Alright, so I got my hands on this project to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227J-001. Yeah, the fancy watch, the one they say is all “elegant” and stuff. Now, I’m no watch expert, but I do know my way around tools and I like shiny things.
First off, I took a real good look at the original. It’s a self-winding thing, so that’s neat. Don’t have to fuss with winding it up all the time. I noticed it’s got this shock absorber thingy too, so it can take a bit of a bump, I guess.
- Gathered all my tools. This wasn’t like fixing a leaky faucet. Needed some special tiny screwdrivers and magnifying glasses and all sorts of stuff. Looked like a dentist’s office in here.
- Then, I started taking it apart. I’ll tell ya, this was nerve-wracking. Those tiny little screws, if you drop one, you’re in trouble. I labeled everything and took a bunch of pictures so I’d remember where it all went.
- Cleaned every single piece. You wouldn’t believe the gunk that can get inside a watch. Little bits of dust and grime. I used this special cleaning solution and tiny brushes. Felt like I was restoring some ancient artifact.
Now, the 5227J-001, it’s made of yellow gold. Looks pretty, but it’s soft. You gotta be real careful not to scratch it. I used these soft cloths and wore gloves. Treat it like a baby, that’s what I always say.
Putting it all back together, that was the real test. Like building a tiny, intricate puzzle. But I followed my pictures, used my notes, and took my sweet time. One wrong move and you could mess up the whole thing. I mean, the Calatrava’s mechanism is a good one, but it’s complicated. You gotta be sure everything is where it’s supposed to be.
Putting it all back together
It’s like making a stew, you know? You gotta put all the right ingredients in, in the right order, and let it simmer just right. This watch, it’s like a stew of tiny little gears and springs. And, boy, does it take a lot of work to get the stew to come out right!
Finally, after hours of work, I got it all assembled. Wound it up, and guess what? It started ticking! Man, that was a good feeling. Like I’d brought something back to life. This remake, it ain’t the original, of course, but it’s pretty darn close. And it’s something I made with my own two hands. I will not say it is perfect, because it took me a while to get it all aligned and stuff. I am really happy with how it turned out, though. It was a fun project.
So, there you have it. My little adventure remaking a fancy watch. It’s not for everyone, this kind of thing. But if you like a challenge and you’re good with your hands, it’s a pretty rewarding experience. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go show off my shiny new watch.
Click to consult