Hey everyone, it’s your boy back again with another project. This time, I got it into my head that I wanted to remake a Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001. Yeah, I know, it’s a pretty ambitious project, but hey, why not? I’ve always been a fan of these watches, and the Gondolo Serata, with its unique style and timeless elegance, well, it just called to me.
First things first, I needed to get a good look at the real deal.
- Scoured the internet for every picture and video I could find of the 4962/200R-001.
- Studied the dimensions: 28.6 x 40.85 mm, with a height of 7.36 mm.
- Noted the water resistance, which is up to 30 meters. Not that I’d be taking this baby swimming, but you know, details matter.
Then came the part where I started to figure out how to actually make this thing.
- The case was the first hurdle. I knew it had to be rose gold, just like the original. Found a decent piece of rose gold material that I could work with, and then began the painstaking process of shaping it to the right dimensions.
- Next up, the dial. This was tricky. The original has a brown floral dial with Arabic hour markers. Recreating that floral pattern was a real test of patience, but I think I managed to pull it off. Used a brown base and then hand-painted the floral design. Took forever, but it was worth it.
Movement and Serial Numbers
Alright, let’s talk about the guts of the watch. Patek Philippe serial numbers, from what I gathered, are like codes that tell you about the watch’s model, collection, and when it was made. They’re usually engraved on the case back and the movement.
- Since I was making this from scratch, I engraved a unique serial number on the case back and the movement I put together. Feels kind of cool to have my own “production” number on there.
- As for the movement, I managed to piece together a basic mechanical movement. It’s not as complex as a real Patek Philippe movement, of course, but it works. It was a huge accomplishment to make the hands move!
Bracelet and Finishing Touches
- The bracelet was another challenge. The original comes with a brown strap. I found a similar brown leather strap and attached it to the case. This part was actually easier than I expected.
- Once everything was assembled, I spent hours polishing the case and making sure every detail was as close to the original as I could get it. It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty proud of how it turned out.
So, there you have it. My journey of remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001. It was a lot of work, a lot of trial and error, but in the end, I have a watch that I think is pretty darn cool. It’s not an investment piece like a real Patek, which holds and increases its value, I get that, but it’s a piece of me, a testament to what you can do with some determination and a lot of patience. Hope you guys enjoyed this little adventure of mine. Catch you in the next one!
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