Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with watches lately, and I got this wild idea to try and remake the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R. You know, that super classy, oval-shaped watch that just screams elegance?
And I picked the Golden Ellipse 5738R ’cause, well, it’s a classic, and I thought it would be a cool challenge. Plus, that “golden ratio” thing they talk about sounded interesting. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of math in their watch design, right?
First things first, I gathered a bunch of pictures and info about the 5738R. I stared at those photos for hours, trying to get every little detail in my head. The way the light hits the case, the font of the numerals, the texture of the strap – everything.
Next, I started sketching. I’m no artist, but I doodled a whole lot of ovals and tried to get the proportions right. It’s trickier than it looks! Then I moved to some basic 3D modeling software – just to get a feel for the shape in three dimensions. I kept tweaking and tweaking until it felt somewhat close to the real deal.
The dial was a whole other beast. I experimented with different shades of blue, trying to match that gorgeous sunburst effect. I ended up using a really fine-grained metallic paint and applied it in super thin layers. It took a few tries, but I finally got something that looked pretty decent.
- Finding the right hands was tough. I scoured the internet for something similar and eventually settled on a set from an old watch I had lying around. They weren’t perfect, but with a bit of filing and polishing, I made them work.
- Assembled the whole thing. Put the dial in the case, attached the hands, slapped on a leather strap, and… voila! My very own “Golden Ellipse.”
It’s nowhere near as perfect as the real thing, of course. The movement is just a cheap quartz one, and the materials are obviously not the same quality. But hey, I made it myself, and that’s pretty cool, right?
It is just a fun project.
This whole project was a blast. It pushed me to learn new things, get creative, and appreciate the craftsmanship of a beautiful watch even more. Maybe I’ll try another one someday, who knows? But for now, I’m pretty happy with my little homemade Golden Ellipse.
Click to consult