Hey everyone, so I’ve been on this kick lately, trying to remake some of those super fancy watches that are way out of my price range. You know, the ones that make you drool just looking at them? Well, today, I want to walk you through my latest project: remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010. Yeah, that’s the one with all the bling!
Getting Started
First off, I started digging around for info on this beauty. I learned that the real deal is worth more than a small house. It’s got this 18k white gold case, a dial that’s just covered in diamonds, and a band with Akoya pearls. I mean, come on! So, obviously, I’m not using real gold or diamonds, but I wanted to get as close as I could with what I had.
The Materials
I opted for a 316L stainless steel for the case. It’s tough, it looks good, and it won’t break the bank. The case shape is this cool rectangle, which is a bit different from your usual round watches. Now, for the bling, I went a bit wild. I found these rhinestones that I thought could mimic the diamond-paved dial of the original. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you.
Putting It Together
I started by shaping the stainless steel into that 31mm by 34.8mm rectangle. Let’s just say there was a lot of trial and error involved. It’s not as easy as those pros make it look! Once I had the case sorted, I moved on to the dial. Gluing each tiny rhinestone onto the dial was probably the most time-consuming part of this whole project. It took forever, and my fingers were cramping up, but seeing it come together was so worth it.
Next up was the band. The original has this gorgeous white gold band with pearls, but I decided to keep it simple and stick with stainless steel. I did try to add some pearl-like beads, but it just wasn’t working out, so I ditched that idea.
The Movement
Now, about the inside of the watch. The real Patek Philippe has this fancy manually-winding mechanical movement. I couldn’t replicate that, so I used a quartz movement I had lying around. Not as cool, but hey, it tells the time, right?
The Final Touches
After getting the movement in, I added a simple buckle to the band, and voilà, the watch was pretty much done! It’s not an exact replica, of course. I didn’t have the budget for real diamonds or gold, and my crafting skills are, well, let’s just say they’re a work in progress.
The Result
But you know what? I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It’s shiny, it’s got that rectangular shape that’s so unique, and it definitely makes a statement. Wearing it around, I’ve gotten a few compliments, which is always nice. Sure, it’s not a real Patek Philippe, but it’s a fun project that I enjoyed making, and it’s a conversation starter, for sure.
- Case: 316L stainless steel, rectangular shape (31mm x 34.8mm)
- Dial: Covered with rhinestones to mimic diamonds
- Band: Stainless steel, simple design
- Movement: Quartz (because I’m not a millionaire)
So, that’s my little watchmaking adventure. It’s not perfect, but it was a blast to make. If any of you are thinking about trying something like this, I say go for it! Just be prepared to spend a lot of time and maybe glue your fingers together a few times. But hey, that’s all part of the fun, right?
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