Okay, let me tell you about this little project I got into recently. I’ve always been a fan of those fancy watches, especially the Patek Philippe ones. There’s this one model, the Nautilus 5713/1, that’s just beautiful. But, man, it’s way out of my league, price-wise. We’re talking over a hundred grand! So, I thought, why not try to make a remake of it?
First off, I started digging around online. I was looking for any info I could find about this watch. Found out it’s a pretty rare one, made of white gold and has some diamonds on it. They don’t even make them anymore, which makes it even cooler but also harder to copy. The real ones, if you can even find them, have this awesome blue dial with a date thing on it. And of course, the whole thing is made of white gold, which is, you know, not cheap.
So, after a lot of searching, I found this source that seemed legit. They claimed they could make a remake of the 5713/1. It felt like a bit of a gamble, but I decided to go for it. I placed the order, and let me tell you, the waiting was the hardest part. I was like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. Every day, I’d check my email a million times, hoping for an update.
While I was waiting, I did some more research on the original watch. It seems like it’s a pretty big deal in the watch world. I came across this listing for a real one, and the price was just insane – $129,000! I mean, I knew it was expensive, but seeing that number was a real eye-opener. I started to appreciate the craftsmanship of the original even more. It’s not just a watch; it’s like a piece of art.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the day arrived. The package was at my doorstep. I ripped it open, and there it was, my remake 5713/1. I have to say, I was pretty impressed. It wasn’t the real deal, of course, but it looked darn close. They did a decent job with the blue dial and the overall shape of the watch. The material wasn’t white gold, obviously, and the diamonds were definitely not real, but for a remake, it was pretty good.
But I knew I wasn’t finished. I’m not about to spend that much and not make sure it works.
I took it to a local watch guy I know. He’s been tinkering with watches for years, and I trust his judgment. He took one look at it and chuckled. Said it was a decent copy but that it was not quite there yet.
- First thing he noticed was the weight. The remake was way lighter than the original. Like I said, no white gold.
- Then there was the movement. He opened it up and showed me the insides. The original has this super intricate movement, but this one was, well, let’s just say it was a lot simpler.
- The details on the dial were also a bit off. The date window wasn’t the same, and the hands were slightly different.
I was a bit bummed, but not surprised. I mean, I didn’t expect it to be perfect.
Tinkering
So started a new journey for me. I decided I was going to get this remake as close to the original as possible. I ordered some better parts online – a heavier case, a more accurate movement, and even some tiny little details for the dial.
I spent hours, days even, with my watch guy, learning how to take it apart and put it back together. It was frustrating at times, and I messed up a few things along the way, but I was determined.
Result
After a lot of trial and error, I finally got it to a point where I was happy. It’s still not the real 5713/1, but it’s MY 5713/1. It’s got a bit of me in it, you know? It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty darn close, and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved.
This whole thing taught me a lot. Not just about watches, but about patience, persistence, and the satisfaction of creating something with your own hands. It’s been a fun ride, and who knows, maybe I’ll tackle another remake project in the future. But for now, I’m going to enjoy wearing my “almost” Patek Philippe Nautilus.
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