Alright, so I’ve been messing around with watches lately, and I got this idea to try and remake a Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse, specifically the 5738R model. You know, the one that’s all fancy and costs a fortune. I thought, “Why not give it a shot myself?” I mean, how hard could it be, right?
First off, I started digging around for info on this watch. I found out it’s got this “divine” proportion thing going on, based on some ancient Greek math stuff, the golden section or whatever. Sounds cool, but I’m no math whiz. Anyway, it’s supposed to be 1 / 1.6181, which is apparently the basis for a bunch of famous art and buildings. The watch itself is super thin and has this automatic movement, caliber 240 they call it. I also saw it’s got an 18K rose gold case, about 34.5 x 39.5 mm. Pretty slick.
So, armed with this basic knowledge, I started sketching out the design. I tried to get that elliptical shape just right, mimicking the original as best as I could. It’s harder than it looks, let me tell you. Getting the curves to look smooth and proportional took a few tries. And those “ears” on the sides, like the original had with some models, were a real pain.
Next, I had to figure out the materials. Obviously, I’m not using real gold here, so I went with some gold-colored metal I found online. It’s not the same, but it gives a similar vibe. For the movement, I just picked up a cheap automatic movement. I’m not trying to fool anyone into thinking this is a real Patek, just having some fun.
Putting it all together was the trickiest part. I had to cut the metal into the right shape, which involved a lot of filing and sanding. Let’s just say my hands were pretty sore after that. Then, I had to fit the movement inside, which was like trying to put a puzzle together in the dark. I had to make a few adjustments, but eventually, it all clicked into place.
The dial was another challenge. I wanted it to look like the original, with that black, sleek look. I ended up using some black paint and a tiny brush to get the details right. It’s not perfect, but it’s close enough for me.
Finally, I attached a leather strap I had lying around, and boom, I had my own “Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse” 5738R. It’s not going to win any awards, and it’s definitely not worth thousands of dollars, but it was a fun project.
Here’s what I used:
- Some gold-colored metal for the case.
- A cheap automatic watch movement.
- Black paint and a tiny brush for the dial.
- A leather strap.
- A bunch of tools for cutting and shaping metal.
It took me a few weekends, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It’s not a perfect replica, but it’s my own little version of a classic watch. And hey, I learned a lot along the way. Maybe next time I’ll try something even more ambitious!
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