Alright, let’s talk about my little project – remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001. You know, that classic style watch. It wasn’t easy, but hey, nothing good ever is, right?
First off, I started by really getting to know the original. I mean, I looked at tons of pictures, read a bunch of stuff online, and even visited a couple of watch shops to see if they had anything similar. The Gondolo Serata, it’s called. It’s a jewelry watch, and it just screams elegance, you know? And the Art Deco style? That’s what really got me hooked.
After that, I started sketching. Yeah, just me, my pencil, and a whole lot of paper. I wanted to get the dimensions right. It’s 28.6 x 40.85 mm, and the height is 7.36 mm. And it’s water-resistant to 30 meters, not that I’d ever get this baby wet. Anyway, I drew and drew until my sketches looked somewhat decent.
Then came the fun part – choosing materials. I needed something that looked and felt like the real deal. After a lot of back and forth, I settled on some high-quality materials. I’m not going to lie, this part was pretty tough. I spent days just comparing different options, feeling them, and trying to imagine them as part of the watch.
Once I had my materials, I began crafting the watch case. This was probably the most nerve-wracking part. I used some tools I picked up. I carved and shaped the case, constantly referring back to my sketches and the pictures of the original. It was slow going, but I was determined to get it right.
- Carving the case was a real test of patience.
- Shaping it to match that Art Deco style was tricky.
- Constantly checking and re-checking the dimensions was crucial.
After the case, I moved on to the dial. Oh boy, the dial. I wanted it to have that same elegant vibe as the original, so I spent hours just working on the details. I etched and painted, and then etched some more. It was a delicate process, but seeing it come together was so satisfying.
The final step was putting everything together and adding the movement. I’m not a professional watchmaker, so this part was a bit of a learning curve. But I took my time, followed some guides I found online, and eventually, I managed to assemble the whole thing. I won’t lie; it took several tries to get the movement to sit correctly and work.
And there you have it. My very own, handmade version of the Patek Philippe Gondolo. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine, and I’m pretty darn proud of it.
The Gondolo has a special place in my heart, I have been fond of it for years. It’s a beautiful watch, the way it looks is so attractive to me. I’m so happy I was finally able to make my own version!
Main steps of the remake:
- Studying the original Gondolo.
- Sketching the design and dimensions.
- Choosing and sourcing the materials.
- Crafting the watch case.
- Creating the detailed dial.
- Assembling the watch and adding the movement.
It was a challenging but rewarding project. I learned a lot, and I ended up with a watch that I’ll cherish forever. Now every time I look down at my wrist I have a unique feeling of pride and fulfillment.
Click to consult