Hey guys, it’s been a while! Today, I wanted to share my recent little adventure in trying to remake a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5722. Yeah, you heard that right. I know, it sounds crazy, but hear me out. It all started a few days ago when I was browsing some watch forums online – you know how it is, just killing time. I stumbled upon some discussions about the discontinuation of the 5711 and the release of the 5811 in 2022. The 5811, with that gorgeous blue dial, really caught my eye.
So, I started digging deeper. Hours turned into days as I researched everything I could about Patek Philippe and the Nautilus. I learned that it’s nearly impossible to just walk into a store and buy one of these bad boys. It’s like trying to buy a brand new Rolex Daytona – just not gonna happen! But, on the resale market, they are everywhere, though the price is jacked up like four times the retail price. It’s insane because of all the hype.
Then I found out that there are only three exclusive Patek Philippe salons in the whole world – Geneva, London, and Paris. And get this, the waiting list for a 40mm Jumbo ref. 5712 at an official AD is like seven years long, with rumors that it might be discontinued soon, too. Crazy, right?
Now, here’s where my crazy idea came in. I thought, “Why not try to remake one myself?” I know, I know, it sounds nuts, but I was determined. I started by gathering all the materials I could. I ordered some stainless steel, got my hands on some tools, and even found some detailed blueprints of the Nautilus online. It was like a treasure hunt, and I was all in.
The first step was to shape the stainless steel into the iconic Nautilus case. Let me tell you, it was way harder than I thought. I spent hours just trying to get the shape right, messing up a few times, and almost giving up. But I kept pushing, and eventually, I had something that resembled the Nautilus case. It wasn’t perfect, but I was pretty proud of myself.
Next up was the dial. I knew I couldn’t replicate the exact blue of the 5811, but I tried my best to find a similar shade. I experimented with different paints and techniques, mixing colors, and applying them carefully. After a few tries, I managed to get a pretty decent blue that I was happy with.
The bracelet was another beast altogether. I decided to use a combination of polishing and brushing techniques to mimic the original. It was a tedious process, but I took my time, working on each link meticulously. It was all about the details, and I wasn’t going to rush it.
After weeks of hard work, I finally assembled all the parts. Seeing the finished product was such a rewarding moment. It wasn’t a real Patek Philippe, of course, but it was my own creation, and it looked pretty damn good. I even wore it around for a few days, and you wouldn’t believe the number of compliments I got.
- Sourced materials: stainless steel, tools, and blueprints.
- Shaped the case: spent hours perfecting the iconic Nautilus shape.
- Created the dial: experimented with paints to achieve a similar blue.
- Finished the bracelet: used polishing and brushing techniques.
- Assembled the watch: combined all parts after weeks of work.
In the end, this whole project was more than just trying to remake a watch. It was about the journey, the challenge, and the satisfaction of creating something with my own hands. Would I do it again? Probably not. But it was one hell of an experience, and I’m glad I took on the challenge. So, that’s my story. Hope you guys enjoyed it!
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