So, I got this idea to remake a Patek Philippe, yeah, the Calatrava 5226G-001. It’s a real classic style, you know? I’ve always been a fan of those timeless designs, and I thought, why not try to recreate one myself?
First off, I dug into what makes this watch tick, literally. It’s 40 mm across and just 8.53 mm thick. Pretty slick, right? This model takes some cues from the old-school Reference 96, which Patek Philippe rolled out way back in 1932. That was the same year the Stern family, who were big shots in dial making, took over Patek Philippe. It’s got this polished round case, really shiny and all, about 39mm in diameter, and super slim at just 8.08mm thick. History lesson, done.
I started sketching out the case. I wanted that “Clous de Paris” hobnail pattern around it because it looked cool and vintage. Found some beige luminescent paint too. It’s supposed to look like the old-timey glow-in-the-dark stuff that’s kind of aged. Gives it character, you know?
Then I moved on to the dial. I tried to make it look like the real deal, with all the right numbers and hands. I even tried to copy that date display they got going on there. It was a bit of a headache, but I got it pretty close, I think.
- Case: Got the round shape right, polished it up real nice.
- Pattern: That hobnail thing was tricky, but I nailed it.
- Paint: Found some vintage-looking beige paint for the glow.
- Dial: Copied the numbers, hands, and that date window.
Putting it all together was like, wow. I had to be super careful, making sure everything lined up just right. It was a bit of a puzzle, but when I finally saw it all done, it was worth it. It looks pretty darn close to the original, if I do say so myself.
It’s not just a watch; it’s like a piece of history on your wrist. And the fact that I made it with my own two hands? That’s just the cherry on top. This whole project got me even more into the whole watchmaking scene. I mean, who knew there was so much to these little things?
Anyways, that’s my little adventure with the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5226G-001. Hope you guys liked the story. Maybe it’ll inspire some of you to try something like this. It’s a blast, I promise!
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