I’m a huge fan of classic watches, and the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse is one of those timepieces that always gets my attention. It’s just so elegant and simple, you know? So, I thought, why not try to make one myself? I mean, I’m no expert, but I like to tinker with stuff.
Getting Started
First thing, I needed to find some decent pictures of the 5738R model. After some googling, I found some pretty good close-ups that showed the details. I also read some stuff online about the watch’s dimensions and the materials used. This gave me a better idea of what I was getting into.
Making the Case
The case was probably the hardest part. I started by sketching out the shape on paper, trying to get the proportions right. It’s that elliptical shape, you know, not a perfect circle, not a rectangle, just somewhere in between. Once I was happy with the sketch, I used some modeling clay to make a rough 3D model. This was just to get a feel for the shape and size.
Next, I got my hands on some metal sheets. I’m not using real gold, of course. I’m not made of money! I found some brass sheets that looked close enough to the rose gold color of the original. I carefully cut out the basic shape of the case using the clay model as a guide. Then came the long and tedious process of filing and sanding the edges to get that smooth, curved shape. It took a lot of elbow grease, let me tell you!
The Dial and Hands
For the dial, I decided to go with a simple black background. I found a thin piece of black plastic that I could cut into the right shape. I also printed out some tiny numbers and markers on a piece of paper. It was tricky to cut them out and glue them onto the dial, but with a steady hand and some patience, I managed to do it.
The hands were made from thin strips of metal. I cut and shaped them to match the ones on the original watch. It was a bit fiddly, but I think they turned out okay. I used a tiny drop of glue to attach them to a small pin that I used as the center post.
Putting it all Together
Assembling everything was like putting together a tiny puzzle. I carefully placed the dial inside the case, making sure it was centered. Then, I added the hands and the center post. I used some more glue to secure everything in place. It wasn’t easy, and I had to redo a few things a couple of times, but eventually, it all came together.
The Strap
For the strap, I just used a simple black leather strap that I bought online. I wasn’t going to try to make that myself! I attached it to the case using some small metal pins. And that was it!
The Result
My homemade Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R is not perfect, of course. But I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It’s a fun little project, and it’s cool to have something that I made myself. It doesn’t tell time, sadly, but it looks nice on my desk, you know? Maybe one day I’ll try to add a real movement, but for now, it’s just a cool-looking replica.
- Materials I used:
- Metal sheets (brass)
- Black plastic sheet
- Paper
- Glue
- Modeling clay
- Black leather strap
It’s a reminder that you can create something cool even if you’re not a professional. I will continue my watch-making journey and share more experiences next time!
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