Hey everyone, it’s your boy back again with another project. This time I got my hands dirty trying to remake the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010. This watch, man, it’s a beauty. I saw it online, and I just knew I had to try and recreate it myself.
So, first things first, I started digging around for info on this watch. Found out it’s a pretty penny, like, way out of my budget – we’re talking over $270,000, crazy, right? But that didn’t stop me. I looked up everything I could about the specs. It’s an 18ct rose gold, manual winding, with a diamond paved dial. Just the description alone sounds fancy.
I got all the materials I needed, which was a challenge in itself. Finding something that looks like 18ct rose gold but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg was tough. I settled for a rose gold alloy that looked pretty close. Then came the diamonds. Obviously, I couldn’t use real ones, so I opted for some high-quality cubic zirconia. They sparkle just as much, trust me.
- Gathered rose gold alloy for the case and bracelet.
- Sourced high-quality cubic zirconia for the diamond dial.
- Acquired a manual winding movement mechanism.
The real work began with shaping the case. The Gondolo has this unique rectangular shape that’s kinda Art Deco. I spent hours just trying to get it right, using some basic tools and a lot of patience. After messing up a few times, I finally got a shape I was happy with.
Next up was the dial. This was probably the hardest part. I laid out the cubic zirconia in a pattern similar to the original. It was tedious work, placing each “diamond” carefully. I used a strong adhesive to make sure they stayed put, but I was still sweating bullets, hoping none would fall off.
Putting It All Together
Once the case and dial were ready, I had to put everything together. I carefully assembled the watch, fitting the movement mechanism inside the case. This part was super delicate, and I was just praying I wouldn’t break anything. And after a few more hours, it was finally done.
Honestly, seeing the finished product made all the frustration and effort worth it. It might not be a real Patek Philippe, but it’s got the look and feel, and that’s good enough for me. Plus, I learned so much during this project, and that’s priceless.
So, that’s my Gondolo remake story. Hope you guys enjoyed hearing about it. Let me know what you think, and don’t forget to share your own projects. I’m always up for hearing what you guys are working on.
Catch you all in the next one!
Click to consult