Hey everyone, it’s your boy back at it again, and today I’m diving into something a little different – a remake of the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010. Yeah, you heard that right. I tried to remake one of those fancy watches that are all about luxury and, well, being super expensive.
First things first, I started by doing a ton of research. I mean, I was practically swimming in Patek Philippe info. I learned that their slogan is “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.” Pretty deep, right? And get this, the Gondolo collection got its name from some famous retailer in Rio de Janeiro, Gondolo & Labouriau. I thought that was a cool little tidbit. Also, I found out this collection is known for its unique shapes – rectangular, tonneau, or cushion. It’s not your typical round watch, that’s for sure.
So, with my newfound knowledge, I started gathering materials. Now, I’m not made of money, so I wasn’t about to use real 18k white gold or genuine baguette diamonds. I had to get creative. I found some decent-looking white gold-like material, and for the diamonds, let’s just say cubic zirconia is a man’s best friend when you’re on a budget. Then I started to craft the body of the watch with this durable white gold look-alike.
- Research: Dove deep into the history and details of the Gondolo 7042/100G-010.
- Material Gathering: Found budget-friendly alternatives for white gold and diamonds.
- Design Planning: Sketched out how I wanted the watch to look, trying to match the original’s vibe.
The next big step was the design. I spent hours sketching and planning. I wanted this thing to look as close to the real deal as possible. This Gondolo model has a pretty unique cushion-shaped case, and I tried my best to replicate that. I used all sorts of tools to shape the materials and even tried my hand at setting the faux diamonds along the bezel and lugs. It was tough, I won’t lie.
Putting the watch together was a whole other beast. I got a basic watch mechanism from a friend, because, let’s face it, I’m not making one of those from scratch. Then I started to assemble all the parts. Fitting the mechanism into the case, attaching the strap, it all required a lot of patience and a steady hand.
The Final Stretch
After what felt like forever, I finally had something that resembled a watch. It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. The “diamonds” were obviously not real, and the white gold had a bit of a different sheen. But you know what? It looked pretty good! I even got compliments from people who saw it. Of course, I told them it was a remake, didn’t want to fool anyone. But they were still impressed.
In the end, this project was more about the journey than the destination. I learned a lot about watches, about Patek Philippe, and about my own abilities. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a fun challenge, and it’s kind of cool to have a “luxury” watch that I made myself. And you know what the best part is? This watch, my friends, it actually keeps time! So, it’s not just a pretty face; it’s got some function to it too.
So, that’s my story of remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7042/100G-010. It was a wild ride, full of ups and downs, but totally worth it. Hope you enjoyed hearing about it!
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