Hey everyone, today I want to share my latest project: remaking the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R. This watch, you know, it’s a real classic, and getting my hands on an original order was like hitting the jackpot. So, let me walk you through how I tackled this.
First off, I studied the heck out of the original design. I mean, this watch is famous for its “golden section” ratio, something like 1 / 1.6181, which the ancient Greeks were all about. It’s supposed to be this “divine” proportion that’s in a bunch of famous art and buildings. So, I spent a good chunk of time just measuring and sketching, trying to nail that exact shape.
Then, I got to work on the case. The original is in rose gold, which, let me tell you, isn’t cheap. I decided to go with rose gold too because, hey, if you’re going to do it, do it right. I carefully shaped the case, keeping those smooth, elliptical lines. It’s not just a circle, you see, it’s got these subtle curves that make it special. It’s around 34.5 x 39.5 mm, which is a nice, comfortable size. I tried to follow the original design and polished the case up, so it’s got that fancy shine.
Movement
- The movement was a whole other beast.
- The original uses this super-thin automatic movement, the calibre 240.
- It’s got 27 jewels and 161 parts. I managed to get a similar movement.
- I carefully assembled it, which, trust me, took a lot of patience.
- Getting all those tiny parts in the right place is no joke!
- It should beat at 21,600 vibrations per hour and have around 48 hours of power reserve.
Next up was the dial. I went with an ebony black dial with a sunburst finish, just like the original. I added rose gold hands to match the case. It’s all about those little details, right?
Putting it all together was the most satisfying part. Seeing those individual pieces become a working watch was pretty awesome. I even managed to get a nice leather strap that looks just like the one on the real deal.
This whole project was a labor of love. It took a lot of time, effort, and, yeah, a bit of money. But holding the finished watch in my hand, it felt totally worth it. It’s not just a watch; it’s a piece of art, a little slice of history on my wrist.
So, that’s my story of remaking the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 5738R. It was a fun ride, and I learned a ton along the way. Hope you enjoyed hearing about it!
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