Alright, so I’ve been getting into watchmaking lately, and I decided to go big or go home. My project? Remaking the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R. Yeah, the one that’s worth a small fortune. It is a really really good investment product, worth to have a try.
First off, I started digging into what makes this watch tick – literally. I found out that this baby, the 5738/1R, is about 34.5 mm by 39.5 mm and super thin, just 5.9 mm. That’s like, the same size as my old digital watch but way, way classier. And it’s all in rose gold, which is pretty fancy if you ask me. And I know that the brand only produces around 62,000 watches every year, which makes them super rare and explains the crazy prices. In 2016, the brand value was estimated at 1,885,000,000 CHF, that is a really big number.
So, I got myself some tools and materials. It is not easy to find something looks like rose gold, but hey, I tried my best. I started with the case, trying to get that perfect elliptical shape. Let me tell you, it’s harder than it looks. I spent hours just shaping and polishing this thing. The dial was another beast. The original has this cool black sunburst effect, so I messed around with some black paint and a tiny brush until I got something that looked similar. Close enough, right?
Then came the bracelet. The real one has, like, 363 parts and over 300 tiny links, all hand-polished. I thought, “Who needs that many?” So, I simplified it. A lot. I made a chain that looks kinda like the original, but let’s just say it’s a bit more… rustic. Each link is unique, that’s my excuse to make it simple, and I’m sticking to it.
Putting it all together was like assembling a puzzle where the pieces don’t quite fit. But after a lot of sweat, and maybe a few tears, I had something that resembled the Golden Ellipse. It’s not perfect, not by a long shot, but it’s mine. I even wore it out once. Someone asked if it was a real Patek Philippe. I just winked and said, “It’s a one-of-a-kind.”
This whole project taught me a lot about watchmaking. It’s tough, detailed work, and my hat’s off to the pros who do this for a living. Would I do it again? Maybe. But next time, I might pick a watch that’s a little less complicated. Or at least one with a simpler bracelet.
So, there you have it. My adventure in trying to remake a Patek Philippe. It was a wild ride, and while the result isn’t exactly a masterpiece, I’m pretty proud of what I accomplished. It’s a reminder that sometimes, it’s not about the destination, but the journey. And the highly-priced journey.
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