So, I tried to remake this Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227J-001. Man, it was something. This watch, it’s like, really fancy. People talk about it like it’s some treasure or something, calling it an “investment.”
Getting Started
First off, I looked at the real deal. This Calatrava, it’s shiny, made of yellow gold. It’s round, which I guess is what they call “classic.” The size? About 39 mm across, and not too thick, just 9.24 mm. They say it can handle a bit of water, up to 30 meters, but I didn’t test that.
The Build
I started by getting the materials together. Finding something that looked like that shiny yellow gold was a pain. Then, I had to shape it. I don’t have all those fancy tools, so I did my best with what I had. It’s not perfect, but it’s round, and it’s the right size.
- Finding the right gold-like material: I spent days looking for something that had that same shine.
- Shaping the case: Without fancy machines, shaping that 39 mm case was tough. It’s not factory perfect, but it’s close.
- Making it thin: Getting it down to 9.24 mm was a real challenge. It involved a lot of careful work.
The Details
This watch has a clear back, they call it “sapphire crystal.” And there’s this cover, a “dust cover” it’s called, that’s hidden. I tried to copy that, but it was tough. I managed to get a clear back on mine, but that hidden cover, I just couldn’t figure it out.
- Clear back: I used a piece of clear plastic for the back. It’s see-through, like the real one.
- Hidden cover: This part was too tricky. I couldn’t make a cover that was hidden like the original.
The Inside
They say the real one has an “automatic caliber 324 S C.” I don’t know what that means, but it sounds complicated. I just put in a regular watch movement, one that winds itself. It works, and that’s what matters, right?
- Movement: Instead of whatever a “caliber 324 S C” is, I used a standard automatic movement. It keeps time.
Finishing Up
Putting it all together was tricky. I had to be real careful not to scratch anything. It took a while, but I finally got it all assembled. It’s not exactly like the real one, but it looks pretty close, I think. Some original ones are going for more than $27,545, but I just wanted to see if I could make one.
So, there you have it. My attempt at remaking a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227J-001. It was a lot of work, but I learned a bunch. It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I don’t think I’ll be making another one anytime soon, though. Once was enough!
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