Okay, so I recently got into this whole watch remake thing, and let me tell you, it’s quite a ride. I decided to take on a pretty ambitious project: remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001. Yeah, I know, it’s a mouthful, and it’s a pretty fancy watch. But I was up for the challenge.
First off, I spent a ton of time just staring at pictures of this thing online. The Calatrava 6119G is known for its “Clous de Paris” hobnail pattern, which is basically a fancy way of saying it has this cool textured bezel. I had to figure out how to recreate that. It’s 39mm in diameter and 8.08mm thick, pretty slim for such a detailed watch, water-resistant to 30 meters. I also learned it originally sells for around $33,110, but on the market, you might find it for about $26. That’s way out of my budget, which is why I’m remaking it!
I started by gathering all the materials. Now, I’m not using 18K white gold like the original, obviously. I found some more affordable alternatives that still looked pretty good. I needed to get a watch case, a movement, hands, a dial, and a bunch of tiny tools. I got a hand-wind movement, the Calibre 30-255 PS, which has a power reserve of about 65 hours, I read that this means it can run for 65 hours without needing to be wound *’s only 2.55mm thick and has 164 parts. It took forever to find something similar that wouldn’t break the bank.
The toughest part was definitely the dial. I tried a few different techniques to get that “Charcoal Gray” look and the hobnail pattern. I messed up a couple of times, but hey, that’s part of the process, right? I used a simple material and practiced the pattern until I got something that looked halfway decent.
Putting it all together was like solving a really complicated puzzle. I followed some online guides and watched a bunch of videos. Let’s just say there was a lot of trial and error. Screwing down the crown, fitting the sapphire crystal, and making sure everything was aligned properly was a real test of patience.
- First, I worked on the case. I had to make sure it was the right size and shape.
- Then, I tackled the dial. This involved getting the color right and recreating that signature pattern.
- Next up was the movement. I had to carefully place it inside the case and make sure it was secure.
- After that, I attached the hands. This was super tricky because they’re so small and delicate.
- Finally, I added the strap. I went with a simple black leather one, just like the original.
In the end, I think I did a pretty good job. It’s not perfect, but it definitely looks like a Patek Philippe Calatrava. And the best part? I did it all myself. I learned so much during this project, and I’m really proud of how it turned out. I’m still figuring out how long the power reserve will last on my version, but even if it’s not 65 hours, I’m happy with it.
I’m already thinking about my next project. Maybe another Patek Philippe? Or maybe I’ll try something completely different. Who knows? The possibilities are endless!
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