Okay, here’s my go at remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010, classic style. Let me tell you, it was a journey.
First, I got really into watches a few years back. Not just telling time, but the whole craftsmanship thing. I started tinkering with some old, broken watches I found at flea markets. It was messy, but I learned a ton. After successfully fixing a few, I thought, “Why not try to make one from scratch?” I knew it would be tough, but I was up for the challenge.
I decided I wanted to remake something classic, something timeless. That’s when I stumbled upon the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010. I mean, this thing is a piece of art. 18k rose gold, rectangular case, diamonds all over the bezel. It’s a manually-winding watch. I saw some listings online—this watch is seriously expensive! But that wasn’t going to stop me.
Getting the Right Parts
- Finding the right parts was a nightmare. I spent weeks scouring online forums, specialty shops, you name it. I needed to get a good movement first. I finally managed to get one that is similar to the original one after contacting a guy who had a whole network of watch part suppliers. I learned that the original watch has 31mm 34.8mm case set, which was a challenge to recreate.
- Then there was the case. Rose gold is not cheap, folks. I ended up using a different metal with a rose gold plating to save some money but still look decent. I shaped it using some basic metalworking tools I picked up. Lots of trial and error here, believe me.
- The dial was another hurdle. I wanted to get that diamond-paved look, but real diamonds? Forget about it. I found these tiny, sparkly crystals that looked pretty convincing from a distance. Glueing each one of those suckers on was tedious as heck, but I was determined to finish it.
Putting It All Together
Assembly was nerve-wracking. I was so scared of breaking something. I followed some online tutorials for assembling watch movements and took it super slow. I lubricated all the gears, set the hands, and held my breath as I wound it up for the first time.
And guess what? It ticked! It actually worked! I couldn’t believe it. I attached a leather strap I had lying around, and boom, I had my own, very amateur, version of the Patek Philippe Gondolo.
It’s not perfect, not even close. The finishing is rough, the timekeeping probably isn’t super accurate, and it doesn’t even have the original “Patek Philippe” logo, but I made it. And that’s what counts. I learned so much during this project and I am happy that I tried. This whole experience taught me a lot about patience, detail, and the sheer complexity of watchmaking. It made me appreciate those luxury watches even more, knowing the work that goes into them.
I wore it for a few days just to see how it felt. It was a bit clunky, but it was my clunky. It’s now sitting on my desk as a reminder that you can do anything if you set your mind to it and have a lot of patience. Would I do it again? Maybe, but next time I think I will try to make my own design from scratch. That’s a story for another day.
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