Okay, so the other day I got it into my head to try and remake a Patek Philippe Nautilus 7008/1. Yeah, I know, pretty ambitious, right? But I saw some folks online talking about how hard it is to get your hands on a real one – like, years of waiting and jumping through hoops. And I thought, “Why not give it a shot myself?”
Starting to Find the Materials
First things first, I needed to figure out what the heck I was going to use to make this thing. I started digging around online, checking out forums and watch enthusiast websites. I found a bunch of discussions about different materials, movements, and all that jazz. It was overwhelming, to be honest. But I kept at it, reading reviews, comparing notes, and trying to piece together a plan. I even managed to find some diagrams and close-up photos of the real deal, which was super helpful.
Making a Plan
- Step one: Get the materials. I ordered some stainless steel sheets, a bunch of tiny screws and gears (no idea what I’m doing with those yet), and some tools that looked like they belonged in a dentist’s office.
- Step two: Figure out the case. This was the tricky part. I ended up using the diagrams I found to create a sort of template. Then, I got to work cutting and shaping the steel. Let me tell you, that stuff is tough!
- Step three: The movement. Now, I’m no watchmaker, so I decided to go with a replica movement I found online. It wasn’t cheap, but it was a heck of a lot cheaper than a real Patek movement.
- Step four: The dial and hands. I found a guy online who makes custom watch dials, and he was able to create something that looked pretty close to the original. For the hands, I ended up buying a set from a replica watch parts supplier.
Assembling
Putting it all together was…well, let’s just say it was a learning experience. I had to file down parts, adjust things, and generally just fiddle around until everything fit. It was frustrating at times, but also kind of satisfying to see it slowly coming together. The hardest part, by far, was getting the movement to work properly. I had to take it apart and put it back together more times than I can count.
Wearing and Comparing
Once I finally got it all assembled, I wore it around for a few days just to see how it felt. It was definitely heavier than I expected, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. I also took some time to compare it to photos of the real Nautilus 7008/1 and some older models I found online. Obviously, mine wasn’t a perfect replica, but it was surprisingly close in some ways. Some friends couldn’t even tell it was a remake!
Reflecting
All in all, it was a fun project. I learned a ton about watches, and I got to exercise my creative muscles. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of work, but the end result was pretty rewarding. I’m not sure I’d recommend it to everyone, but if you’re looking for a unique challenge and you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty, it’s definitely something to consider. If you had asked me a few months ago if I would ever remake a watch, I would say you are crazy. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out, though. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. And that’s what counts, right?
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