Alright, let’s talk about this project I’ve been messing around with – trying to remake a Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse, the 5738R model to be exact. That watch is just pure class, you know? So I got this idea in my head, and I just had to see if I could pull it off.
First, I spent hours just staring at pictures of the 5738R online. I mean, I was practically drooling over this thing. The rose gold, the black dial, that elliptical shape – it’s all so slick. I noticed that the design is based on something called the “golden section,” some ancient Greek math thing. Apparently, it’s like the perfect proportions or something, and it’s in a bunch of famous art and buildings. Who knew, right?
Anyways, I started sketching out the case. This was the trickiest part. Getting that ellipse just right was a real pain. I made a few cardboard cutouts, then moved on to some thin metal sheets. I had to file and sand and file some more to get the shape smooth and symmetrical. It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty darn close, especially when I compare it to those online pictures again.
- Sketching: The initial design phase involved numerous sketches to capture the essence of the Golden Ellipse.
- Cutting and Shaping: I used cardboard first for prototyping, then thin metal sheets, employing careful filing and sanding.
- Polishing: To mimic the 18k rose gold, I polished the metal to a high sheen, ensuring it captured light beautifully.
Next up was the dial. I wanted that deep black sunburst effect, which is way harder to do than it looks. I ended up painting a small metal disc with a glossy black paint. Then, while it was still a little wet, I used a tiny brush to make those little lines radiating out from the center. It took a few tries, but I finally got something that looked decent.
For the hands and the little hour markers, I just cut out some tiny pieces of gold-colored foil. I glued them onto the dial, trying to keep them as straight and evenly spaced as possible. My hands were cramping up by the end, but hey, it was worth it.
Putting it all together
The last step was putting it all together. I found a cheap quartz movement online – nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. I attached the dial to the movement, then carefully inserted the whole thing into the case. I made a simple leather strap, and boom, I had my own little Golden Ellipse.
Now, I’m not saying it’s as good as the real deal. I mean, the real 5738R is like 40 grand. But for a fun little project, I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It’s not about making a perfect replica, it’s about the process, the challenge, and the satisfaction of creating something with your own two hands. Plus, now I’ve got a cool-looking watch to wear, even if it didn’t cost me an arm and a leg.
In the end, this project was really a success, not because of having a perfect remake of the watch, but because of all the things that I learned doing it. It was a hell of a journey!
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