Okay, so, I got this wild idea to try and remake the Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711. Yeah, I know, it’s a pretty ambitious project, considering this watch is like, the holy grail for watch collectors. But hey, I’ve always been a bit of a tinkerer, and I thought, why not give it a shot? Especially since they stopped making all 5711s. I thought to myself “why not make my own?”
First things first, I started digging around for info. I mean, I’m not just gonna jump into this blind, right? I spent hours online, looking at pictures, reading articles, you name it. Found out that the 5711/1A was the most popular one, and there were all these different versions, like the 5711R and 5711/1A. The 5711 has been discontinued.
I hit up some forums, watched a bunch of videos – anything to get a better sense of what I was dealing with. I even tried to find some blueprints or something, but no luck there. It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack, man. The 5711s are super rare, and getting precise details is tough.
Next, I started gathering materials. Now, I’m not using any fancy gold or platinum here, that’s way out of my league, but it was not cheap. I’m keeping it real, using stainless steel and other stuff I could actually get my hands on. I figured, it’s the craftsmanship that counts, right?
I got myself some basic watchmaking tools. Nothing too extravagant, just enough to get the job done. I set up a little workspace in my garage. It’s not much, but it’s got everything I need. I started with the case, trying to mimic that iconic Nautilus shape. Let me tell you, it’s way harder than it looks. I spent days just filing and polishing, trying to get it right. It was a lot of trial and error, I messed up a few times, but I kept at it.
Then came the dial. I wanted to get that signature blue color, but man, that’s a tough one to match. I experimented with different paints and finishes until I finally got something that looked close enough. The hands and markers were another challenge. I had to be super precise, otherwise, the whole thing would look off. I hand-painted each marker, using a tiny brush and a magnifying glass. It was painstaking work, but seeing it come together was worth it.
The bracelet was a whole other beast. Each link had to be shaped and polished, then assembled. It took forever, but I was determined to get it right. I wanted it to feel solid and comfortable, just like the real deal. I studied how the original bracelet was constructed, trying to copy the design as closely as possible.
After weeks of work, I finally had something that resembled a Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711. It’s not perfect, not by a long shot, but I’m pretty proud of it. It’s got that classic look, and it actually keeps time pretty well. It’s not gonna fool any experts, but to the untrained eye, it’s a decent replica. It’s a testament to what you can do with some determination and a lot of patience.
Would I do it again? Probably not. It was a ton of work, and I definitely underestimated the challenge. But hey, it was a fun project, and I learned a lot. Plus, I got a cool watch out of it. It’s not a real Patek Philippe, but it’s mine, and that’s good enough for me.
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