Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711 for a while now. It’s like, the holy grail of watches, right? But getting one from the official store? Forget about it. They’re basically impossible to find, and even if you do, the waiting list is insane.
So, I thought, why not try to remake one? I mean, I’m pretty handy, and I’ve got some experience with taking things apart and putting them back together. Plus, there are tons of articles and forum posts online about the 5711, so I figured I could piece together enough information to make it happen.
Starting the Project
First, I started by gathering as much information as I could. I read through every forum post, watched every video, and studied every picture I could find of the 5711. I even managed to find some blueprints online, which were super helpful. These are usually very expensive and cost nearly a million bucks, but I want to make it affordable for most people, just the same, and this is the most exciting part for me.
Next, I needed to find a watch that I could use as a base. I didn’t want to completely destroy a perfectly good watch, so I looked for something that was similar in size and shape to the 5711. I ended up finding a cheap used watch online that looked like it would do the trick. It seems like there are lots of similarities between this and the Nautilus, so I immediately got it without thinking too much.
Disassembling and Modifying
Once I had the base watch, I started taking it apart. This was definitely the most nerve-wracking part. I had to be super careful not to damage any of the parts, especially the movement. To be honest, I messed up a bit. I accidentally bent a tiny spring, but luckily, I had a spare from an old watch I had lying around. I just take my time doing it, so it’s not that hard.
After disassembling the base watch, I started modifying the parts to make them look more like the 5711. I filed down the case, polished the bezel, and even tried to engrave the Patek Philippe logo onto the back. It wasn’t perfect, but it was close enough for me. I also changed the old dial with the new one I ordered online. I carefully placed it on the watch face, making sure everything was aligned properly. And for the strap, I swapped the original with a blue rubber one because I couldn’t find a stainless one that matched the 5711’s original bracelet, but it will do for now.
Reassembling and Final Touches
Finally, I put everything back together. This was easier said than done, but I managed to get it done eventually. I added some finishing touches, like a custom-made dial and a new set of hands. To be honest, reassembling was way harder than I thought. It took me several tries to get everything fitting perfectly, and I almost gave up a couple of times. I think I spent nearly a whole day just trying to put it back together, and my back hurt like hell.
And there you have it! My very own “remade” Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711. It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty proud of it. It’s definitely a conversation starter, and it’s a lot cheaper than the real thing. It actually looks pretty good, even if I say so myself. It doesn’t have that expensive, luxurious feel, but it does look like a decent watch that I can wear daily.
- Would I do it again? Probably not.
- Was it worth it? Maybe.
- Am I going to wear it? Definitely.
I learned so much from this project. It was challenging, frustrating, but also really rewarding. I might not do it again, but I’m glad I tried. Who knows, maybe I’ll try to remake another watch in the future. We’ll see, but this will do for now.
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