Okay, so I’ve been wanting to try my hand at remaking a classic watch for a while now, and I finally took the plunge. The target? The Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R. Yeah, I know, it’s a pretty ambitious project, but I was feeling adventurous. This watch is known for its, well, elliptical shape and that “golden ratio” thing the ancient Greeks were so obsessed with. It’s a real beauty, super classy, and usually costs more than my car. So, let’s dive into how I attempted to recreate this masterpiece.
Getting Started
First things first, I needed to really understand what makes this watch tick. I spent hours, maybe days, just staring at pictures online. The 5738R has this rose gold case that’s just stunning, and the black dial is so simple yet elegant. It’s all about that 1/1.6181 ratio, which is supposed to be the most pleasing proportion to the human eye. Who knew math could be so pretty?
The Design Process
I started by sketching out the design. Now, I’m no artist, but I did my best to capture the essence of the Golden Ellipse. The case is what really worried me. Getting that perfect elliptical shape was going to be a challenge. I decided to use a 3D modeling program to help me out. After a lot of trial and error, and a few near meltdowns, I finally had a model I was happy with.
Choosing the Materials
The original is made with 18k rose gold, but since I’m not made of money, I opted for a more budget-friendly alternative. I found a rose gold-plated stainless steel that looked pretty decent. For the dial, I went with a simple black matte finish. I wanted to keep it as close to the original as possible, but without breaking the bank.
Putting It All Together
- Crafting the Case: This was the hardest part. I used a combination of 3D printing and metalworking to create the case. It took a few tries to get the shape just right, but I’m pretty proud of the result.
- Creating the Dial: The dial was much easier. I used a thin sheet of metal and painted it with the black matte finish. The hour markers were a bit tricky, but I managed to find some pre-made ones that looked similar to the original.
- Assembling the Movement: I’m not a watchmaker, so I used a pre-made quartz movement. It’s not as fancy as the mechanical movement in the real Patek Philippe, but it gets the job done.
- Final Touches: I added a leather strap, and voilà! My very own Golden Ellipse homage was complete.
The Result
It’s not perfect, obviously. It doesn’t have the same level of craftsmanship or the prestige of a real Patek Philippe. But, you know what? I’m pretty darn proud of it. It looks good on my wrist, it keeps time, and it was a ton of fun to make. Plus, it didn’t cost me an arm and a leg, unlike the original which can go for around $16,000 or more, from what I saw online. This project taught me a lot about watch design and the challenges of recreating a classic. Would I do it again? Maybe. But next time, I might pick a simpler watch!
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