So, I decided to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava, specifically the 6119G-001. It’s a real looker, that watch.
First off, I started digging around to see what this watch was all about. It’s called the Calatrava 6119G-001, and apparently, it’s made of white gold. I found out that it’s got this “Clous de Paris” pattern, which is some fancy term for a textured design on the watch.
Then, I started figuring out what I needed to get this project going. Since I was remaking it, I started gathering materials that looked like what the real one’s made of. I mean, it’s not going to be actual white gold, but something that gives off the same vibe.
I got to work on the watch case first. I found that the real deal is about 39mm across and a bit over 8mm thick. So, I tried to match those measurements as closely as possible. I spent a good chunk of time shaping and polishing the case, trying to get that smooth, classy look of the original.
- Diameter: I aimed for around 39mm, just like the real one.
- Thickness: Tried to keep it close to 8mm.
- Parts: The original has 212 parts. I did not try to match that, but I focused on the major components.
The next big thing was that “Clous de Paris” pattern. That took some real doing. I tried a few different methods to get that textured look on the dial. It wasn’t easy, but after a few tries, I managed to get something that looked pretty decent.
After that, it was a matter of putting everything together—the movement, the hands, the dial, all of it. It was like assembling a really complicated puzzle, but way more satisfying.
Finally, after all that work, I had my own homemade Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119G-001. It’s not the real thing, but it’s a pretty good replica, if I do say so myself. It’s got that same elegant look, and I learned a heck of a lot in the process.
It was a fun project, and now I have a watch that’s a real conversation starter. Every time someone asks about it, I get to tell the whole story of how I made it. Pretty cool, right?