So, I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Nautilus for the longest time. It’s just one of those watches, you know? But the real deal? Forget about it. Way out of my league, financially speaking. Then it hit me: why not try to make one myself? A remake, a homage, whatever you want to call it. I decided to go for the 5713/1, the one with the diamonds on the bezel, because, why not go a little extra, right?
Finding the Base Watch
First things first, I needed a base watch. Something that had a similar vibe to the Nautilus. I spent days, maybe even weeks, scouring through online stores and forums. I compared shapes, sizes, the feel of the bracelet, everything. It was exhausting, to be honest. Finally, I stumbled upon this one watch that seemed like a pretty decent starting point. It wasn’t perfect, but it had the basic shape and a stainless steel bracelet that I could work with.
Getting the Right Look
The next step was making it look more like a 5713/1. The bezel was the biggest challenge. The real one has those fancy diamonds, and I obviously wasn’t going to use real diamonds. I found these tiny cubic zirconia stones online that looked pretty convincing. I ordered a bunch, just in case I messed up. The hard part? Figuring out how to set them into the bezel. I watched a ton of videos online, read some guides, and even reached out to a couple of jewelers for advice. They were surprisingly helpful, even though I wasn’t exactly their usual customer. They gave me some pointers on tools and techniques, which was a lifesaver.
- Bought a base watch: Found one online after a lot of searching.
- Sourced the stones: Ordered cubic zirconia online.
- Researched setting techniques: Watched videos, read guides, and even asked jewelers for help.
The Tricky Part: Setting the Stones
Actually setting the stones was a whole other story. I had to modify the bezel, carefully mark where each stone would go, and then using some special tiny tools, I started to set them one by one. It was nerve-wracking. I messed up a few times, had to remove stones, redo the settings, the whole nine yards. My hands were shaking, I was sweating bullets, and I probably cursed more times than I’d like to admit. But, slowly but surely, I started getting the hang of it. Each stone I set felt like a small victory.
Dial and Hands
After the bezel, the dial and hands were relatively easy. I found a dial online that was a pretty close match to the 5713/1. Swapping the dial was a bit tricky, but with some steady hands and a lot of patience, I managed it. The hands were a bit easier. I found a set that looked similar enough, and with the right tools, swapping them out was a breeze. It is not as difficult as setting stones on the bezel.
The Final Touches
Once the dial and hands were in place, it was really starting to look like something. I polished the case and bracelet to give it a bit more shine. I even managed to find a clasp with a similar design to the original. It wasn’t an exact match, but it was close enough. The final step was putting it all back together. With all the modifications done, I carefully reassembled the watch. I held my breath as I screwed the case back on. Would it work? Would it fall apart? I pressed the crown, and the second hand started ticking. Success!
The whole process took me a few months, working on it on and off in my spare time. It was a lot of work, a lot of trial and error, but in the end, I had something I was really proud of. It’s not a real Patek Philippe, obviously, but it’s my little tribute to the 5713/1. And you know what? It looks pretty damn good on my wrist. I made that. And that’s a pretty cool feeling. I wear it quite often, it makes me feel good and confident. Now I am thinking about what to make next.
Click to consult