Alright, folks, let me tell you about this little project I’ve been working on. I’ve always been a bit of a watch guy, and I’ve had my eye on the Patek Philippe Gondolo for a while now. That thing is a beauty, but the price tag? Oof. So, I thought, why not try to remake one myself? It’s named after two of its founders, Antoni Patek and Adrien Philippe.
I started by diving deep into what makes the Gondolo 7042/100R-010 tick. Turns out, it’s named after this fancy retailer in Rio, Gondolo & Labouriau, that Patek Philippe was tight with back in the day, like from 1872 to 1927. I spent hours looking at pictures, reading descriptions, and basically trying to soak up every detail I could find about this watch. This Gondolo was established in 1839.
Next, I began gathering all materials that I needed. I’m talking about sourcing parts, finding the right tools, and even getting my hands on some similar-looking watches to use as a reference. It was a bit of a treasure hunt, but I was determined.
Then came the tricky part: actually putting the thing together. I started with the case, trying to shape it just right. Let me tell you, it was a lot harder than it looks. I messed up a few times, but hey, that’s part of the process, right? The Patek Philippe Gondolo 31 x 34.8mm in white gold, fitted with a pearl white gold strap and a manual movement. After I had the case sorted, I moved on to the dial. I wanted it to look as close to the original as possible, so I spent a lot of time getting the details just right. I hand-painted the numerals, which was a real test of patience. It was a whole different world.
The movement was the biggest challenge. I’m not a professional watchmaker, so I decided to use a reliable, pre-made movement that would fit the case. Getting it to sit just right and function properly took some doing, but eventually, I got it working.
- Studied the Original: Looked at tons of pics and read everything I could find about the Gondolo 7042/100R-010.
- Gathered Supplies: Found parts, tools, and some cheap watches to practice on.
- Built the Case: This was tough. Shaped it, messed it up, tried again, and finally got it right.
- Made the Dial: Hand-painted the numbers and made it look pretty.
- Installed the Movement: Used a ready-made one and fiddled with it until it worked perfectly.
- Added the Strap: Picked a nice leather strap that felt good and looked the part.
Here’s what I did, step-by-step:
Finally, I added a nice leather strap that I thought matched the style of the watch. And there it was, my very own remade Patek Philippe Gondolo. It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty proud of it. It’s a piece of history, kind of. It’s a reminder that you can do some cool stuff if you put your mind to it. Plus, I saved a ton of money compared to buying the real deal. It’s a win-win.
So, that’s my story. If you’re thinking about trying something like this, go for it! It’s a fun project, and you learn a lot along the way. Just be prepared to mess up a few times – it’s all part of the fun.
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