Alright, so I’ve been obsessed with watches lately, and let me tell you, the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712 has been living rent-free in my head. But, you know, it’s like a bazillion dollars, and I’m not exactly swimming in cash. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and try to remake one myself. Yeah, I know, it sounds crazy, but I was determined to have a piece of that iconic design.
First things first, I had to do some research. I dug around on the internet, reading forums, and watching videos. Turns out, getting your hands on a real 5712 is like winning the lottery. I saw some posts saying there’s a “1% chance to get a 5712 without an extensive history with an authorized dealer”. And don’t even get me started on the price, like $51,850 retail and going for way more, like $96,000, on the secondary market. Sheesh!
I knew I wanted to replicate the steel version, the 5712/1A. This model is the one with the steel bracelet. They apparently discontinued the leather strap ones, the 5712R and 5712G. This made my decision a bit easier, focusing on the bracelet.
I stumbled upon some pictures and videos of people who’d actually tried to do this before, remaking these watches. Some were pretty impressive! It gave me hope that maybe I could pull this off. I started looking for parts. This was a whole new world to me. I found websites selling various watch parts, movements, bracelets, and cases. It was a bit overwhelming, to be honest.
After a lot of searching and comparing, I finally ordered the parts I thought I needed. When they arrived, I was like a kid on Christmas morning. I carefully laid everything out on my workbench. My heart was pounding, I was so excited to get started. I felt like I was about to start on a real adventure.
Assembling the watch was tricky, to say the least. I had to be super careful, and it took way longer than I expected. There were a few moments when I thought I’d messed it all up. But I kept at it, taking breaks when I got frustrated and coming back to it with fresh eyes. It was a learning process and I made a few mistakes along the way. However, I finally got it.
And finally, after hours of work, it was done.
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The Result
It wasn’t perfect, of course. It’s not a genuine Patek, and I’m no watchmaker. But you know what? It looked pretty darn good. I was so proud of myself for actually managing to put it together. It felt amazing to have this watch on my wrist, a watch that I had built with my own hands. It was definitely a challenging experience, but also incredibly rewarding. I learned a lot, and now I have a cool watch that’s at least a little bit like the one I’ve been dreaming about.
This whole process made me appreciate the craftsmanship of real luxury watches even more. It’s insane how much detail and precision goes into making them. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to afford a real Nautilus 5712, but this little project of mine definitely satisfied my craving for a while. Plus, I’ve got a new hobby now! Maybe I’ll try remaking other watches in the future. Who knows?
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