Okay, so the other day I was just messing around, thinking about what to do next, and I thought, why not try to remake a Patek Philippe watch? I mean, those things are crazy expensive, right? And I picked the Golden Ellipse 5738R ’cause, well, it’s a classic, and I thought it would be a cool challenge. Plus, that “golden ratio” thing they talk about sounded interesting. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of ancient Greek math in their life?
So, I started by digging around for info on this watch. Turns out, this model is from the 70’s, really classic and it was like, a big deal back then. And you know me, I like old school stuff. It’s a pretty slim watch, 34.5 mm x 39.5 mm, and only 5.9 mm thick. That’s like, thinner than my phone! And it’s made of rose gold, which, let’s be honest, looks pretty slick.
Finding a Cheaper Way
- I really like the Golden Ellipse model from the 70’s and have been looking for a more budget alternative.
- I did some looking around and I’m able to find the Patek for about $8-9k.
- But that’s still a lot, so I had to get creative.
I hit up some forums and found some folks who had tried something similar. They gave me some good pointers on where to start. A lot of them were saying to focus on the movement first. That’s the heart of the watch, right? So I spent a good few days just reading up on watch movements, trying to figure out what makes this Patek one tick. I found out that back in the day, they even used these super precise quartz movements in some of the Ellipse models. I thought about going that route, but then I figured, nah, let’s try to keep it mechanical.
Getting Down to Business
Once I had a decent idea of the movement, I started thinking about the case. This was tricky. I mean, I’m not a goldsmith or anything. But I did find some decent rose gold-plated cases online that were kind of the right shape. It’s not the same as solid gold, I know, but it gives the right vibe, you know?
The dial was another challenge. I learned that the original has this special kind of finish, almost like a sunburst effect. I tried a few different techniques to replicate it. First, I messed around with some paint, and then I tried this weird trick with a toothbrush and some metallic powder. Yeah, that didn’t go so well. It was a mess, to be honest.
The Golden Ratio Thing
Then there’s this whole “golden ratio” thing. I won’t lie, I had to do some serious reading on that. Turns out, it’s this mathematical thing, 1 / 1.6181, that’s supposed to be, like, the most beautiful proportion. They used it in all sorts of art and buildings and stuff back in the day. I tried to make sure the dimensions of my remake followed this ratio. It was a bit of a headache, not gonna lie, but I think I got it pretty close.
Putting it all together was, well, let’s just say it was a learning experience. I definitely broke a few parts along the way. But, you know what? I actually managed to make something that looks pretty darn close to the original, at least to my eye. It’s not perfect, of course. It doesn’t have that Patek Philippe magic, and I’m sure an expert could spot a million things wrong with it. But hey, I made it myself, and it actually tells the time! It is kind of cool to think that I have a little piece of that “golden ratio” on my wrist now, even if it’s just a homemade version. And for a fraction of the price, I can’t complain, right? And also I learned that Patek Philippe’s company slogans is “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.” It was introduced when the company launched its “Generations” campaign in 1996. That’s interesting.
So, yeah, that’s my little watchmaking adventure. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of work, but it was also pretty fun. And who knows, maybe I’ll try another model next time. Any suggestions?
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