Okay, so, I got this wild hair to remake a Patek Philippe watch. Yeah, I know, it sounds crazy, right? But I saw this Patek Philippe Gondolo 7041R-001 online the other day while I was just browsing, and I was like, “I gotta try making one of those.” It’s a ladies’ watch, sold mostly in specialty stores, and it’s a real looker. Rose gold, you know, that pinkish metal, and just beautiful. So I decided, why not? Let’s give it a shot.
First things first, I needed to know what I was dealing with. I spent hours just staring at pictures of this watch online. I pulled up images from every angle, zoomed in, zoomed out, trying to get every little detail in my head. Then I hit up forums and articles, reading everything I could find about this Gondolo 7041R-001. You wouldn’t believe how much stuff is out there about watches! People are serious about this stuff. Also found some for sale online, and man, these things are pricey, like around 20 grand!
Then came the planning part. This watch has a mechanical, manually wound movement, which they call the Caliber 215 PS. Sounds fancy, huh? And it’s got this alligator strap with square scales. I mean, who even thinks of these details? But that’s what makes it special, I guess. So, I sketched out my own designs, trying to figure out how I could replicate all these parts. Let me tell you, it’s not as easy as it looks. You’ve got to think about the size, the materials, how everything fits together. I made a list of everything I’d need: materials, tools, you name it. This was going to be a project, for sure.
I started gathering materials, which was an adventure in itself. I figured I wouldn’t use real rose gold cause, you know, I am not made of money. Instead I got some brass and copper to get a similar color and shine. Found some nice leather for the strap. For the movement, I decided to simplify things, cause let’s be real, I’m not a watchmaker. I tried to found some old watch parts from my old junks. After a lot of testing and practice, I found that I can combine them into a simple movement. Of course, it’s not going to be as intricate as the original, but it’s the best I could do.
Putting it all together was the real test. I started with the case, shaping the metal, polishing it, trying to get that nice curve and shine. Then I worked on the dial, which is the face of the watch. This was super tricky, getting all those little numbers and markers just right. For the movement, I used a simplified mechanism. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the real Caliber 215 PS, but it ticks, and that’s what matters, right? I found some similar material from my box, to creat a strap that looks like alligator. After testing it for several times, I made a strap looks good.
Finally, after days of work, I had my own version of the Gondolo 7041R-001. It’s not perfect, not by a long shot. I mean, it’s not going to fool any experts, and it’s definitely not worth 20 grand. But it’s mine, and I made it. And there’s something really satisfying about that. I wore it around the house, just to see how it felt. It’s a bit heavier than I expected, but it’s got a nice weight to it. And you know what? It actually keeps time pretty well! Who would’ve thought?
The Result
- Appearance: It looks pretty similar to the real deal from a distance. The color’s a bit off, but the shape and overall design are there.
- Functionality: It tells time, which is the main thing. The movement is basic, but it works.
- Strap: The strap is probably the weakest link. It looks okay, but it’s not as fancy as the original alligator one.
So, that’s my adventure in watchmaking. It was a fun ride, and I learned a lot. Would I do it again? Maybe. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also really rewarding. Who knows, maybe I’ll try another model next time. But for now, I’m pretty happy with my homemade Gondolo. It’s a reminder that sometimes, it’s not about the destination, but the journey. And maybe, just maybe, it’s okay to try something new, even if it seems a bit crazy at first.