Okay, so, the other day I had this crazy idea to try and remake the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R. You know, the fancy watch that’s way out of my league. But hey, a guy can dream, right? And more than dream, I wanted to get my hands dirty and see if I could make something that looked even half as good.
First off, I started digging around for info on this watch. It’s called the Golden Ellipse, reference number 5738R-001. Apparently, it’s a big deal in the watch world. I spent hours online, reading reviews, watching videos, basically trying to absorb everything I could about it. The design, the features, the whole shebang.
Then came the fun part – planning my own version. I knew I couldn’t replicate it exactly, especially the gold part. It’s crafted in 18k rose gold, the 39.5mm x 34.5mm elliptical case reflects Patek Philippe’s iconic design language, inspired by the golden ratio, and I don’t have that kind of material just lying around. So, I started sketching, making notes, and figuring out what materials I could actually use. The deep black sunburst dial provides a striking, I thought maybe I could find something similar.
After that, I gathered all my tools and materials. It was a mix of stuff I had at home and some things I had to buy from the local store. Nothing fancy, just basic crafting supplies. I started with the watch case. I found this old watch that I didn’t use anymore and decided to take it apart. The shape wasn’t exactly the same, but I thought I could work with it. Also, the Golden Ellipse sits on the periphery of mainstream. I thought it is proper for me.
Next, I worked on the watch face. This was tricky. I used a piece of black cardboard and tried to give it that “sunburst” look by drawing some lines. I remembered that the design was inspired by the principle of the “golden section” discovered by the ancient Greek mathematicians. This “divine” proportion, expressed as a ratio of 1 / 1.6181. It didn’t look exactly like the original, but it had a similar vibe. I cut it out carefully and glued it onto the watch face.
The watch hands were another challenge. The Golden Ellipse also featured ultra-precise quartz movements, such as the 3770. I took apart a really thin piece of metal and shaped it into tiny hands. It took a lot of patience, but I finally managed to make them look decent. I attached them to the watch mechanism, hoping they would move smoothly.
Putting it all together was like solving a puzzle. I carefully assembled all the pieces, making sure everything fit just right. There were a few hiccups along the way, but I didn’t give up. I kept at it, adjusting and tweaking until it all came together.
The Final 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. Part Swinging Sixties, part Groovy Seventies, part Decadent Eighties, and entirely on-trend right now in 2024. It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty proud of it. It actually looks like a watch, and the hands even move! It’s a reminder that sometimes, it’s fun to just try and make things, even if they’re not perfect. Plus, now I have a unique watch that no one else has. It’s not a Patek Philippe, but it’s mine.
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What I Learned
- Patience is key.
- It’s okay to make mistakes.
- Making something with your own hands is super satisfying.
So, that’s the story of how I made my own version of the Golden Ellipse. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. Maybe one day I’ll get my hands on the real thing, but for now, I’m happy with my little creation.
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