Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with this watch thing – you know, trying to remake that fancy Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001. Yeah, the one they call the “Gondolo Serata.” It’s a real looker, all elegant and stuff. I heard it’s back in the Patek Philippe lineup, so I thought, why not give it a shot?
Getting Started
First off, I started digging around to see what makes this watch tick. Found some stuff online about it. Apparently, it’s got this unique style, kinda Art Deco-ish, and it’s made with 18k rose gold. Looks pretty sweet. They named it after some big-shot retailer in Rio, Gondolo & Labouriau, that Patek Philippe was tight with back in the day, from 1872 to 1927 or something. And I think they started selling it again in the 90s?
Diving into the Details
So, I started gathering all the parts and tools I needed. This wasn’t easy, let me tell you. I had to make sure I got the right materials to match that rose gold look. The case is curved, which was a real pain to get right. Plus, the original has all these shiny things on the bezel, so I had to figure out how to set those without messing up the whole thing.
Here’s what I focused on:
- Case: Getting that 18k rose gold look was tough. Had to do a bunch of trial and error with different materials and methods to get the color and shine just right.
- Size: The dimensions are 28.6 x 40.85 mm, with a height of 7.36 mm. I tried my best to stick to these measurements, but man, it’s tiny and tricky to work with.
- Water-resistance: They say it’s water-resistant to 30 meters. I did what I could to make it as sealed up as possible, but I’m not gonna go swimming with it or anything.
The Real Challenge
The hardest part, by far, was getting all those little details right. The original is so precise and finely made. Trying to replicate that level of craftsmanship was a real challenge. I spent hours, days even, just trying to get the bezel to look right. And the dial? Don’t even get me started on that. It’s got this specific look that’s super hard to copy.
The Outcome
After all that work, I finally got something that kinda looks like the Gondolo 4962/200R-001. It’s not perfect, not by a long shot. But I’m pretty proud of it. It’s got that same vibe, that same elegance, at least in my eyes. It was a heck of a learning experience, and I definitely have a new appreciation for those watchmakers who do this for a living. They’re real artists.
So, yeah, that’s my story of trying to remake a Patek Philippe. It was a wild ride, but I’m glad I did it. Learned a lot, and now I’ve got a pretty cool-looking watch to show for it. It is not easy to make a watch, seriously!
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