Okay, here’s my blog post about remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010.
Alright, folks, gather ’round, because today I’m diving into a project that’s been keeping me busy – remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010. Yeah, the fancy one, that is only at specialty stores, and the one with all the sparkly diamonds. I saw this online for sale, the listing said 475 in stock, which seemed like a lot for a limited edition watch. It had a rectangle shape and white gold case with baguette diamonds. They also had another one, 7042/100R-010, which seemed really similar. Why not try to make one myself?
First off, I started by digging up everything I could find about this watch. Pictures, articles, you name it. I needed to know this thing inside and out before I could even think about recreating it.
Next up, I got to work sketching. I mean, lots and lots of sketches. I drew the rectangular case, that wild diamond-studded bezel, the whole nine yards. My goal was to get the proportions and the overall vibe of the original watch down pat. This took a lot longer than I thought it would, drawing is not my forte.
- Sourcing Materials: This was a pain. I needed a white gold-looking case, and finding one that was the right size and shape was a real challenge. Eventually, I found something that would work after hours of searching online.
- Diamonds: Forget real diamonds, I went with some good-looking cubic zirconia. I found some baguette-shaped ones that were a pretty close match to the originals.
- Movement: I’m not a watchmaker, so I picked up a decent quartz movement online. It keeps time well and that was all I wanted, it didn’t have to be automatic.
Once I had all the parts, the real fun began. I carefully attached the CZ stones to the bezel, using a strong adhesive. This was slow going, and I had to be super precise to get them all lined up correctly. I scratched up a few cases before I got the process down.
After the bezel was done, I assembled the rest of the watch. I put the movement in the case, attached the dial and hands, and fixed the back of the case. Honestly, this part was easier than I expected, once I figured out how to use the tiny tools.
Finally, I added the strap. I found a nice leather strap that matched the style of the original watch. I tried to find a white gold buckle but it was taking too long, so I settled with a silver one for now.
And there you have it, my homemade Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010. It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty darn proud of it. It looks great on my wrist, and it’s a fun conversation starter. Plus, I saved a boatload of money by making it myself! I might even try to remake that other model I found online, the 7042/100R-010. Hope you enjoyed this little peek into my latest project. Until next time, keep on tinkering!
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