Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get into watchmaking for a while now, and I finally took the plunge. I decided to try and remake the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738, specifically the official flagship store model. It’s a pretty ambitious project, I know, but I was feeling bold.
First, I studied up on the watch. I learned that the design is based on the “golden section,” this ancient Greek mathematical principle. It’s a ratio of 1 to 1.6181, and apparently, it’s the basis for a lot of famous art and architecture. Sounds fancy, right? I also found out that real Patek Philippe cases are made with stainless steel, platinum, or 18k gold. And get this, except for some special editions, their case backs don’t have any engravings or decorations. Simple and clean.
Then, I started gathering materials. Since I’m not exactly rolling in dough, I couldn’t go for real gold or platinum. I opted for a high-quality stainless steel for the case. I wanted to mimic the rose gold version, so I searched for a plating solution that could give me that warm, luxurious hue. It wasn’t easy, but I finally found a decent one after some trial and error.
The dial was another challenge. The original 5738R has this gorgeous ebony-black dial that really makes the rose gold pop. I tried a few different black paints, but none of them had that deep, rich look I was after. Eventually, I decided to use a special type of enamel paint, which gave me a much closer finish to the original. It was a bit trickier to work with, but totally worth it.
- Sourcing the movement: This was probably the biggest hurdle. I couldn’t get my hands on a genuine Patek Philippe movement, obviously. So, I looked for a reliable automatic movement that was similar in size and function. It took some digging, but I managed to find a decent one from a reputable supplier. It’s not the same, but it keeps time well and has a similar aesthetic.
- Crafting the hands: The original hands are slender and elegant. I shaped mine out of thin pieces of metal, carefully filing and polishing them until they were just right. This took a lot of patience, let me tell you. My hands were cramping up by the end!
- Assembling everything: Once I had all the parts, it was time to put it all together. This was the most nerve-wracking part. I followed online tutorials and watchmaking guides, taking my time to make sure everything was aligned and functioning properly. There were a few hiccups along the way, but I managed to troubleshoot them and get everything working smoothly.
After weeks of work, I finally finished my homage to the Golden Ellipse 5738. It’s not a perfect replica, of course, but I’m pretty damn proud of it. It’s got the same elegant shape, the warm rose gold color, and that beautiful black dial. It’s definitely a conversation starter, and it’s a testament to what you can achieve with a lot of patience, research, and a little bit of elbow grease.
And I learned that Patek Philippe uses master jewelers to hand-set each stone on their watches. That level of craftsmanship just blows my mind. It makes sense why their watches are so expensive! This whole project was a huge learning experience, and it’s definitely fueled my passion for watchmaking. I might try something a little simpler next time, but who knows? Maybe I’ll tackle another Patek Philippe down the line.
Click to consult