Alright, guys, gather ’round, because today I’m gonna spill the beans on my latest project: remaking the legendary Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711. Now, I’m not a watchmaker by any means, but I’ve always been fascinated by these intricate timepieces. And the 5711? That’s like the holy grail for watch lovers. So, I thought, “Why not give it a shot?”
The Preparation
First things first, I started with gathering all the information I could find. I looked into a ton of photos, watched videos of the real deal, and even found some guys online talking about prices. I saw that people were asking for crazy amounts for a used one, like over $89,000! And new? Forget about it, some listings were over a million bucks. It’s insane how much these things go for.
I also found out that Patek makes, like, only 60,000 watches a year. That’s nothing compared to, say, Rolex, which pumps out a million. So, these Patek watches are pretty rare, which is probably why they’re so expensive. And the waiting list? Don’t even get me started. I read that for the Nautilus, you could be waiting for up to 8 years! That’s longer than some college degrees!
The Attempt
So, armed with all this newfound knowledge, I started to try my hand at making my own 5711. I got myself a basic watch movement, some tools, and a bunch of reference materials. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but hey, I was up for the challenge.
- I started by taking apart the watch movement. This was trickier than I thought. There were so many tiny screws and gears. I almost lost a few, but luckily, I managed to keep track of everything.
- Next, I tried to modify the case. I wanted it to resemble the iconic Nautilus shape, with those rounded edges and the porthole design. This involved a lot of filing, sanding, and polishing. Let me tell you, my hands were sore after this step.
- Then came the dial. I wanted to recreate that beautiful blue gradient that the 5711 is famous for. I experimented with different paints and techniques, but it was tough to get it just right. It’s not perfect, but I think it looks pretty decent.
- Finally, the bracelet. The Nautilus has a unique integrated bracelet, which means it’s part of the watch case. I tried to mimic this by attaching a metal bracelet to the case, but it wasn’t easy to get it to fit seamlessly.
The Result
After weeks of work, I finally finished my “homage” to the 5711. And you know what? It’s not half bad! Sure, it’s not a real Patek, and it doesn’t have that Swiss-made movement, but it captures the essence of the Nautilus. I’m actually pretty proud of how it turned out.
Now, I’m not gonna lie, it was a lot harder than I expected. There were times when I wanted to throw in the towel, but I kept pushing through. And in the end, I learned a lot about watches, craftsmanship, and my own patience.
This whole project was a real eye-opener. It made me appreciate the skill and artistry that goes into making these high-end watches. And it also made me realize that even though I can’t afford a real 5711, I can still enjoy the beauty of its design in my own way. So, if you’re thinking about trying something like this, go for it! It’s a fun challenge, and you might surprise yourself with what you can achieve.
Click to consult