Alright, let’s talk about this watch. The Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001, to be exact. I’ve been eyeing this beauty for a while now. I mean, I saw 22 of these babies in one go, at least that’s what the website said. These stores, they seem to have the inside scoop on these watches, spilling all the details you could ever want. So, naturally, I wanted to see what I could do about making one myself.
First off, I started digging around for info on this bad boy. They say it’s made of platinum. Fancy, right? And get this, it has a see-through back. A sapphire-crystal back, if we are being technical. Apparently, it has this super cool movement inside called the Caliber 240. You don’t need to know what that means, just know it is cool. What really caught my attention was the fact that this thing is self-winding. Automatic, they call it. Just wear it, and it winds itself up. Pretty neat, huh? And apparently, it keeps ticking for almost two days without needing a wind.
Getting Started
- Research: I spent hours, days even, looking at pictures, reading descriptions. I even checked out a few forums where people were discussing these watches.
- Materials: Platinum is way out of my league, so I started thinking about alternatives. Something that looks the part but doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. I also needed to figure out the whole “movement” thing.
I started messing around with some cheaper materials, just to get a feel for the shape and the size. It was a lot of trial and error. Let me tell you, getting the curve of that case just right is no joke. And the dial? Forget about it. That intricate design is a whole other level of pain.
The Process
- Casing: After a bunch of failed attempts, I finally got something that resembled the real deal. Not perfect, but hey, it’s a start.
- Movement: This was the hardest part. I’m no watchmaker, so I had to get creative. I found some cheap automatic movements online and tried to modify them to fit. It wasn’t pretty, but it kinda worked.
- Dial: This is where I really struggled. I tried printing, I tried engraving, nothing looked quite right. Eventually, I settled on a simplified version of the original design.
Putting it all together was another challenge. Tiny screws, delicate parts, you name it. But after countless hours of fiddling and cursing, I finally had something that vaguely resembled the Patek Philippe 5088. It wasn’t going to fool any experts, but it was my own little creation, and I was pretty proud of it.
Now, about the price, the real Patek Philippe 5088/100P-001 is over 100 grand. That’s like, a small house. I heard these things go for anywhere between $21,000 and $115,000, depending on how old they are. On some website called Chrono24, you could apparently compare deals and buy one. But even on the “pre-owned” market, you’re looking at around $83,837. I checked it. And if you go through some secondary dealer, they tack on another 6%. Wild, right?
So, did I manage to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088? Not really. But did I have fun trying? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Probably not. It’s way too much work. But hey, at least I can say I gave it a shot, right? I also saw the Calatrava cross that Patek Philippe uses. I tried it out and, well, it just did not look good on mine, so I passed on that part.
This whole thing was a wild ride. I learned a lot, and I definitely gained a new appreciation for watchmakers. They’re like, artists and engineers rolled into one. It’s insane. And if you’re thinking about trying this yourself, just remember. It’s not as easy as it looks. I have to say, this was a fun one-time deal and I do not think I would do it again. But, it was a good challenge.
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