Hey everyone, so, I’ve been messing around with watches again. This time, I tried my hand at remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227G-010. Yeah, that super classy, simple watch that’s way out of my price range. I mean, who has $27,250 just lying around for a watch? Not me, that’s for sure.
First off, I started by just staring at a bunch of pictures of the real deal online. I spent hours just looking, zooming in, trying to get every little detail in my head. The original has this clean, white gold case, and it’s pretty thin, only about 9.24mm. And the dial is just so simple, with those pointy hour markers and hands. It’s really something else.
Then I started the whole process of actually making this thing. I used some different metals. It took forever to get the shape right, especially since I wanted that thin look like the original. I tried to copy the case, it is about 39mm, but it was not easy.
- First Try: Got the shape all wrong. It looked more like a dinner plate than a watch.
- Second Try: Closer, but still not there. It was way too thick.
- Third Time’s the Charm: Finally got something that looked like a watch.
Next up, the dial. This was a real pain. I painted it, tried to get those hour markers on. Man, those things are tiny! I messed up so many times, had to start over and over again. I drew the markers and hands by myself, but I’m no artist. They don’t look as sharp as the real thing.
And the movement, oh boy. The original has this crazy complicated movement, the caliber 324 S C. I read somewhere it has 217 parts and beats at 28,800 vph. I tried to make something that at least looked a bit like it, but there’s no way I could get all those tiny parts to work together. Mine is just for show. But hey, at least it looks somewhat convincing from a distance, right?
After a lot of trial and error, and a lot of frustration, I finally finished it. It’s not perfect, not even close. But it kinda looks like the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227G-010, at least from far away. It’s got that simple, elegant vibe, even though it’s not as fancy or well-made as the real one.
Was it worth it?
Honestly, it was a fun project. I learned a lot about watches and how they’re made. And I got to pretend, just for a little bit, that I own a super expensive watch. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of work, but it was also pretty rewarding to see the finished product, even if it’s not perfect.
So, that’s my story about remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227G-010. It’s not the real thing, but it’s my little tribute to a watch that I really admire. Maybe one day I’ll be able to afford the real one, but for now, this will have to do.
Click to consult