Man, I’ve been itching to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse for a while now. You know, that classic, super elegant watch from the 70s? Yeah, that one. Specifically, I had my eye on the 5738R model. It’s just so clean and classy, you know? But let’s be real, dropping that kind of cash on a watch just ain’t happening right now. I did some digging and found out I could maybe snag a used one for like 8 or 9 grand. Still way too much. So, I thought, why not try to make one myself? Yeah, a tall order, but I was feeling ambitious.
First things first, I spent hours, maybe days, glued to my screen, scrolling through photos and videos of the 5738R. I studied every curve, every detail. I even watched those weirdly satisfying videos of watchmakers assembling these things. It was like, research, but fun, you know?
Then came the hard part – finding the parts. I was all over the internet, hunting for stuff that looked like it could fit. Honestly, it felt like a treasure hunt, except instead of gold, I was looking for, like, tiny screws and watch hands. I ended up ordering a bunch of stuff online, hoping at least some of it would work out. It was a bit of a gamble, but hey, that’s part of the fun, right?
When the parts finally arrived, it was like Christmas morning, but with a lot more anxiety. I laid everything out on my workbench, which, let’s be honest, is just my kitchen table. I felt like a real watchmaker, even though I had zero clue what I was doing.
- Assembling the case was the first challenge.
- Then I spent days trying to fit those darn tiny hands.
- The dial was another test on my patience.
- Finally, I got the movement in place.
The whole process took way longer than I expected. There were definitely moments where I thought about just giving up. But I kept pushing, fueled by stubbornness and maybe a little bit of delusion. I might be doing it totally wrong, but it doesn’t matter. I tried my best to do it.
And there it was, my very own “remake” of the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R. It’s definitely rough around the edges, and it probably wouldn’t fool anyone who knows anything about watches. But, you know what? I made it. With my own two hands. And even if it isn’t perfect, it’s something I can wear on my wrist and say, “Yeah, I put that together.”
It’s not about having a fancy watch, it’s about the process, the challenge, and the satisfaction of making something yourself. And who knows, maybe this is just the beginning. Maybe next I’ll try to remake a, I don’t know, a tourbillon or something. Just kidding… unless…?
It is a good thing for me to record this process. I’m proud of what I did, even if it’s not perfect.
I just want to share this fun thing with you guys, hope you like it.
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