Okay, so I saw this Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010 watch online, and I thought, “Man, that’s a good-looking watch!” I’ve always wanted to try my hand at making a watch, and this seemed like a cool one to try and remake. So, I dove in!
First, I started looking around for the stuff I needed. The main thing was the stainless steel for the case. I read online that the real deal uses either 316 or 904L, so I grabbed some 316 stainless steel – figured it’s good enough for my first try. Then, I checked out the bezel of the watch in some pictures. It’s got this fluted look, which is basically like a bunch of little grooves, right? I thought that would be a pain to do by hand, so I looked for tools to make that happen.
Next, I started thinking about the dial. The original watch has a diamond dial, which is super fancy, but I wasn’t about to start gluing real diamonds on my watch! But it has no numberals on the dial. I looked for a similar dial online and I thought I could use something that looks like it without breaking the bank. So, I did some digging and found a dial that’s pretty close in style. It’s got that same vibe but way less expensive.
Then, I started working on the case. I used my tools to cut and shape the stainless steel into that Gondolo shape. It’s kind of like a rectangle but with rounded edges, which was a bit tricky. I spent a good chunk of time just getting the shape right, measuring and cutting and filing. Then, I focused on the bezel. I used my tools to make those fluted grooves. It took a lot of time and effort, but I was pretty happy with how it turned out.
Now, for the inside of the watch, I knew I wanted it to be a manual one, just like the original. I looked up the inner parts and the movement, I found a simple movement that’s not too complicated. I got that, and the hands that match the original watch’s rose gold color. Putting it all together was like a puzzle. I had to be super careful not to mess anything up.
- Finding Materials:
- Got 316 stainless steel for the case.
- Found a dial that looks like the original diamond one but cheaper.
- Bought tools to shape the steel and make the fluted bezel.
- Got a simple, manual movement.
- Found rose gold-colored hands.
- Making the Case:
- Cut and shaped the stainless steel into the Gondolo form.
- Created the fluted look on the bezel using my tools.
- Assembling the Watch:
- Carefully put together the movement, dial, and hands inside the case.
After a lot of work, I finally finished it! It doesn’t look exactly like the real Patek Philippe, of course, but I’m still pretty proud of it. It was a fun project, and I learned a ton about watches along the way. It’s not perfect, but hey, it’s my own handmade watch, and it looks pretty decent if I do say so myself. It really took a long time, but it’s a really cool feeling to wear something you made with your own hands, you know?
I also wanted to put the watch band, and I chose a leather strap that’s similar to the one on the original. I attached it to the case, and that was it! This whole thing was a challenge, but it was super rewarding. I might even try making another watch sometime, maybe something even more complicated. Who knows? For now, I’m just happy to have my own little version of a fancy watch.
I hope you enjoyed my story.
Click to consult