Today, I took on a project that was both exciting and a bit nerve-wracking—remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010. This watch is a real beauty, and I wanted to see if I could recreate it with my own hands.
Getting Started
First things first, I gathered all the materials I thought I’d need. This was mostly just me grabbing whatever looked like it could be useful from around my workshop. I’ve got tons of bits and pieces lying around, so I figured I’d find most of what I needed right there.
The Real Work Begins
I started by sketching out the design of the Gondolo. I’m no artist, but I did my best to get the proportions and the look of the watch down on paper. It was a good way to get a feel for what I was aiming for before I started messing around with actual materials.
- Disassembled an old watch I had lying around to use its movement. I’m not made of money, so using new parts was out of the question.
- Shaped the case out of some scrap metal I found. This was tough. I spent hours just trying to get the shape right. It’s not easy to make something look elegant and refined when you’re just hammering away at it.
- Cut and polished the “gems” from pieces of colored glass. It was a long shot, but I thought it might just work. Each piece had to be perfect to give it that luxurious feel.
Putting It All Together
With all the parts somewhat ready, I began assembling the watch. This was the most satisfying part. Seeing all these random bits and pieces come together to form something that actually resembled the Gondolo was pretty cool.
- Attached the movement to the case, which was trickier than I expected. I had to make sure everything lined up perfectly.
- Set the hands and the dial. This was delicate work, and I was constantly worried I’d break something.
- Added the glass gems to the bezel. They didn’t look as stunning as real diamonds, but they did add a bit of sparkle.
The Final Touches
After a lot of tinkering and adjusting, I finally finished my version of the Patek Philippe Gondolo. It wasn’t an exact replica, but I was proud of how it turned out. It was a great way to challenge myself and see what I could do with just the materials I had on hand.
This project was a real learning experience. It taught me a lot about watchmaking, and it was a fun way to spend a few days. Plus, now I have a unique watch that I can say I made myself. Sure, it’s not the real deal, but it’s got its own charm.
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