Remake Patek Philippe PP Nautilus 5711: Your Easy Guide to Purchasing a Quality Homage Watch

Time:2025-1-13 Author:ldsf125303

Okay, here is my sharing about remaking a Patek Philippe PP Nautilus 5711:

Man, getting a real Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 is tough, and the price tag? Forget about it! So, I thought, “Why not try making one myself?” I mean, how hard could it be, right? (Spoiler: it’s pretty darn hard.)

First, I started looking around for parts. I found this Parnis Nautilus homage, which looked decent. It’s got an automatic movement and a 42mm case. The lug-to-lug is a bit long at 51.3mm, but it’s a start. I figured I could use some parts from this watch and then upgrade them as I go. I spent a whole evening just trying to find reliable places to buy parts and tools – a total headache!

Then, I thought about combining parts from PF and PPF. Some folks online said that’s the best way to go for a budget-friendly option. I also heard that 3KF will eventually make the best replica, but who knows when that’ll be. And honestly, waiting for something that might never come didn’t sit well with me. So I’m taking a different route, my own route. I ordered some basic tools online – screwdrivers, tweezers, you name it. Let me tell you, those tiny screws are a pain to deal with!

I started digging into what makes the real Nautilus so special. I watched a bunch of videos and read articles. Turns out, Patek Philippe spends ages just on the case and bracelet. I mean, it’s like months of work with highly skilled people, using all these specialized techniques. I found a video that shows the assembly process of the Patek Philippe, the process is very complicated, at least for a newbie like me, and after I watched it a few times, I understood the complicated parts. I can see why they charge so much! Then I started to follow that video step-by-step. It’s like 18 months of work, from start to finish. I’ve only done a little so far, but it’s been fun… and frustrating. My back hurts from hunching over the table, and I’ve dropped so many screws it’s not even funny.

My first attempt at polishing the case? Let’s just say it didn’t go so well. I ended up with scratches instead of that smooth, shiny finish. It took me days of practice to get it right. I even messed up the bracelet a few times, bending links and scratching the surface. It’s a miracle I didn’t throw the whole thing out the window! But I got better with some help from online videos and forums.

Putting the movement together was another nightmare. So many tiny parts, and one wrong move and it’s all over. I think I spent like an hour just trying to get the balance wheel in place.

My Progress So Far

  • Case: I’ve managed to get a decent polish on the case, but it’s still not perfect. I might try a different polishing compound.
  • Bracelet: This is still a work in progress. I’ve assembled most of it, but I need to refine the finishing.
  • Movement: I’ve managed to get the movement running, but it’s not keeping accurate time yet. I need to do some more adjustments. I think I need to disassemble it and start again from scratch.

I know the pros make it look easy, but trust me, it’s not. I thought it could save me some bucks and I enjoy the process of making things, it’s also a great learning process, but I am still thinking is it worthy. But I’m learning a ton, and it’s kind of cool to see it all come together. It’s like a puzzle, but way more complicated. It’s still far from perfect, but I’m getting there. Every little step feels like a huge victory. I’ll keep you guys posted on how it goes. Wish me luck!