So, I’ve been obsessed with watches lately, and you know the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711? That’s been my holy grail. But man, those prices are just insane! I heard it could take like 5 to 8 years just to get on the waiting list. And on sites like Chrono24, I saw listings going for over a million bucks! Crazy, right?
Anyway, I decided I wasn’t going to wait that long or shell out that kind of cash. I started digging around to see if I could just make my own version. I mean, how hard could it be? Turns out, not that simple, but way more fun than I expected.
First, I needed to find parts. I spent hours on forums like RWI, reading about other people’s experiences. Some folks were saying the white dial version is the closest to the real deal, but then others were talking about an improved blue dial. It was a mess of information, but I picked up some useful tips.
I found out that there are factories, like MK, that make pretty decent replica parts. They updated their Nautilus 5711 to a V6, which supposedly fixes a bunch of issues from earlier versions. It was all pretty confusing at first, the V2, the V6. There was a lot of back and forth on whether PF, PPF are better than MK. People also complain about bezel, crown, rotor… I decided to go with MK V6 because it seemed like a good balance of quality and price.
- Sourcing the parts: This was a whole adventure on its own. I ended up ordering a bunch of different parts from different places.
- The dial: I went back and forth on this one, but finally settled on a blue dial. It just looked so good.
- The movement: I wanted something reliable, so I went with the caliber PP 324 SC AIG1. This thing is important, and I saw some recommendations for the Gyromax balance and the 21ct gold rotor. Seemed like the way to go.
- The case and bracelet: This was tricky. I read a lot about the rose gold version of the 5711, and it’s gorgeous. But I decided to stick with the classic stainless steel look for my first try.
Once I had all the parts, it was time to put this thing together. Let me tell you, it was not easy. I’m no watchmaker, but I’m pretty handy. Still, those tiny screws and delicate parts were a real challenge. I watched a ton of videos and read a bunch of guides online. Slowly but surely, I started to see my watch come to life.
There were definitely some frustrating moments. I messed up a few times and had to reorder some parts. But honestly, that’s part of the fun, right? Learning as you go. And the feeling when I finally got it all together? Amazing.
The final product isn’t perfect. It’s not a genuine Patek, and I’m not trying to pass it off as one. But it’s my own creation, something I built with my own two hands. And it looks pretty damn good, if I do say so myself. Plus, I saved a ton of money and learned a lot along the way. Now I just have to look at it all day on my wrist! It’s a great conversation starter, that’s for sure.
What I Learned
- Making your own watch is tough but rewarding.
- There’s a whole community of people out there who are into this stuff.
- You don’t need to spend a million bucks to enjoy a beautiful watch.
So, yeah, that’s my story. If you’re thinking about trying something like this, I say go for it! Just be prepared for a challenge, and don’t expect perfection. But most of all, have fun with it.
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