Hey everyone, so I’ve been working on something pretty cool and I wanted to share the whole process with you guys. I decided to remake the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227G-010, that’s right, the whole thing, from start to finish. It sounded crazy at first, but I was pumped to see if I could pull it off. So, let me tell you how I did it.
First off, I started by gathering all the info I could find about the watch. I mean, I dug through tons of websites, forums, and all that jazz, just to make sure I knew what I was dealing with. I found out that this model is a real beauty, with an 18k white gold case, a 39mm diameter, and it’s only 9.24mm thick. Also, it comes with an automatic movement. I saw some listings of it, and man, it costs around $41,476! Some are labeled as “unworn” or “like new,” and most of them are from 2021 or 2022. And it’s 100% authentic!
Once I had a good grasp of the watch’s specs, I started to plan out how I was going to remake it. I thought about all the materials I would need. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I mean, this watch is powered by caliber 215PS, and there are many other vintage Calatrava watches that are super collectible. The 5196 model, launched in 2004, came in 18K yellow, white, and rose gold, and even platinum. I had to get this right.
Next, I began the actual process of recreating it. I decided to start with the case. I found some white gold material, trying to keep it as close to the original as possible. I measured everything out, cutting and shaping the metal to match the 39mm diameter and the slim 9.24mm thickness of the original 5227G-010. Let me tell you, working with white gold isn’t a walk in the park, but I managed.
- Design Phase: I sketched out the design multiple times, making sure every detail was on point. It was a lot of trial and error, but I finally got it right.
- Materials: I searched everywhere for the right materials, I found a good substitute for the white gold and started cutting it.
- Assembly: This was the hardest part. Putting all the tiny pieces together, I felt like a real watchmaker for a second there!
After getting the case done, I moved on to the dial. This was a bit tricky because I wanted it to look just like the original. I spent hours just getting the details right, from the hour markers to the Patek Philippe logo. It was tedious, but seeing it come together was so worth it.
Then came the movement. Now, I’m no expert, but I did my best to replicate the automatic movement. I studied the 215PS caliber and tried to mimic its functions. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked! I assembled all the tiny parts, making sure everything was in its place. It took a lot of patience, but I finally got it ticking.
Finally, I put everything together. Seeing the finished product was incredible. It looked so much like the real Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227G-010, I almost couldn’t believe I made it myself. I even compared it to pictures of the original, and it was almost identical. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but I’m still super proud of it.
So, that’s my story of remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227G-010. It was a challenging project, but I learned so much along the way. Hope you guys enjoyed hearing about it!
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