Okay, so I’ve been wanting to remake a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5722 watch for a while now. I’m not gonna lie, those things are crazy expensive. An entry-level Patek? Forget about it! We’re talking like 30 grand at least. And even if you got the money, good luck just walking into a store and buying one. Apparently, there’s a waiting list that’s, like, eight years long for some models. For others, like the Calatrava, it might just be a year, but still, who wants to wait that long? You can find them on the resale market easily, sure, but be prepared to pay four times the original price! It’s all hype, man. Anyway, I decided to take matters into my own hands and try to remake one myself. A really nice one.
I started by doing a ton of research. I looked up everything I could about the 5722, especially the 5712 model since it’s got a micro-rotor movement with a power reserve indicator and a moon phase display. Pretty cool stuff. The 5711, which is just time and date, got discontinued, so that wasn’t an option. I found out the real deal has a 40mm stainless steel case that’s water-resistant up to 60 meters. And the movement inside? It’s called the PP240, and it’s a super clone, but like, really, really good quality.
- Gathering the Parts: This was the hardest part. I needed to find a case that was as close to the original as possible. I spent days searching online, comparing measurements, and looking at pictures. Finally, I found a supplier that had a decent-looking 40mm stainless steel case. It wasn’t perfect, but it was close enough. Finding a PP240 super clone movement was a little easier but no less important, and I managed to source one from a different supplier. I also needed to find the right hands, dial, and all the other little bits and pieces. It felt like a treasure hunt.
- Assembling the Watch: Once I had all the parts, I started putting the watch together. Now, I’m not a professional watchmaker, but I’ve tinkered with watches before. I followed some online tutorials and took my time. It was definitely challenging. Getting the movement to fit perfectly in the case was a pain. Then I carefully installed the dial and hands. I wanted everything to look just right, you know?
- First Test Run: I was so nervous when I finally wound up the watch for the first time. But guess what? It worked! The second hand started sweeping, and the time was accurate. I couldn’t believe it. I actually made a working watch that looked almost exactly like a Patek Philippe Nautilus. I checked out the moon phase display and the power reserve indicator, and they were spot on.
I’ve been wearing my remade 5722 for a few weeks now, and I’m really happy with it. It keeps great time, and it looks amazing. Of course, it’s not a real Patek Philippe, but it’s close enough for me. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watches in the process. Plus, I saved a ton of money! Maybe next time I’ll try a different model. Who knows?
Disclaimer: I’m not trying to pass this watch off as a genuine Patek Philippe. It’s just a personal project that I wanted to share with you all. Don’t try to sell these as the real thing, okay? That’s not cool.
Click to consult