Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to remake that Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100R-010 watch for a while now. It’s a real beauty, but the price tag? Forget about it! I started by digging around online to learn more about this watch.
I found out that the Gondolo collection is actually named after this fancy retailer in Rio de Janeiro, Gondolo & Labouriau. Pretty cool, huh? I also checked out some online stores that sell remake watches. They had some pretty good deals, but I wanted to make sure I was getting a decent one, so I looked at a bunch of different websites and compared prices.
Gathering What I needed
- Case: This watch has a rose gold case, 31mm by 34.8mm. It’s also got these shiny diamond things on the bezel and lugs. I found a similar case online, but it wasn’t easy to get one that looked right. I even looked for used ones, no luck though.
- Movement: It’s a manual winding watch, not one of those automatic ones. I managed to snag a movement that was kinda the same. Not perfect, but it’ll do for this project.
- Dial and Strap: The dial is just… wow. I knew I couldn’t find the exact same one so I had to be a bit creative with my search. I’ve also searched for a pearl and rose gold strap in some online shops, but, there was nothing I wanted. I might have to settle for something simpler.
The Process
First, I worked on the case. I tried to put in some similar-looking “diamonds” around the edges like the original. It was a pain, let me tell you. I got glue everywhere, and they kept falling off. Finally, I got them to stay put, but it definitely doesn’t look as fancy as the real deal.
Next, I put in the movement. That was actually easier than I thought it would be. I followed some YouTube videos, and it went in pretty smoothly. I was pretty proud of myself for that part, not gonna lie.
Then came the dial. Since I couldn’t find the original, I had to get creative. I printed out a picture of the original dial and tried to make something similar using some stuff I had lying around. It’s not perfect, but it kinda sorta resembles the original.
The strap was the biggest challenge. I couldn’t find the right material or even anything close to it. In the end, I just used a regular leather strap I had. It works, but it definitely doesn’t have the same vibe as the original.
The Results
So, after all that work, how did it turn out? Well, it’s definitely not a perfect remake. It looks okay from far away, but up close, you can see all the little imperfections. It was a fun project, though. I learned a lot, and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out, considering my limited skills and budget. I might try to remake another watch in the future, but maybe I’ll pick something a bit simpler next time!
Click to consult