So, I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712 for a while now. I mean, who hasn’t, right? But, you know, the real deal is way out of my league – I saw one listed online for $254,000! So I thought, why not try to remake one myself? It sounded like a fun project.
I started by looking for information about the 5712. I found a bunch of listings and some details on some watch forums. There are, like, over 470 listings for the 5712, which is crazy! There are different versions too, like the 5712/1A-001 and the 5712r. I focused on the 5712 SS/SS Blue/Stk PPF V2 A240 version because it seemed like the most popular one, and most of the remakes I could find resources on were modeled after it. And some people were selling remakes for around $748.
First, I started gathering all the parts.
- I managed to find a good quality stainless steel case. It wasn’t easy, and it definitely wasn’t cheap, but it had the right shape and feel.
- Next up was the dial. I wanted that iconic blue dial, but getting the color just right was tricky. I went through a few different dials before I found one that was close enough.
- Then there was the movement. I couldn’t get my hands on a real Patek Philippe movement, obviously, so I settled for a decent automatic movement that I found online, the A240. It’s not the same, but it does the job.
- The hands and markers were another challenge. I ordered a few sets online, but most of them were pretty bad quality. Finally, I found a seller who had some decent ones.
- Finally, the bracelet. This was probably the easiest part. I just ordered a stainless steel bracelet that looked similar to the one on the Nautilus.
Putting it all together was the real challenge.
- I started by assembling the movement and attaching it to the dial. This was pretty straightforward, but I had to be careful not to scratch the dial.
- Then I attached the hands. This was a bit fiddly, but I managed to get them on without damaging them.
- Next, I put the whole thing into the case. This was the most nerve-wracking part. I had to make sure everything was aligned perfectly, and I didn’t want to scratch the case or the crystal.
- Finally, I attached the bracelet. This was the easiest part.
And there you have it, my very own “Patek Philippe Nautilus 5712”. It’s not perfect, and it’s definitely not a real Patek Philippe, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watches along the way. Plus, I now have a watch that looks kind of like a Nautilus, and that’s good enough for me!
I wore it out the other day, and I even got a few compliments on it! No one could tell it wasn’t the real deal, at least not from a distance. It’s not about fooling people, though. It’s more about appreciating the design and the craftsmanship that goes into making a watch like this. And honestly, it’s just fun to have something I built myself on my wrist.