Okay, so I got this wild idea the other day. I’ve been into watches for a while, right? And the Patek Philippe Nautilus, especially that 5722 model, it’s like, the dream watch. Super expensive, though. So, I thought, “Why not try to remake one myself?” It sounded crazy, but I was determined.
I started by looking around online, trying to figure out where to even begin. I found some people talking about the PPF V2 version and how it’s pretty good, and also the MKF one, they said is great too, and they are almost the same. But then some others were saying that mixing parts from PF and PPF was a solid way to go. And 3KF also a good option, they thought. It was all a bit of a mess, but it gave me some ideas.
I decided to go with the PPF V2 as my base. It seemed like the best starting point. I ordered all the parts I thought I’d need. When they finally arrived, I was like a kid on Christmas morning. I carefully unpacked everything, laid it all out on my workbench, and just stared at it for a while. It was a little intimidating, to be honest.
The first thing I did was take apart the original watch. I went super slow, making sure I didn’t lose any screws or damage anything. It was like surgery, but for a watch. Then, I started swapping out parts, using some from the PPF V2 and some from other places I’d found online. Some parts fit perfectly, others needed a little, uh, “persuasion.” There was definitely some filing and sanding involved.
I spent days, maybe even weeks, tinkering with this thing. I’d work on it for a few hours, get frustrated, take a break, and then come back to it. My hands were sore, my eyes were tired, but I was determined to make this work.
- Disassembled the base watch with the precision of a brain surgeon.
- Carefully replaced parts.
- Filed and sanded parts to get them to fit just right.
- Assembled and re-assembled the watch more times than I can count.
Finally, after what felt like forever, I put the last piece in place. I wound it up, held my breath, and… it started ticking! I couldn’t believe it. It wasn’t perfect, not even close, but it was working. And it looked pretty damn good, if I do say so myself.
What’s next?
This whole experience has been a wild ride. It was way harder than I expected, but it was also super rewarding. I learned a ton about watches and about myself. It just proves that if you put your mind to something, even something as crazy as remaking a Patek Philippe, you can make it happen. Or at least, you can get pretty close. Now, I think I’m gonna try a different model. Maybe a Rolex next time!
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