Okay, so I’ve been messing around with trying to remake that Patek Philippe Gondolo 4962/200R-001, and let me tell you, it’s been a journey. I started by just staring at pictures of the watch online, trying to get a feel for all the little details.
I found some information to look up the details, like using the barcode to look up the product information. It is very convenient.
First off, I drew a rough sketch of the watch face. Then I started playing around with some design software to create a digital version. It wasn’t easy. I had to learn a bunch of new tools and techniques. I remember watching some video tutorials about “Cubitus” because I saw that Patek had a new collection with that name, but it wasn’t what I was looking for. I just wanted to stick to the Gondolo 4962.
- I spent hours just trying to get the shape of the case right.
- Then came the dial, with all those tiny numbers and markers. I almost gave up on those!
- The hands were another challenge. Getting them to look elegant and refined took a lot of tweaking.
I even tried to find information about the movement, you know, the insides of the watch. I read something about an “Aquanaut” which is apparently a sporty chronograph, but again, not what I needed. I did find some stuff about a “Grand Complication 5270G” that sounded super fancy, but I wasn’t trying to make it that complicated.
After I had a design I was kind of happy with, I started thinking about how to actually make it. I looked into 3D printing because I thought it would be the easiest way. I found some articles and guides online, but it was all pretty confusing. “Powder Diffraction FileTM (PDF) Search”? What’s that? Sounded way too technical for me.
End up with making a virtual model
In the end, I decided to just focus on the design and make a virtual model. It’s not the same as having a real watch on your wrist, but it’s still pretty cool to see my design come to life. I managed to create a decent-looking digital version of the Gondolo 4962. It’s not perfect, but I’m proud of it. Maybe one day I’ll try to actually make a physical version, but for now, I’m happy with my virtual creation.
After all, It is very difficult to copy a Patek Philippe watch. But I make a digital one.
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