So, I got this thing for Patek Philippe. It’s like, the holy grail for watch nerds. I’ve been eyeing the Gondolo 7041R-001 for a while now, and guess what? I finally decided to remake it by myself. I mean, why not, right?
First things first, I spent hours, and I mean HOURS, staring at pictures of this beauty online. The rectangular case, the rose gold, the whole vibe – it’s just screaming luxury. I really wanted to get this going, so I started looking for similar-looking parts. I looked at some of my old watches and thought, “Hmm, maybe I can use something from here.”
I found some old watch movements and started messing around. I even tried to find information about the original movement, like the “Patek Philippe Caliber 215 PS” which beats at 28,800 vph. I know it’s important to keep track of the model’s year of production. 2020 is the year for this model. The case is also important, so I grabbed some rose gold-colored metal and tried to shape it. It was tough, but I managed to make it look somewhat similar. It was a lot of trial and error, but hey, we learn as we go!
The Detailed Work
The details are a pain, man. The dial, the hands, the tiny little numbers – it’s all so delicate. I used a magnifying glass to help me work. And let me tell you, it made a difference, also a lot of patience. It’s like surgery but for a watch. A really, really small watch. I also did some digging about where to find the serial number on the original watch, found out that it is located on the case back.
Here is what I learned from messing around:
- Patience is key: This is not a race. It’s more like a marathon where you’re running in slow motion. And sometimes backward.
- Use the right tools: You need tools. Like, a lot of tiny screwdrivers and tweezers. And a magnifying glass, for sure.
- Don’t be afraid to mess up: I messed up a lot. But that’s how you learn, right? Just don’t break anything expensive.
After weeks of working on this, I finally had something that looked like the Gondolo 7041R-001. It’s not perfect, not by a long shot. But it’s mine, and I made it. It’s like a little piece of art that I can wear on my wrist. I guess people who enjoy innovative, durable stuff might not get it, but I think it’s pretty cool. This is my own little piece of “horological history.”
This whole thing was a wild ride. Would I do it again? Maybe. But for now, I’m just going to enjoy wearing my homemade, kinda-sorta Patek Philippe. It’s a conversation starter, that’s for sure.
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