Man, let me tell you about this little project I’ve been working on. It all started when I decided I wanted to remake a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712. I mean, that watch is a beauty, right? It’s a real luxury piece with a waiting list longer than my arm, so I figured, why not try to recreate one myself?
First off, I went online to check out some prices and find out more about it. That’s where I learned it comes in at around 40mm. I found some info that the retail price for a new one is somewhere around $127,995! Crazy, huh? But I wasn’t planning on buying one, I wanted to make my own. I also learned that these watches usually have a 7-year waiting list.
So, I started gathering materials. I’m not using real gold or anything, that’s way out of my budget. But I did manage to find some decent stainless steel that I thought would work well for the case and bracelet. Getting the right dimensions was a bit tricky, but I had a buddy who had the same idea before and shared the CAD file with me. The movement was the hardest part. I’m not a watchmaker, so I had to do a lot of research to figure out how to make something that would at least look like the real deal. I finally decided to use the automatic caliber 240 PS IRM C LU.
The actual building process was…well, let’s just say it was a learning experience. I messed up a few times, had to redo some parts, and spent way more time on this thing than I initially thought I would. But you know what? It was kind of fun, in a frustrating, makes-you-want-to-pull-your-hair-out kind of way. I started by shaping the stainless steel into the basic case shape. Then I carefully crafted the bracelet links, making sure they were all the same size and shape.
- Shaping the stainless steel.
- Crafting the bracelet links.
- Working on the dial and hands. This was a real pain, I tried my best to make it look like the original.
- Then came the movement. Like I said, I’m no pro, but I did my best to put together something that looked the part.
After many hours of work, lots of trial and error, and a few choice words here and there, I finally finished it! It’s not perfect, of course. It’s not going to fool any watch experts, but it looks pretty darn good if I do say so myself. It’s got that classic Nautilus shape, the bracelet feels solid, and the movement, well, it ticks! That’s a win in my book. I even took it to a local watch shop, and the guy there was pretty impressed. He said it was a decent homage to the original. And he offered me $140 for my work, which was way more than I expected.
Would I do it again? Probably not. It was a ton of work. But am I glad I did it? Absolutely! I learned a lot, and I have a pretty cool-looking watch to show for it. It might not be a real Patek Philippe, but it’s mine, and I made it with my own two hands. And that’s worth more than any price tag in my opinion.
I wish everyone have a great day and a wonderful shopping experience!
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