Okay, so I wanted to try something a bit wild – remaking a Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001. Yeah, I know, it’s a pretty fancy watch, but I figured, why not give it a shot? This isn’t about making a perfect replica or anything, just a fun project to see if I could get close.
First off, I spent a ton of time just staring at pictures of the watch online. I needed to get a real good look at all the details – the shape of the case, the design on the dial, the way the hands looked. I made a bunch of sketches, trying to capture everything as best as I could.
Next, I had to figure out what materials I could use. Obviously, I wasn’t going to be using gold or anything like that. I ended up picking some stainless steel for the case because it’s tough and looks kind of similar. For the strap, I went with some leather I found at a local craft store.
Getting My Hands Dirty
Now came the hard part – actually making the thing. I started with the case. I used some metalworking tools I had lying around to shape the stainless steel. It wasn’t easy, and it definitely didn’t look perfect, but I managed to get a shape that was somewhat close to the original. I had to cut and file it down to look like the Gondolo.
- Cutting the Case: Used a small saw to cut out the basic shape from a sheet of stainless steel.
- Shaping: Hammered and bent the metal to get the curves and edges.
- Filing: Used a file to smooth out the rough edges and refine the shape.
The dial was a whole other challenge. I decided to print out a picture of the original dial and stick it onto a thin piece of metal. It wasn’t the most elegant solution, but it worked okay for this project. The hands were tricky too. I ended up using some thin wire that I carefully bent and shaped.
Putting it all together was a real test of patience. I had to be super careful not to mess anything up. I used some strong glue to attach the dial and the hands. Then I carefully attached the leather strap to the case. It was really starting to look like a watch!
The Final Stretch
After a lot of sweat and a few close calls, I finally had something that resembled the Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001. It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot, but it was my own handmade version. I’m not going to lie, it felt pretty good to hold it in my hands and see it on my wrist.
This whole project was a lot more work than I expected, but it was also a ton of fun. I learned a lot about watchmaking, and I got to challenge myself creatively. Would I do it again? Maybe. But next time, I might pick a watch that’s a little less complicated!
This is not to sell, and it is not for profit, just share my hobby.
Click to consult