Okay, so I’ve been messing around with watches lately, and let me tell you, it’s a whole different world. I decided to try my hand at remaking a Patek Philippe Gondolo, specifically the 7042/100G-010 model. I know, I know, it’s a pretty ambitious project, but hey, why not?
First off, I spent hours just staring at pictures of this watch online. Seriously, I think I have every angle of this thing memorized. The price tag on the real deal is insane. This is not cheap. There are a few listings I saw: One was going for 233,719 CHF, another for 244,106 CHF, and another for 262,565 euros! So, yeah, remaking it seemed like a much more wallet-friendly option. I wanted to see if I could pull it off.
I started by gathering all the materials I thought I’d need. Finding a case that was similar in shape was a real pain. The Gondolo isn’t your typical round watch; it’s got this rectangular, kind of cushion-y shape. And, of course, the real one is made of 18k white gold, but I just used the metal that is close to white gold.
Next up was the dial. The 7042/100G-010 has this incredible dial that’s just covered in diamonds. I obviously wasn’t going to use real diamonds, but I found some pretty convincing substitutes that still gave it that sparkly look. I spent a lot of time trying to get the dial to look like it.
- Case: The case, man, that was a challenge. Getting that specific Gondolo shape right took a lot of trial and error. It’s 31mm by 34.8mm, which is a size I don’t normally work with.
- Movement: The movement is the heart of the watch. The original uses a manually-wound mechanical movement. I’ve tried to find one that was similar enough and fit the case.
- Diamonds: The original has 78 baguette diamonds on the bezel and lugs. These tiny stones are a big part of what makes this watch so special. I found some decent fakes, but placing them correctly was a real test of patience.
Putting it all together was like a really complicated puzzle. I had to be super careful with each step, especially when setting the fake diamonds on the bezel and lugs. I am trying to make it look like the original one, which features a bezel and lugs set with 78 baguette diamonds.
After many, many hours of work, I finally finished it. Does it look exactly like the original? No, not really. But, it’s pretty darn close, and I’m actually really proud of how it turned out. It’s got that same elegant vibe, and it definitely catches the eye.
It’s My Baby
This whole process has given me a whole new appreciation for watchmakers. The amount of detail and precision that goes into making these things is just mind-blowing. I learned a lot from this project, and who knows, maybe I’ll try remaking another watch in the future. But for now, I’m going to enjoy wearing my “almost” Patek Philippe Gondolo. It is not perfect, but it is my baby now.
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