Today, I’m tackling a project that’s a bit more on the luxurious side: remaking the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712, specifically, trying to get it to the quality of the official flagship store.
I got the idea because my buddy showed me his real 5712, and I was like, “Damn, that’s nice, but I heard it has a 7-year waiting list!” Plus, there’s the buzz that it might be discontinued soon. So, I figured, why not try to remake it? I mean, it shares the slim look of the 5711 but also manages to pack in more, like a power reserve display.
First, I grabbed a basic Nautilus model. I heard that as of April 2024, only two 5712 models with bracelets are still being made, so I made sure to get one of those. The dial is not the easiest to read, but honestly, that’s not a deal-breaker for me. It looks just like any other Nautilus at first glance.
The movement was the tough part. I tinkered with a few options. I tried ordering the SW moon phase, and I also ordered the SpongeBob moon phase, which, in my humble opinion, is even better. Getting these to fit and work like the real deal was a pain, but I managed.
I also did some research on the latest models, like the 5712/1R-001, and even the new 2024 5712/1A. I wanted to make sure I was up to date with the features, even though mine isn’t an official one. There’s a bunch of information about this model, with its original box and papers, which helped me figure out what details I needed to get right.
Customization Process
- Dial: Spent hours getting the dial to look just right. The subdials and the moon phase are pretty tricky.
- Movement: I swapped out the basic movement for the SW moon phase and, for kicks, even tried the SpongeBob moon phase on a separate attempt.
- Bracelet: Polished the bracelet to match the shine of the original. I used some references from online to get the look just right.
- Case: Made sure the case dimensions were spot on, matching the slim profile of the original 5712.
After a lot of trial and error, and a few messed-up dials, I finally got it to a point where I’m pretty happy. It’s not perfect, but it’s close enough to fool someone who isn’t a hardcore watch expert. I wore it out to a dinner, and my buddy with the real 5712 was pretty impressed. He even joked about swapping it for his, but I told him no way!
So, that’s my little adventure with the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712 remake. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watch mechanics. If you’re into watches and have some time to kill, I’d say give it a shot. Just be prepared for some frustrating moments and a lot of tiny screws!
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