Alright, let’s talk about this Patek Philippe Nautilus 5726 project I took on. I’ve always been a fan of the Nautilus, but the real ones are just way too pricey. So, I thought, why not try to remake one myself? It sounded like a fun challenge, and I figured I could share my experience with you all.
First off, I spent a good chunk of time just staring at pictures of the 5726, especially the dial. The color of the dial is a big deal, you know? I was torn between the white and blue ones. I also found some people saying the date window looked “sunken” on some remakes, so that was something I needed to watch out for.
I did some digging around and found out that the real 5726 uses a movement called the “324 S QA LU 24H/303”. Finding something similar was going to be key. I also noticed that on some remakes, the “Patek Philippe” and “Geneve” text was a bit off-center. That’s a small detail, but it bugged me, so I made a mental note to keep an eye on that too.
After a lot of searching, I finally settled on the parts I needed. It was a bit of a gamble, ordering parts from different places, but I figured it was worth a shot. I ordered the case, the dial, the hands, and a movement that was close enough to the 324. I went with the blue dial, by the way. I just couldn’t resist it.
When the parts arrived, I laid everything out on my workbench. It was a bit intimidating, to be honest. I’ve tinkered with watches before, but this was a whole different level. I started by assembling the movement, which was surprisingly tricky. Those tiny screws are a real pain!
Next up was the dial. I carefully placed it onto the movement, making sure it was perfectly centered. Then came the hands, which were even more delicate than the movement parts. I had to use tweezers and a magnifying glass to get them on without bending them.
Once the movement, dial, and hands were all together, I placed it into the case. This was the moment of truth. I held my breath as I carefully closed the case back. And there it was, my very own Patek Philippe Nautilus 5726!
Here’s what I noticed right away:
- The dial color looked pretty good! It had that nice gradient effect that the real ones have.
- The date window didn’t look sunken, which was a relief.
- The “Patek Philippe” and “Geneve” text was a little off-center, just like I’d seen on some other remakes. I might try to fix that later.
- The watch was actually ticking! That was a huge relief. I hadn’t messed up the movement!
Overall, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It’s not perfect, but it’s a decent remake of the 5726. And it was a lot of fun to build. I learned a lot about watchmaking along the way. I might even try to remake other models in the future. It is a really satisfying experience to take something apart and put it back together, you know? I’m not even into fancy watches, but the whole process was just too much fun.
If you’re thinking about trying something like this, I say go for it! Just be prepared to be patient and have some money for all the parts. It’s not easy, but it’s definitely rewarding.
I’ll keep you all updated if I make any changes to the watch. Maybe I’ll try to center that text, or maybe I’ll just leave it as is. We’ll see! For now, I am just enjoying the process of making it.