Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse for a while now. That watch is just… wow. I finally decided to go for it and remake the Ref. 5738R, the one with the rose gold and the black dial. It’s a classic, you know?
First, I spent hours just staring at pictures of the 5738R online. I mean, I was obsessed. I needed to get every detail right. The way the light hits that rose gold case, the subtle texture of the dial… everything. It’s all about the “golden section,” this 1 / 1.6181 ratio the ancient Greeks were all about. Patek uses it in the design, and it just makes the whole thing look balanced and beautiful.
Then came the hard part: finding the materials. I went to so many shops, talked to so many people. I needed to get the right kind of rose gold, something that looked and felt like the real deal. I finally found a jeweler who understood what I was going for. He helped me pick out the perfect metal, and he even gave me some tips on how to work with it.
- Sourcing the Movement: Now, the movement. This is the heart of the watch. I knew I couldn’t replicate Patek’s Caliber 240, it is known for its thinness and allowing for the entire timepiece to be only 6mm thick. So, I searched for a movement that was reliable, accurate, and as thin as possible. It took some time, but I eventually found one that fit the bill.
- Crafting the Case: I started shaping the rose gold. This was tricky. I’m no expert, but I took my time, followed the measurements I’d taken from the pictures, and slowly, carefully, started to see the iconic elliptical shape take form. It was tough to get it to be only 6mm thick.
- Making the Dial: The dial was another challenge. I wanted that same rich black color, with the simple, elegant gold markers. I experimented with different materials and techniques until I got something that I was happy with. I managed to get the color pretty close.
- Putting it All Together: This was the most nerve-wracking part. I carefully assembled all the pieces, the movement, the case, the dial, the hands. It was like putting together a tiny, intricate puzzle. Each part had to fit perfectly. And then, there it was. My own version of the Golden Ellipse 5738R.
It’s not perfect, of course. It’s not a real Patek Philippe. But it’s mine. And I made it with my own two hands. It’s a reminder that even if you can’t have the real thing, you can still create something beautiful and meaningful. And honestly, I am pretty proud of how it turned out. I even went to a Patek Philippe authorized retailer in Columbus to compare mine to the real thing, it was pretty close!
The whole process was a real learning experience. I learned so much about watchmaking, about design, and about myself. It was frustrating at times, but it was also incredibly rewarding. Would I do it again? Maybe. But for now, I’m just going to enjoy wearing my handmade Golden Ellipse. It’s a conversation starter, that’s for sure! People always ask me about it, and I love telling them the story of how I made it.
If you are interested in Patek Philippe, I strongly recommend you to check the official authorized retailers and showrooms listed on their official website, because only these places are reliable.
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