Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to remake this Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001 for a while now. It’s a classic, you know? Not too flashy, but just… quality. So I finally decided, “Screw it, let’s do this.”
First, I started digging around for info. This wasn’t my first rodeo, but every watch is different. This Calatrava, it’s a 39mm guy, which is a good size. Not like those giant watches that look like you strapped a dinner plate to your wrist. And it’s got this rose gold case that just looks so classy. I read somewhere that it’s got this “Clous de Paris” pattern on the bezel, which is a fancy way of saying it’s got a cool texture.
Then, I needed to gather my tools and materials. The movement is a manual winding caliber 30-255 PS, which I already had experience with it, so I’m not worry about it. I carefully selected a piece of rose gold that matched the original as closely as possible, and picked out a brown alligator strap. I mean, it sounds kind of weird, an alligator strap, but it really works on this watch. For the crystal, I chose a nice sapphire one. It has to be strong and scratch-resistant, obviously.
The real work began with shaping the case. This took forever, let me tell you. Measuring, cutting, polishing, and doing it all over again until it was just right. I wanted that 39mm diameter to be spot on, and the height had to be 8.08mm. Precision is key here. I spent hours just getting the bezel right, trying to recreate that Clous de Paris guilloche pattern.
- Selected rose gold for the case.
- Picked out a brown alligator strap.
- Chose a sapphire crystal.
- Worked on the movement.
- Shaped and polished the case.
- Crafted the bezel with the Clous de Paris pattern.
Next up was the movement. Like I said, this is a manual winding 30-255 PS, with a 65-hour power reserve, which is pretty impressive, and 164 parts, not easy for assembling. I carefully assembled all the tiny parts, making sure everything was aligned and working perfectly. It’s like building a tiny, intricate engine.
Once the case and movement were ready, it was time to put it all together. Setting the hands, attaching the dial, fitting the crystal… it’s a delicate process. You gotta be careful not to scratch anything or mess up the alignment.
Finally, I attached that brown alligator strap. And there it was, my very own remade Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001. It felt pretty darn good to see it all come together. It’s not a perfect replica, of course, but it’s got that same classic vibe, that quiet luxury.
The Final Result:
It was a lot of work, but I’m really happy with how it turned out. It’s a beautiful watch, and I’m proud to have remade it myself. It’s definitely a piece that I’ll treasure, not just for its looks, but also for the time and effort I put into it.
So that’s my little adventure in watchmaking. Hope you enjoyed the ride!
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