Hey everyone, today I’m going to share my little adventure of remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010. You know, that classic style watch that’s just dripping with elegance? Yeah, that one. I’ve always loved the look of it, but the price tag? Let’s just say it’s a bit out of my league. So, I decided, why not try to recreate it myself?
First off, I started by gathering as much info as I could about this beauty. I spent hours looking at pictures, reading descriptions, and basically becoming a mini-expert on the Gondolo 7042/100R-010. I discovered that the original piece is a manually wound, rose gold watch with a stunning dial that’s paved with 251 diamonds! And the case? A neat 31 X 34.8 mm, which seemed like a good size for a project like this. I noticed these watches are priced at least 20,000$, some even go over 100,000$.
Then came the fun part – trying to find materials that wouldn’t break the bank but still give that luxurious feel. I mean, I’m not exactly going to use real diamonds or rose gold here, but I wanted something that looked the part. I decided to use stainless steel for the case and got some pretty decent cubic zirconia that could pass for diamonds at first glance. For the watch movement, I opted for a reliable, but much more affordable, quartz movement.
Putting it all together was definitely a challenge. I had to learn how to set the tiny ‘diamonds’ into the dial and bezel, which took a lot of patience and a steady hand. I messed up a few times, ngl, but eventually, I got the hang of it.
- Finding the Right Parts: Sourcing the case, movement, and the tiny ‘diamonds’ was a whole quest on its own.
- Setting the Stones: This was the hardest part, trying to get those tiny stones to stay put without losing my mind.
- Assembling the Watch: Finally, piecing everything together and seeing the watch take shape was so satisfying.
After a few weeks of work, I finally had my own version of the Gondolo 7042/100R-010. It’s not a perfect replica, of course, and I’m sure a watch expert could spot the differences from a mile away, but I’m pretty proud of it. It looks great on my wrist, and it’s a fun conversation starter. Plus, I learned a ton about watchmaking along the way.
So, there you have it, my journey in remaking a classic Patek Philippe watch. It was a fun and challenging project, and I’m stoked with how it turned out. If you’re thinking about trying something similar, I say go for it! Just be prepared for a bit of a learning curve and a lot of fun.
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