Man, I’ve always wanted a Patek Philippe, especially that Nautilus 5712. That thing is a beauty! But the price tag? Forget about it! So, I thought, “Why not try to remake one myself?” I mean, how hard could it be, right?
First, I did some digging online. Found a few forums where people were talking about the 5712. One post said it was introduced in 2006 and it’s part of the Nautilus line that goes way back to 1976, some dude called Gérald Genta designed it. It’s got that classic steel look, with a blue dial and a power reserve indicator, which I think is pretty neat.
I started by trying to find pictures, the best shot I found is taken by Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. and any info I could about the watch. Diagrams, close-ups, anything that could help me figure out how this thing was put together. It was like a treasure hunt, but online. I spent hours on this, by the way.
Then came the hard part: actually making the thing. I got some basic watchmaking tools. I wasn’t about to buy some super expensive kit, so I just grabbed what I thought I’d need. I found a cheap, similar-looking watch to take apart. I figured I could use some of the parts, or at least see how they worked.
Taking apart that first watch was a nightmare! Springs flying everywhere, tiny screws rolling off the table, you name it. I think I spent more time on my hands and knees looking for parts than I did actually working on the watch. My working desk was a mess!
After messing around with the parts, I started trying to shape the new case. I used some metal I found at a local shop. It wasn’t the same as the original, obviously, but it was close enough. I filed, and sanded, and polished until my fingers were sore. It took forever to get it right. It’s not perfect, but it looks somewhat like the real deal.
The dial was the trickiest part. I tried painting it, printing it, even using nail polish at one point! Nothing looked quite right. Finally, I managed to print a decent-looking one on some special paper. It’s not as fancy as the original, but it does the job.
Putting it all together was like doing a puzzle with no instructions. I followed some basic watch assembly guides I found online, but mostly it was trial and error. I broke a few parts along the way, had to order replacements, and cursed a lot. Seriously, this was way harder than I thought it would be.
After weeks of work, I finally had something that resembled a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712. It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. The finishing was off, the movement was nowhere near as smooth, and it definitely wouldn’t fool any experts. But you know what? It was mine. I made it. And it actually told the time!
- Started with online research and gathering information.
- Bought some cheap tools and a donor watch.
- Spent hours taking apart the donor watch and learning how it worked.
- Shaped a new case from metal, which took a lot of filing and polishing.
- Struggled with the dial, eventually printing a decent one.
- Assembled the watch using online guides and a lot of trial and error.
- Ended up with a working watch that looked somewhat like a Nautilus 5712.
This whole project was a crazy ride. I learned a lot about watches, about patience, and about my own limits. Would I do it again? Probably not. But am I glad I did it? Absolutely! It’s not a Patek Philippe, but it’s a reminder that sometimes, it’s fun to just try and make something yourself, even if it’s way out of your league.
So, if you’re thinking about remaking a luxury watch, be prepared for a challenge. It’s not easy, it’s not quick, and it’s definitely not cheap, even if you do it all yourself. But if you’re up for an adventure and don’t mind getting your hands dirty, go for it! Just don’t expect to fool anyone into thinking it’s the real deal. Okay, that’s all I need to share today, see ya!
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