Hey everyone, it’s your boy back again with another project. This time, I got it in my head to do a high imitation of the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, specifically that slick platinum model they’ve got at specialty stores. You know the one, right? It’s a beauty, but way out of my budget.
So, first things first, I started digging around online. Found out these bad boys go for about 13,500, which is, like, a used car. No way was I dropping that kind of cash, so the gears in my head started turning. How could I get that look without, you know, actually buying one?
Started looking into the details. This new 126506 model, the successor to the 116506, it’s got a transparent sapphire case back, which is pretty unique for Rolex. Lets you see the insides, the Caliber 4131 movement, and this fancy 18k yellow gold oscillating weight. It’s all decorated with this Cotes de Geneve thing. Pretty intricate stuff.
Why is platinum so expensive?
Then I dove into why platinum models are so much pricier. Turns out, platinum’s denser than gold. So, a platinum case has more of that precious metal compared to a gold one. Plus, they use 950 platinum, meaning it’s 95% pure platinum. Fancy, right?
Trying to make the parts
- Gathered some materials that looked the part. I mean, we’re going for the look here, not trying to fool a jeweler.
- Got some stainless steel for the case, because, let’s be real, platinum is out of the question.
- Found some mineral glass that kinda looks like sapphire. Close enough for this project.
- Printed out a dial that mimics the Daytona’s. There are a few variations, but I went for that classic look.
Assembled the whole thing, which was a bit of a pain, to be honest. Tiny screws, delicate hands, and all that. But I managed to put it together, and you know what? It didn’t look half bad. It’s got that Daytona vibe, that heft, and from a distance, you might even mistake it for the real deal.
Of course, it’s not fooling anyone up close. The movement’s obviously not a Rolex caliber, and the materials are nowhere near the same quality. But for a fun little project, it scratched that itch. Plus, I learned a bunch about watchmaking and the specifics of the Daytona, which is cool.
So, yeah, that’s my little adventure in making a budget-friendly, super-imitation Daytona. It’s not perfect, but it was a blast to make. Let me know if you guys have any crazy DIY ideas you’ve tackled. Always up for a challenge!
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