Okay, so, I got this wild idea to try and remake a Patek Philippe watch. Yeah, I know, it sounds crazy, but hear me out. I’m talking about the Gondolo 7042/100R-010, the one you see in their fancy flagship stores. It’s a real beauty, all decked out in 18K red gold and covered in diamonds. Seriously, the dial alone is a sight to behold.
I’ve always been a bit of a tinkerer, you know, taking things apart and putting them back together. It’s kinda my thing, always want to create something by myself. So, I thought, why not try my hand at making a watch? And not just any watch, but a Patek Philippe. I picked the Gondolo 7042/100R-010 because, well, it’s just stunning. All those diamonds, the classic design from the early 90s, it’s a real piece of jewelry.
First, I started by gathering all the information I could find about this watch. Scouring the internet, reading articles, watching videos, I wanted to know everything about it. The more I learned, the more I realized how intricate and complex this timepiece was. But that didn’t scare me, it actually made me even more determined.
Then came the fun part – sourcing the materials. I went to the local market, and tried to find some 18K red gold, that wasn’t easy, I can tell you that much. And the diamonds, oh boy, finding diamonds that matched the ones on the original watch was a real challenge. I spent days, maybe even weeks, going from one jewelry store to another, comparing stones, trying to find the perfect match. I did some research online and found some alternatives, but it cost me quite some time to find the right ones.
Once I had all the materials, I began the process of putting it all together. It was like solving a very, very complicated puzzle. I started with the case, carefully shaping the gold, making sure it was the right size and shape. Then, I worked on the dial, painstakingly setting each diamond by hand. It took forever, I swear, but seeing it slowly come together was such a rewarding feeling.
- The Case:
Worked with 18K red gold. Shaped it to match the Gondolo’s unique design, it’s not your typical round watch.
- The Dial:
This was the real test. Set all those tiny diamonds, and believe me, there were a lot. Had to make sure they were secure and looked just right.
- The Movement:
Okay, I’ll admit I didn’t make the movement from scratch. I’m good, but I’m not that good. I sourced a high-quality movement and modified it to fit the case. Also, I tried my best to find a movement as close as possible to the one in the original watch.
- The Bracelet:
Found a gold bracelet, had to adjust it quite a bit to fit the case and make sure it was comfortable to wear.
Here’s a breakdown of what I did:
After countless hours of work, many late nights, and a few mishaps along the way, I finally finished it. And you know what? It actually looked pretty darn good! I mean, it wasn’t exactly like the original, but it was close. It had the same sparkle, the same elegance, and the same overall feel. Also, I’m pretty satisfied with the final result. After all, it’s a remake, not a replica.
I wore it around for a few days, just to see how it felt. And I gotta say, it felt pretty amazing to wear something that I had made with my own two hands. It was a real conversation starter, too. People were always asking me about it, where I got it, and when I told them I made it myself, they were always impressed.
So, yeah, that’s my story of how I tried to remake a Patek Philippe Gondolo. It was a lot of work, but it was totally worth it. I learned a lot, I challenged myself, and I ended up with a pretty cool watch. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a fun project, but it was also a lot of effort. But who knows, maybe one day I’ll get the itch to try and remake another one.