Alright, let’s talk about how I tried to remake a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5722, the classic style. I’ve always been a huge fan of the Nautilus, especially the 5711. I mean, who isn’t? It’s like the holy grail of sports-luxe watches. But getting my hands on a real one? Forget about it, unless I suddenly became a millionaire or something.
So, I started looking into alternatives. I’m not a big fan of fakes or replicas, but the idea of a “remake” or “homage” seemed interesting. I’ve read about some people doing Bamford remakes of the 5711, but it seems like nobody is interested in the 5722.
I did a bunch of research online. The 5711 was discontinued, and they replaced it with some white-gold version. Cool, but not what I was looking for. I also read that the 5712 is a step up in terms of mechanical complexity. It has a micro-rotor movement, a power reserve indicator, and a moonphase display. Sounds awesome, but again, not really my style. I wanted that classic, clean 5711 look.
The Planning
First, I needed a base watch. I started looking for watches with a similar shape and size. Something with an integrated bracelet would be ideal. After a lot of searching, I found a decent-looking watch that could work. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a good starting point.
- Sourcing the Parts: This was the hardest part. I needed a new dial, hands, and maybe a new bezel. I looked for places that sell custom watch parts. The dial was the trickiest because I wanted it to have that signature Nautilus horizontal pattern.
- Finding a Watchmaker: I’m not skilled enough to do this myself, so I needed to find someone who could assemble everything. I asked around and found a local watchmaker with good reviews.
The Execution
I took all the parts to the watchmaker and explained what I wanted to achieve. He was a bit skeptical at first, but he agreed to give it a try. It took a few weeks, but he finally got it done.
- The Dial: The new dial fit perfectly. The horizontal pattern wasn’t as deep as the original, but it still looked pretty good.
- The Hands: The new hands were a big improvement. They were the right shape and size, and they matched the style of the original Nautilus.
- The Bezel: I decided to keep the original bezel. It wasn’t exactly the same as the Nautilus, but it was close enough.
The Result
Honestly, I was pretty happy with how it turned out. It’s not a Patek Philippe, but it captures the essence of the Nautilus 5722. It’s got that classic, sporty look that I love. It’s not perfect. The bracelet isn’t as refined as the original, and the movement is obviously not a Patek Philippe movement. But overall, I’m happy with it. It’s a fun project, and it’s a watch that I can wear without worrying about scratching or damaging it. And it’s way cheaper than a real Nautilus!
So, that’s my story of how I tried to remake a Patek Philippe Nautilus. It was a fun experiment, and I learned a lot about watches in the process. If you’re thinking about doing something similar, just be prepared to spend some time and money. And don’t expect to fool anyone into thinking it’s a real Patek Philippe!
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