Alright, so I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001 for a while now. You know, the one with the black enamel dial and all those fancy engravings. It’s a real beauty, but the price tag is, well, let’s just say it’s a bit out of my league.
So, I started thinking, “Why not try to remake it myself?” I mean, how hard could it be, right? Famous last words, I know. But I like a good challenge, and I figured it would be a fun project to document and share.
First, I gathered as much info as I could about the watch. Pictures, specs, anything I could find online. I needed to know every little detail before I could even think about starting. I looked at a bunch of pictures of the original watch and I even found some details about it like it’s a 38 mm platinum case, 8.3 mm thick, with a sapphire-crystal back. It’s got a hand-engraved dial with black enamel, and the movement is a caliber 240 ultra-thin self-winding one with about 48 hours of power reserve. Oh, and of course, it’s made by Patek Philippe. I even found out it’s a 2024 model, brand new, with original box and papers. Fancy, right?
Next, I started looking for parts. This was the tricky part. Finding a similar case, dial, and movement was going to be tough. Not to mention, I had no experience with engraving or enamel work. I figured I’d start with the case and movement, since those were the most “standard” parts, I guess. I browsed through online shops and forums and found similar ones. The movement, though, that was a tough one. But hey, I’m not giving up that easily.
I decided to go with a generic automatic movement for now. I can always upgrade it later, I thought. The dial and hands were a different story. I found a plain black dial that I could use as a base, but the engraving and enamel work? That was way beyond my skill level.
So, I did what any sane person would do – I watched a bunch of YouTube tutorials on engraving and enameling. Let me tell you, it’s not as easy as it looks. But I practiced on some scrap metal and got a basic hang of it. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.
After weeks of trial and error, I finally had something that vaguely resembled the original watch. It wasn’t an exact replica, far from it. But it was my own creation, and I was pretty proud of it.
The Result
- Case: I managed to find a 38mm stainless steel case that looked similar enough. Not platinum, but hey, it works.
- Movement: Generic automatic movement. It tells time, and that’s all that matters for now.
- Dial: Plain black dial with my amateur attempt at engraving. It’s rough, but it has character.
- Hands: Simple silver hands. Nothing fancy, but they do the job.
It’s not a Patek Philippe, that’s for sure. But it’s my own little project, and I learned a lot along the way. Would I wear it? Maybe. Would I try to pass it off as the real deal? Definitely not. But it’s a fun conversation starter, and that’s good enough for me.
So, there you have it. My attempt at remaking a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001. It was a fun ride, and who knows, maybe I’ll try to remake another watch in the future. Any suggestions?