Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001 for a while now. It’s a pretty fancy watch, you know, with that Art Deco style and a rose gold case. I mean, who wouldn’t want that, right? But, let’s be real, the price tag on an original is way out of my league. So, I thought, “Why not try to remake it myself?”
I started by digging up everything I could find about this watch. I learned that it’s called the Gondolo Serata, a name that sounds pretty elegant. From what I gathered, it has a 28mm rose gold case and a brown strap. The dial is also brown, with a floral pattern and Arabic numerals. Looks super classy.
First things first, I needed to find a watch case that looked similar to the original. I spent hours browsing online, comparing different models. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. A lot of them were either too big, too small, or just didn’t have that same elegant curve. Finally, I found one that was pretty close in terms of size and shape. It wasn’t rose gold, but I figured I could work with that later.
Next up was the strap. I wanted something that matched the original’s brown color and texture. I looked at various leather straps. I ended up choosing a nice, deep brown leather strap that had a good feel to it.
Now, for the most challenging part: the dial. Recreating that floral pattern with Arabic numerals was a real pain. I tried a few different methods. I even thought about hand-painting it, but let’s just say my artistic skills are not that good. Finally, I decided to go with a custom-printed dial. I found a place online that could do it, and I sent them a design I put together based on the original watch. I didn’t want it to be an exact replica of course, more of a “inspired by” type of a thing.
- Sourced a watch case similar in size and shape to the original.
- Selected a brown leather strap.
- Designed and ordered a custom-printed dial.
Once I had all the parts, it was time to put everything together. I carefully removed the original dial and hands from the watch case. Then, I installed the new custom dial. It wasn’t a perfect fit, but I managed to make it work. Next, I attached the hands, making sure they were aligned properly. Finally, I put the movement back in and attached the new brown leather strap.
The Result
The finished product? Well, it’s not a Patek Philippe, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It definitely captures the essence of the Gondolo 4962/200R-001, with its curved case, brown strap, and floral-inspired dial. It’s a unique piece, and I’m proud to say I made it myself. Plus, it didn’t cost me an arm and a leg!
It was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watches in the process. Would I do it again? Maybe. But for now, I’m going to enjoy wearing my “remade” Gondolo. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll be able to afford the real deal. But until then, this one will do just fine.
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