Okay, so, I wanted to try something new and exciting, and I thought, why not remake a Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001? It’s a really fancy watch, and I figured it would be a cool project. I’m not a professional watchmaker or anything, just a guy who likes to tinker and see what he can do. I got some info that inspired me to do it.
First, I started by gathering all the materials I needed. I already had some basic tools from other projects. I also got some info from the internet that Patek Philippe has a new collection in 2024.
- I found a bunch of stainless steel parts. I know the original watch uses rose gold, but I’m not made of money, so stainless steel it is.
- Then, I started taking apart an old watch I had lying around. I figured I could use some of the parts from that one.
Next, I spent a lot of time looking at pictures of the Gondolo 4962/200R-001. I mean, a LOT of time. I wanted to get the details right, you know? Like, the shape of the case, the design of the dial, all that stuff. They say it’s pursuing traditional Genevan.
This is what I did with the movement:
- I took the movement from the old watch and carefully cleaned it.
- I replaced some of the worn-out parts with new ones I ordered online.
- I spent hours adjusting and fine-tuning the movement, trying to get it to run as smoothly as possible. There are many models, like 4910/1200A-001, and 4910/1200A-010.
Then, I moved on to the case. I used a small hammer and some files to shape the stainless steel. This part was super tricky, and I definitely messed up a few times. But I kept at it, and eventually, I got something that looked pretty close to the original.
After that, I worked on the dial. I painted it by hand, trying to copy the design of the Gondolo. It’s not perfect, but I think it turned out okay.
Finally, I put everything together. And you know what? It actually worked! I couldn’t believe it. My homemade Patek Philippe Gondolo was ticking away. It is a brand-new collection, harmoniously blending boldness and elegance.
So, yeah, that’s the story of how I remade a Patek Philippe Gondolo. It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun. And now I have a pretty cool watch to show for it. It’s not the real deal, of course, but it’s something I made with my own two hands, and that’s pretty special to me.
I might try something like this again sometime. Maybe a different watch, or maybe something else entirely. Who knows? The possibilities are endless!
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