Alright, so, I’ve been itching to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010 for a while now. It’s just such a classic, you know? But the price tag? Oof, don’t even get me started. So, I thought, why not try to remake one myself? Yeah, I know, it sounds crazy, but I was determined.
The Plan
First things first, I needed a plan. I started by gathering every picture and bit of info I could find about the Gondolo 7042/100G-010. I studied the design, the materials, everything. This watch is a real beauty – 18K white gold, diamond-paved dial, the works. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I was ready for the challenge.
Getting the Materials
Next up, materials. Now, I couldn’t exactly afford 18K white gold or real diamonds, so I had to get creative. I decided to go with stainless steel for the case. I found some decent 316L stainless steel. And for that fluted bezel, I managed to find a similar style that would fit the look. It wasn’t perfect, but it was close enough.
- Case: Started with a standard 316L stainless steel case. It felt solid and had a good weight to it.
- Bezel: Found a fluted bezel that looked pretty similar to the original. Took some searching, but I got there.
- Dial: This was the tricky part. The original has a diamond-paved dial, which is way out of my league. I opted for a high-quality replica dial that mimicked the look.
- Movement: I found some cheap movement I could get.
Putting It Together
With all the parts in hand, the real work began. Assembling the watch was a whole other beast. It was a lot of trial and error. I spent hours, days even, just trying to get everything to fit right. There were moments when I thought I’d bitten off more than I could chew, but I kept pushing.
I carefully attached the bezel to the case. Fitted the dial, which was a bit of a pain but eventually got it snug. The movement was the most delicate part. I had to be super precise, and there were a few close calls, but I managed to get it in there. After that, it was just a matter of closing it up and adding the straps.
Finally, after all that work, I had my own “remade” Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010. It wasn’t the real deal, of course, but it was something I made with my own two hands. It felt pretty awesome to wear it, knowing all the effort that went into it. Sure, it’s not perfect, and it doesn’t have the prestige of a genuine Patek Philippe, but it’s mine. And that’s what makes it special to me.
So, was it worth it? Absolutely. I learned a ton, had a blast, and ended up with a cool watch that I can proudly say I put together myself.
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