Alright, folks, gather ’round. Today, I’m gonna walk you through my little adventure of remaking the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R. You know, that classy piece of wrist candy that’s got that “golden ratio” thing going on. It is the classic style that I love and always want to recreate one for myself!
So, first things first, I started digging around for info. I mean, you can’t just jump into these things blind, right? I found out that this watch’s design is based on some ancient Greek math stuff, the golden section or whatever, which apparently is a big deal in art and architecture. Some ratio like 1 to 1.6181. Sounds fancy, huh?
Getting the Design Right
Next, I got down to sketching. I’m no Picasso, but I needed to get a feel for the shape and proportions. This watch has these “ears” on the sides, which I guess makes it a hybrid of sorts with another model called the Nautilus. But the main thing was getting that elliptical case right. I grabbed some tools and started messing around with some materials, trying to recreate that shape.
I spent days just trying different things, cutting, shaping, sanding. It was a lot of trial and error. My workbench was a mess, full of scraps and failed attempts. But I kept at it, ’cause I’m stubborn like that.
Crafting the Case
Once I had a decent prototype of the case, I moved on to the real deal. The original is in rose gold, but I’m not made of money, so I opted for a more affordable alternative. But I still wanted it to look good. I picked a metal that had a similar color and feel, and I started working on it.
Let me tell you, shaping metal is no joke. It’s tough, and you gotta be precise. I used all sorts of tools, even had to buy a new file ’cause the old one was too worn out. But slowly, surely, the case started taking shape. It was like magic, seeing a flat piece of metal turn into something that actually resembled the Golden Ellipse.
Putting It All Together
The movement was the tricky part. The original has this fancy ultra-precise quartz movement. I’m not a watchmaker, so I had to improvise. I found a decent quartz movement online, nothing too expensive, but it does the job. I had to make some adjustments to the case to fit it in, but it worked out in the end.
Then came the dial. I wanted it to be simple and clean, just like the original. I used some black material I had lying around and added some markers and hands. It’s not as fancy as the real one, but hey, it tells the time, and that’s what matters, right?
The Final Touches
Finally, I added a strap. I mean, you can’t have a watch without a strap. I found a nice leather one that matched the case pretty well. And that was it. My very own, handmade Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R, sort of.
Now, I know it’s not the real deal. It doesn’t have the same craftsmanship or the same fancy materials. But you know what? I made it with my own two hands. And that’s something, right? It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. And every time I look at it, I remember all the hard work and the fun I had making it.
- Started with research, learning about the golden ratio.
- Sketched the design, focusing on the elliptical shape and “ears.”
- Experimented with materials to get the shape right.
- Chose an affordable alternative to rose gold.
- Shaped the metal case using various tools.
- Sourced a basic quartz movement online.
- Created a simple dial with markers and hands.
- Attached a leather strap to complete the watch.
So, that’s my story. Hope you enjoyed this little trip down my DIY lane. Maybe it’ll inspire you to try making something yourself. Who knows, you might surprise yourself with what you can do!