Alright, folks, gather ’round! Today, I’m gonna share my little adventure of remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227R-001. Now, I’ve always been a fan of these classy timepieces, and I thought, “Why not try to make one myself?” So, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work.
First things first, I started by getting a good look at the original. This beauty has a 39mm diameter case, which is a tad bigger than the older 37mm ones, and it’s about 8.08mm thick, sometimes people say 9.24mm. It’s got that classic round, polished look that just screams elegance. And let’s not forget those wedged sides – they add a nice touch, don’t they?
So, I started to draw up my own plans. I measured out a 39mm circle for the case, making sure to get those proportions right. Then, I worked on the thickness, aiming for that slim 8.08mm profile. It was tricky, but hey, who said this was gonna be easy?
Next up, the movement. The original uses this fancy automatic self-winding caliber 324 movement. It’s got 29 jewels and a shock absorber, which is pretty neat. I did some digging and found out it beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and has 217 or 212 parts. The number of parts isn’t quite clear but I think it’s about 212. I ain’t no watchmaker, but I tried my best to replicate this. I found some similar movements online and started tinkering. I took apart a few old watches, got myself some tiny screwdrivers, and went to town.
Putting it all together was the real challenge. I tried to make the case as polished as I could, using some fine sandpaper and a lot of elbow grease. And those wedged sides? Let’s just say I learned a thing or two about metalwork. It wasn’t perfect, but it started to resemble the Calatrava.
I managed to fit the movement inside the case, and by some miracle, it actually worked! I even added a little “Savonette” caseback, just like the original. It’s a neat little detail that I thought was worth the extra effort.
The dial was another hurdle. I printed out a simple design and carefully glued it onto a thin piece of metal. Then, I attached the hands, which was a delicate operation, to say the least. One wrong move and those tiny things would go flying across the room!
After many late nights and a few mishaps, I finally had something that looked like a watch. It wasn’t a Patek Philippe, but it was my own creation, and I was pretty darn proud of it. I even showed it off to a few friends, and they were impressed! They said it looked like something that could be sold for a decent price.
So, there you have it – my journey in remaking the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227R-001. It was a lot of work, but it was also a ton of fun. I learned a lot about watchmaking, and I got to create something unique. Would I do it again? Maybe. But for now, I’m just gonna enjoy wearing my homemade timepiece.
- Diameter: 39mm
- Thickness: 8.08mm or 9.24mm
- Parts: Around 212
- Jewels: 30 or 29
- Movement: Replicated caliber 324, self-winding
The End Result
Well, folks, it ain’t a real Patek, but it’s mine, and it tells time. And honestly, that’s good enough for me. Plus, I’ve got a great story to tell now, right? So, if you’re ever thinking about taking on a project like this, I say go for it! Just be prepared for a challenge, and remember to have fun along the way.
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