Okay, let’s talk about my little project: remaking the Patek Philippe Gondolo 7041R-001. You know, that fancy watch with the rose gold and diamonds. I’ve always been into watches, and this one, man, it’s a beauty. I saw the price tag, close to 30 grand, and thought, “Nah, I can do something similar myself.”
So, I started digging around. Found out this Gondolo has a Caliber 215 PS movement, which, let me tell you, is pretty intricate. It beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour – that’s like a tiny, fast heartbeat inside the watch. It’s also got this small seconds sub-dial at the 6 o’clock position, which is a nice touch. It gives it that classic, old-school vibe.
First off, I needed a case. I found a pretty decent rose gold-plated one online. It wasn’t the real deal, but it looked close enough, and it didn’t cost me an arm and a leg. Then the dial – that was a bit trickier. The original has a flange set with 108 diamonds. Yeah, I wasn’t about to do that. I went with some tiny crystals instead. It was a pain to set them all, I won’t lie. My eyes were crossed by the end of it.
The Movement
- I found a used watch with a similar movement to the Caliber 215 PS and I disassembled it.
- I cleaned every part, took pictures and recorded everything.
- I spent hours watching videos on how to work with these tiny parts.
- I ordered a new mainspring and a few other bits and bobs.
- I put the whole thing back together. I prayed it would work.
The strap was easy. I got a brown alligator-style leather one. Looks pretty good, if I do say so myself. Now, the real test was putting it all together. I took a deep breath and started assembling the watch. Case, dial, hands, movement, strap – the whole shebang. It was like building a tiny, very expensive model.
And guess what? It worked! It actually told the time. The small seconds hand was ticking away. I couldn’t believe it. I actually made a watch that somewhat resembled a Patek Philippe Gondolo.
Sure, it’s not the real thing. It’s not worth 30,000 dollars. But it’s mine. I made it. And that’s pretty cool, right? I wore it out to dinner the other night, and I felt like a million bucks, even though the whole thing probably cost me less than a nice dinner out. It was a fun experience. Learned a lot. Maybe I’ll try another one, who knows?
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