Hey everyone, it’s your boy back again with another project. This time, I tried to remake the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7041R-001, specifically for specialty stores. It’s a real beauty, with a mechanical movement and a cream dial. Let me tell you, it wasn’t easy, but it was definitely a fun ride!
So, first things first, I needed to figure out what I was dealing with. I spent hours looking at pictures of the watch online. This one’s a ladies’ watch, cushion-shaped, with a hand-wound caliber 215 PS. It’s got a sapphire-crystal transparent case back, and it’s about 30 mm. I also found out that it’s around $29,802, so I’m feeling the pressure to do it justice!
Next up, I started gathering my materials. Now, I couldn’t get my hands on the exact same materials Patek Philippe uses, but I found some pretty good alternatives. I got a similar cushion-shaped watch case, a movement that was close enough, and a nice cream-colored dial.
Then came the hard part – putting it all together. I started by assembling the movement, which was a real test of my patience. Tiny screws and gears everywhere, but I managed to get it done. After that, I attached the dial and the hands, making sure everything was aligned perfectly. I had to take it apart and put it back together a few times, but hey, that’s part of the process.
The case was next. I carefully placed the movement inside, making sure it was secure. Then, I added the sapphire-crystal case back. This was probably the trickiest part because I wanted to make sure it looked as close to the original as possible. I spent a good amount of time just polishing and cleaning it until it was sparkling.
The Result
Finally, after all that work, it was done! It’s not a perfect replica, but I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It’s got that same elegant look as the original, and the movement is ticking away nicely. It is my big baby now!
This project was a real challenge, but I learned a lot along the way. It’s not just about the end result, it’s about the process, the patience, and the attention to detail. I hope you guys enjoyed following along with me on this journey. Until next time, stay tuned and keep creating!
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