Okay, so I saw this Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712 on their official website and thought, “Why not try to make one myself?” I mean, how hard could it be, right? Turns out, pretty hard, but hey, I was already committed.
First, I got myself a watch movement. You know, the guts of the watch that make it tick. I found one online that seemed decent. Then came the fun part – designing the case. I wanted it to look just like the 5712, so I spent hours staring at pictures online, trying to get every curve and angle right.
I used some 3D modeling software, the one I usually use for my little projects. I ain’t no expert, but I can get by. I designed the case, the bezel, the bracelet – basically everything. It was a slow process, lots of trial and error, and many times I was just guessing. I tried to measure and copy the shapes from the photos, but it was not easy. Some parts were just really difficult to get right, but I kept at it.
After I was somewhat happy with the design, I sent it off to be 3D printed. That cost a bit, but it was way cheaper than buying the real deal. When the parts came back, I was so excited! I sanded them down, polished them up, and started assembling the watch. This took me a lot of time, I was not in a hurry.
The dial was tricky. I printed it out on some special paper and tried to make it look as legit as possible. I had to glue it very carefully. Then I painted some parts of the case. You know, little details here and there to make it pop. I think I did the paint job a couple of times. I would look at it, and something was not right, so, go again.
Putting the movement into the case was nerve-wracking. One wrong move, and it could all be ruined. I was super cautious. But, I managed to get it in there, and it actually worked! I was over the moon when I saw the second hand start moving.
- Get a watch movement
- Design the case based on online photos
- 3D print the case, bezel, and bracelet
- Sand, polish, and assemble the parts
- Print the dial and glue it carefully
- Paint details on the case
- Carefully install the movement into the case
Finally, after countless hours of work, the watch was done. I put it on my wrist, and it looked amazing, if I do say so myself. Of course, it’s not a real Patek Philippe, but it’s my version of it, and I’m proud of it. Plus, I learned a ton along the way. Maybe I will sell it later, who knows. Now I have a new watch, so it’s a win.
So, that’s my little adventure in trying to remake a Patek Philippe 5712. It was a wild ride, but totally worth it. I hope you enjoyed reading about it!
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