Okay, so I’ve been wanting to remake a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711, the one you see in specialty stores, for a while now. You know, the kind that just sits there looking pretty. I finally got around to it, and let me tell you, it was a journey.
First, I started by gathering all the materials I thought I’d need. I grabbed some reference photos online, mostly from Patek Philippe’s own site and some high-quality shots from watch forums. You can never have too many pictures, right? This was my blueprint.
Then, I moved on to the technical part, I got some basic watch parts like a dummy movement, and this was gonna be the heart of my project, even though it wouldn’t actually tell time. I wanted this thing to look like the real deal, at least from a distance, so these internal were important.
Next, I began crafting the case. I used some metal and carefully shaped it to match the Nautilus’s iconic porthole design. This took forever! I had to make sure the dimensions were spot on. I sanded, filed, and polished until my fingers were numb.
- Shaping the case: This was the hardest part. Getting those curves right was a real pain.
- Creating the dial: I printed out a high-resolution image of the 5711 dial and carefully stuck it onto a thin metal disc.
- Adding the hands: I found some old watch hands and modified them to look like the ones on the Nautilus.
- Assembling everything: I carefully put all the pieces together. I used a tiny screwdriver and a lot of patience.
After I assembled the watch, I made a simple display stand for it. Nothing fancy, just something to hold it upright.
Finally, I placed my finished product in a display case, just like they do in the stores. It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It definitely looks the part. And honestly, the whole process was kind of fun. I learned a lot about how these watches are put together. Now, it’s just sitting there, looking all fancy. Mission accomplished! Next on my list is, I think I will try to remake a Royal Oak. But maybe I will take a rest for a few days.
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