Hey everyone, it’s your old buddy back again with another project. Today, we’re diving deep into the world of watches and tackling a pretty ambitious remake: the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5713/1, a real classic. I’ve always been a fan of the Nautilus’s iconic design, so I figured, why not try to recreate it myself?
First off, I gathered all the materials. We’re talking a 40 mm white gold case here – that’s the same size as the original. Finding the right case was a real challenge, but I managed to source one that was a pretty close match. It’s got that same cushion shape that the Nautilus is known for. The original has this blend of satin and polished finishes, so I made sure my case had that too. It really makes the watch pop, you know?
Next up, the dial. Now, the original 5713/1 has this beautiful blue dial with a date function. I spent days trying to find a dial that looked just right. Finally got my hands on one that’s almost identical. It’s got that same deep blue hue, and it looks stunning against the white gold.
The bracelet was another beast to tackle. The original Nautilus has this white gold bracelet with a twin-trigger deployant clasp. I searched high and low, and eventually found a matching white gold bracelet. It took some adjusting, but I got it to fit the case perfectly. The clasp was another story. I couldn’t find an exact replica of the twin-trigger one, but I found a push-button deployant clasp that does the job. It’s secure and feels pretty good on the wrist.
Assembling the whole thing was a real test of patience. I carefully set the hands, making sure the sweep centre seconds hand moved just right. Then came the date function, I used the same location and font style as the original so this was not much diffcult, Finally, I attached the bracelet to the case, and voila! The watch was complete. The original watch uses the sapphire crystal as the glass. I did some research and also found a scratch resistant sapphire crystal and used it. I also used a transparent exhibition case back so that I can see the inside, which made me feel pretty cool.
I gotta say, the finished product looks pretty darn close to the real deal. Of course, it’s not a genuine Patek Philippe, and I’m not trying to pass it off as one. But as a personal project, I’m super proud of how it turned out.
- Case: 40 mm white gold, cushion shape, satin and polished finishes.
- Dial: Blue with date function.
- Bracelet: White gold with a push-button deployant clasp.
- Crystal: Scratch resistant sapphire crystal.
- Case Back: Skeleton transparent exhibition see through case back.
It’s a statement piece, for sure, and it feels great to wear something I built myself. It’s not about the brand name or the luxury status, but the satisfaction of creating something beautiful with my own hands. What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments!
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