Alright, so I’ve been messing around with watches lately, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride. Today, I’m gonna spill the beans on my latest project: remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010. Yeah, that super fancy, diamond-studded beauty. This ain’t your average watch, folks. It’s got bling, it’s got class, and it’s got a price tag that’ll make your eyes water.
Getting Started
First things first, I had to get my hands on the real deal. Not to keep, of course, just to study. I borrowed one from a buddy who’s way more into these luxury things than I am. I started off by carefully examining the watch. I mean, I looked at every nook and cranny of this thing.
- Disassembling: Taking it apart was nerve-wracking. I used a tiny screwdriver and a whole lot of patience. Each tiny screw, I placed in a numbered container, so I knew exactly where each one went.
- Documenting: I took tons of photos and notes. Every angle, every part, every little detail. I sketched out the dial, the movement, everything.
The Real Work
Now, the fun part – recreating it. This wasn’t just about making something that looked like the Gondolo. I wanted it to tick like one, too. So, I started hunting for parts.
- Finding Materials: Finding rose gold wasn’t easy, but I managed to get my hands on some. Diamonds? That was another story. Replicated them with some high-quality cubic zirconia. I found a guy who cuts them to look just like the real ones.
- Crafting the Case: This was a pain. Shaping rose gold is no joke, but I got it done. Lots of filing, polishing, and sweating involved. I felt like an old-school craftsman, but hey, it worked!
- Dialing It In: The dial was tricky. I tried 3D printing it first, but that didn’t work out too well. Ended up hand-painting it. It took me like, five tries to get it right.
- Movement: This was the hardest part. I couldn’t just make a new movement. I had to find one that fit and had a similar mechanism. I found a discarded old watch and carefully took out the movement. It was a manual winding movement, just like the real Gondolo.
Putting It All Together
After weeks of work, it was time to assemble. Let me tell you, putting a watch back together is harder than taking it apart.
- Assembly: I carefully put each part back, using my photos and notes as a guide. Screwed every tiny screw back into its original place. It was like a puzzle, but way more stressful.
- Setting the Stones: Gluing the fake diamonds was tedious. I used a special kind of glue that wouldn’t smudge. Each stone had to be placed perfectly.
The Final Product
And there it was. My very own Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010. It wasn’t perfect, but it was pretty darn close. It ticked, it shined, and it looked like a million bucks. Okay, maybe not a million, but you get the idea.
- Testing: I wore it around for a few days. Just to see how it felt, how it worked. It kept time pretty well, which was a relief.
- Showing Off: I showed it to my watch-collector buddy. He was impressed, and that’s saying something. He even said he’d wear it, which is a huge compliment.
So, that’s my story of remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo. It was a challenge, but I learned a lot. Would I do it again? Maybe. But for now, I’m just gonna enjoy wearing my homemade masterpiece. Hope you enjoyed my little adventure. It’s not every day you get to build a watch like this, right? Peace out!
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