So, I’ve been wanting a really nice watch for a while now. Something classy, you know? And I kept coming back to this one watch, the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R. It’s just so sleek and timeless.
I started digging around, reading everything I could about it. Found out that Patek Philippe released a new version of the Golden Ellipse at some fancy watch event this year. Turns out, the design is based on this “golden section” thing from ancient Greek mathematicians. Pretty cool, right? It’s supposed to be this perfect proportion that’s in a bunch of famous art and buildings. This watch even had some super accurate quartz movements, like the 3770. And there is another version, a mix between the Nautilus and the Golden Ellipse, it has a weird shape with “ears”.
But here’s the thing: these watches are crazy expensive. Like, way out of my budget. So, I had to get creative. I figured, why not try to remake one myself? I mean, how hard could it be, right?
The Plan
- First, I needed to find all the parts. I spent hours online, searching for the specific type of rose gold for the case, the right kind of leather for the strap, and all the tiny little pieces that make up the movement.
- Then came the hard part: putting it all together. I watched a ton of videos and read a bunch of articles about watchmaking. It’s way more complicated than I thought!
- I had to buy some special tools, like tiny screwdrivers and tweezers. My kitchen table turned into a makeshift workshop.
The Process
I started with the case. Shaping the rose gold was tough. I messed up a few times and had to start over. But eventually, I got it to look pretty close to the real Golden Ellipse. It took a lot of time for me to bend and cut, and finally, I nailed it.
Next up was the movement. This was the trickiest part. I had to assemble all those tiny gears and springs just right. Let me tell you, it was a test of patience. It took me about two weeks to figure it out, after countless failing attempts.
The dial and hands were a bit easier. I found some that looked similar to the original and managed to get them in place without too much trouble. I even tried to paint the dial by my hand, but failed.
Finally, I attached the leather strap. This was the easiest part, thankfully. All I need to do is to punch some holes, and sew the buckle on.
The Result
After weeks of work, I finally had my own “Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse.” It’s not perfect, of course. There are some flaws here and there. But you know what? I’m incredibly proud of it. I made it with my own two hands. And every time I look at it, I remember the whole process and how much I learned along the way. It’s not just a watch; it’s a story. A story of not giving up, even when things got tough. And who knows, maybe this is just the beginning. Maybe I’ll try to remake another watch someday. But for now, I’m going to enjoy wearing my homemade Golden Ellipse.
I mean, it is not a real Patek, for sure. But it looks good enough for me, right? And I made it all by myself. That is something that counts. If I can make this one, I can make others. I am really thinking about making this a side job or something, maybe make some extra cash. We will see.
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