Okay, so, I got this idea to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227J-001. Sounds fancy, right? But really, it’s just a nice-looking watch. First thing I did was look it up online. There are tons of these watches out there, and they ain’t cheap. I saw prices ranging from, like, 28 grand to over 40 grand. Free shipping, though!
I thought, “Why not try to make one myself?” It’s like cooking the same meal in a different pot. So, I started by checking out some stores. Found this mall, Westbrook Crossing, down in Maine. They got, like, 23 stores. I figured maybe they’d have some parts or something I could use.
Digging Around
I went there, walked around, asked a few questions. Nothing. Then I remembered a buddy of mine who’s into watches. He told me the best way is to find someone who really knows their stuff, someone reputable, if you’re looking for real watch parts. He even mentioned this place, Bezel, where they sell pre-owned watches. They check them out and everything to make sure they’re legit.
Getting My Hands Dirty
So, I couldn’t find the exact parts, but I got some similar ones. I learned that this Calatrava watch is kinda famous. They made the first one, the Reference 96, back in 1932. That’s the same year the Stern family took over Patek Philippe. They were in the dial-making business.
- First, I took apart an old watch I had lying around. Just to get a feel for it, you know?
- Then, I started sketching out what I wanted this 5227J-001 remake to look like.
- Next, I tried putting together the parts I had, trying to match the look of the real one. It’s all about the details.
The Result
It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. But, hey, I made a watch! It kinda looks like the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227J-001. I guess these watches usually go for around 24 grand on average. Mine? Not so much. But it was a fun project. It’s not about the money, right? It’s about doing something cool, learning something new.
I saw that these Calatrava watches are self-winding, which I think is pretty neat. It means they wind themselves as you wear them. Mine doesn’t do that, but that’s okay. It still tells time, and I made it. That’s gotta count for something, right?
So, that’s my story about trying to remake a fancy watch. It was a good time. Maybe I’ll try another one sometime. Who knows?
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