Okay, so I’ve been totally obsessed with getting a Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse, specifically the 5738R. I mean, who hasn’t? It’s such a classic, elegant piece. But, let’s be real, the price tag is way out of my league. So, I thought, why not try to make my own version? I know it sounds crazy, but I was determined to give it a shot.
I started by doing a ton of research. I learned that the Golden Ellipse’s design is based on the “golden section,” this ancient Greek mathematical principle. It’s all about proportions, and the ratio is 1 / 1.6181, which is supposed to be super pleasing to the eye. I also found out that not many people are into the Golden Ellipse these days, it’s more of a niche thing for like, vintage watch lovers and some super famous guys. I mean to me it is such a perfect watch.
First things first, I needed a case. I found this old, beat-up watch at a thrift store that had a vaguely elliptical shape. It wasn’t perfect, but it was close enough. I took it apart and got to work with some sandpaper and a file, trying to smooth it out and shape it to look more like the 5738R. It was a lot of elbow grease, let me tell you.
Next up, the movement. I’m not a watchmaker, obviously, so I had to find a cheap quartz movement that would fit inside my reshaped case. I ordered one online and hoped for the best. Thankfully, it fit snugly after a little bit of fiddling. I had to carefully install it, securing it in place without damaging anything.
For the watch face, I decided to print out a picture of the real 5738R dial. I found a high-quality image online, resized it to fit my elliptical shape, and printed it on some nice, thick paper. I carefully cut it out and glued it onto the old watch face.
- Find an old watch with elliptical shape
- Order a quartz movement online
- Print 5738R dial picture
Putting it all together was the most nerve-wracking part. I carefully reattached the hands to the new movement, making sure they were aligned properly. Then, I fitted the movement and dial into the case and closed it up.
The Result
And there it was, my very own “remake” of the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R. It might not be the real deal, but it’s something I made with my own hands. It’s definitely not perfect, the case is a little rough around the edges, and the printed dial is obviously not the same as the original. But you know what? I love it. It’s a reminder that even if you can’t afford the real thing, you can still create something special with a little bit of creativity and effort. And it looks pretty darn good on my wrist, if I do say so myself!
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