Hey everyone, it’s your boy back again with another crazy project. Today, I’m diving into something a bit fancier – remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010. Yeah, you heard that right. That super classy, rectangular, white gold watch with all the diamonds. I saw it online and thought, “Why not try to recreate it?” So, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how I pulled this off.
First things first, I needed to figure out what I was dealing with. This watch is no joke. It’s a 31mm by 34.8mm white gold case, manual movement, and it’s covered in diamonds. I spent a good chunk of time just staring at pictures online, trying to memorize every detail. The official name is Patek Philippe Gondolo Haute Joaillerie 7042/100G-010, and it’s a mouthful, I know.
Next, I had to gather my materials. I obviously couldn’t use real white gold or diamonds without breaking the bank. So, I started with some standard watchmaking tools and some substitute materials. For the case, I used a silver alloy that kind of looks like white gold, and for the diamonds, I used high-quality cubic zirconia. Sounds cheesy, but trust me, they sparkle pretty well.
- For the watch body, I chose a silver alloy. It’s not exactly white gold, but it gives a similar vibe, at least from a distance.
- Then came the diamonds. I’m not made of money, so I got some really good cubic zirconia. I figured if I placed them carefully, they’d look pretty legit.
I started by working on the case. I used a small rectangular block of the silver alloy and started shaping it. This was tough, let me tell you. I used a mini-lathe and some files to get the basic shape down. I had printed out a bunch of reference images of the Gondolo to make sure I got the dimensions and curves right. It took a few tries, messing up a few pieces of silver alloy along the way, but I finally got a decent-looking case.
The next big challenge was setting the “diamonds.” This watch has diamonds along the bezel and the lugs, so it was going to be a lot of tiny, precise work. I used a magnifying glass and some tweezers to carefully set each cubic zirconia into the case. I drilled tiny holes and used some strong adhesive to keep them in place. This part took forever, and my back was killing me by the end, but it was worth it.
Then came the movement. I’m not a watchmaker, so I cheated a bit here. I bought a cheap manual movement online, and I had to modify it slightly to fit the case. I disassembled it, cleaned it, and then reassembled it into my homemade case. Getting it to run smoothly was a bit of a nightmare, but after a few adjustments, it started ticking away nicely. I disassembled the cheap one I bought, cleaned it up, and put it into my case. It was tricky, but I managed to get it working.
Finally, I had to make the strap. The original has a pearl white gold strap, but I opted for a simpler white leather strap. I cut and stitched it myself, which was a new experience. It’s not perfect, but it looks pretty good and feels comfortable on the wrist.
Putting it all together, I felt like a real craftsman. I attached the strap to the case, set the time, and wound it up. Seeing it all come together was such a satisfying moment. I wore it around the house for a day, just admiring my handiwork. The finished piece looks surprisingly good. It’s not an exact replica, but it captures the essence of the Gondolo 7042/100G-010. It’s got that classy, rectangular shape, the sparkly “diamonds,” and a working movement. I even got a few compliments from friends who thought it was a legit luxury watch.
So, there you have it. My journey to remake the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010. It was a lot of work, a lot of trial and error, but totally worth it in the end. If you’re thinking of trying something similar, just be prepared for a challenge and have a lot of patience. And hey, if I can do it, so can you!
Thanks for following along, folks. Catch you in the next post where I might just try to remake another iconic watch. Who knows? Until then, keep tinkering and stay classy!
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