I saw the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738 the other day and it really got me thinking. This watch is a classic, right? Its design is based on this old Greek math thing, the “golden section” or something, which is apparently a big deal in art and buildings. Ratio is 1 to 1.6181, sounds cool. So, I decided, why not try to remake it myself? I mean, how hard could it be?
First off, I started gathering all the info I could about the 5738. I looked up everything about its shape, size, and how it’s made. This watch is not just round or square, it’s like an oval with these little “ears” on the side, pretty unique. The design is super important, so I spent a lot of time just studying pictures and the history of it. They call it “Golden Ellipse”, and it’s supposed to be this perfect shape.
Next, I got into the nitty-gritty of the design. I tried to measure out the shape of the watch on my computer. This was tougher than I thought. Getting that perfect ellipse shape, and those “ears”, just right took a lot of trial and error. I was erasing and redrawing, trying to match the images I had of the real watch. It’s all about getting those proportions right, you know?
Then came the fun part, choosing the materials. The real 5738 is made of platinum, but hey, I’m not a millionaire. So, I went with some more practical stuff. I picked out some metals that looked good but didn’t cost a fortune. I also had to decide on the color of the dial. The one I saw had this beautiful blue dial, so I wanted to find something that looked similar, but, you know, on a budget.
Now, the actual making part. This is where things got real interesting. I started with shaping the case. I used a file and sandpaper to get that elliptical shape. It was a slow process, making sure I didn’t mess up the symmetry. Then, I worked on the dial, trying to replicate that deep blue color I liked. I mixed a few paints to get it just right.
For the “ears”, I cut out small pieces of metal and shaped them to match the originals. Attaching them to the case was a bit tricky, but I managed to solder them on. It wasn’t perfect, but it looked pretty decent, if I say so myself.
Putting it all together was like solving a puzzle. I had to make sure everything fit just right. The movement, now that’s a whole other story. The real deal has this super precise quartz movement, but I just used a regular one. It keeps time, and that’s what matters, right?
In the end, my remake of the Patek Philippe 5738 was finished. It wasn’t an exact copy, obviously, but it had the spirit of the original. The elliptical case, the blue dial, those little “ears” on the side, it all came together.
So, that’s my story of remaking the Golden Ellipse. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot. It’s not just about copying a design, it’s about understanding why it’s designed that way and trying to capture that essence. Plus, it’s pretty cool to wear something you’ve made yourself, even if it’s not a real Patek Philippe.