting lists and exclusivity. So I thought, “Let’s do this the hard way.”
Getting Down to Business
I started with the shape. The Gondolo 7042/100G-010 has this unique cushion shape, and let me tell you, it wasn’t easy to replicate. I used some simple tools and just went at it. It was a lot of trial and error, trying to get that shape just right. I took some metal and started shaping it, hammering and bending. It looked rough at first, but I kept at it.
- Sourcing Materials: I managed to find some decent-quality metal that looked like gold. I mean I tried my best to find the materials.
- Shaping the Case: Using a small hammer and some other basic tools, I started shaping the metal. It took a lot of patience, I messed up a few times, but eventually got it close enough.
- Adding the Bling: For the diamonds, I used some shiny stones I found at a local craft store. They’re not real diamonds, of course, but they sparkle nicely. I glued them onto the dial and around the case.
Putting It All Together
Then came the hardest part, the movement. Since I don’t have a real movement I did something similar and simpler. I started with a plain face and drew on the numbers and hands with a fine-tipped marker. It’s not perfect, but it does the trick. I found a cheap quartz movement. I took it apart carefully and fitted it into my homemade case. Putting all the pieces together was like doing a puzzle. Everything had to fit just right. After a lot of fiddling, the case was ready. I attached the strap, added the buckle, and voila!
Finally, I put the whole thing together. It was a proud moment, seeing all the pieces come together. I know it’s not the real deal, but I made it with my own two hands, and that’s something, right?
This project taught me a lot about patience and being resourceful. Plus, I got to learn a bit about the history of the Gondolo collection. It’s not just a watch; it’s a story on your wrist.
So, that’s my journey of remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010. It was tough, but totally worth it. Hope you guys enjoyed this little adventure of mine. Stay tuned for more crazy projects!