Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to remake a classic watch for a while now, and I finally took the plunge. I decided to go with the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse, specifically the 5738R model. That watch just screams class, you know? It’s got this timeless look that I really dig.
First, I started to figure out what makes this watch tick. I read that the design was based on the “golden section,” some ancient Greek math thing. It’s supposed to be this perfect proportion, 1 / 1.6181 or something, and it’s been used in famous art and buildings throughout history. That’s pretty cool, right? This watch isn’t just a timepiece; it’s like a piece of history on your wrist.
Then I found out that they made some with a quartz movement. Some people say it’s like a mix between the Nautilus and the Golden Ellipse, it has this “ears” shape. I wanted to remake the 5738R, I think that was to celebrate the model’s 50th anniversary. It’s got this larger size and an ebony black face with a sunburst effect. Very fancy.
I started by sketching out the design. I measured my wrist and tried to get the proportions right. I wanted it to have that classic elliptical shape. That was actually really hard to draw! I had to look up all these images online and practice a bunch of times to get it right. I’m not an artist by any means, so it took some time.
Next, I wanted to find materials that looked like rose gold. I didn’t want to spend a fortune, so I went to a bunch of craft stores and looked for anything that had that warm, pinkish color. I even checked out some hardware stores, looking at different metals and finishes. Finally, I found some metallic sheets that looked pretty close.
Cutting the elliptical shape out of the metal was tough. I used some heavy-duty scissors and had to be super careful not to bend the metal too much. It took a lot of patience, let me tell you! I messed up a few times, but eventually, I got a shape I was happy with.
For the watch face, I decided to print out a picture of the real 5738R dial. I found a high-quality image online, resized it to fit my elliptical shape, and printed it on some nice, thick paper. I then cut it out carefully and glued it onto my metal base. It was starting to look like a real watch!
The hands were tricky. I ended up using some thin wire and shaping them to look like the ones on the real watch. I painted them black to match the dial. Attaching them was a whole other challenge. I had to make a tiny hole in the center of the dial and carefully insert the hands. I used some super glue to hold them in place.
Assembling the Watch
Putting it all together was like doing a puzzle. I used a small screwdriver and some tiny screws to attach everything. I had to be extra careful not to scratch the metal or the printed dial. It was a delicate operation, but I managed to get it all assembled.
Adding the Strap
For the strap, I wanted something that looked like the original bracelet. I found a chain-style bracelet online that looked pretty similar. I had to adjust the length to fit my wrist, which involved removing some links. That was a bit fiddly, but I got it done.
The Finished Product
Finally, after all that work, I had my very own homemade Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R! It’s not perfect, of course, but I’m really proud of it. It’s got that classic look I was going for, and it actually tells the time! I’ve been wearing it around, and people have even asked me about it. They can’t believe I made it myself!
This whole project was a lot of fun. It took a lot of time and effort, but it was worth it. I learned a lot about watches, design, and even a bit of ancient Greek math! Plus, I now have a unique timepiece that I can show off. If you’re looking for a fun and challenging DIY project, I highly recommend trying to remake a classic watch. Just be prepared to put in some serious work!
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