Best Remake Patek 5088/100P-001 (How to Find and Purchase a Quality Remake of the Calatrava Watch)

Time:2025-1-23 Author:ldsf125303

Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a really nice watch for a while now, and I finally decided to go for it. I’m talking about remaking a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001. Yeah, it’s a pretty ambitious project, but I was up for the challenge.

First off, I started by doing a ton of research. I mean, I spent hours online looking at pictures, reading articles, and watching videos about this watch. I found some info from a couple of years back, like a post from August 19, 2023, talking about how these watches are ranked based on personal experience, and another one from June 17, 2022, that did a full analysis of systems and settings. It gave me a basic idea but not what I needed. I wanted to get a feel for every little detail, from the case to the dial to the movement. I needed to know exactly what I was getting myself into.

Then, I started gathering the parts. This was probably the most time-consuming part of the whole process. I searched high and low for the best materials I could find. I needed a platinum case, just like the original, and that wasn’t easy to come by. After digging around, I finally found a supplier that had exactly what I needed. Same goes for the dial. I wanted it to be perfect, with that beautiful black enamel finish. I ended up finding a guy who specializes in crafting these dials by hand. It took some time to get to him and talk through what I exactly wanted, but it was worth it in the end.

  • Sourcing the platinum case
  • Finding the right dial maker
  • Procuring the movement parts

Next up was the movement. Now, I’m no watchmaker, but I know my way around a few tools. I found a really helpful forum online, it was a place where people share their experiences with these kinds of projects. There was this one post, I think it was from August 30, 2021, talking about the different types of rifle chassis and comparing what people liked about them, gave me an idea of how to evaluate components. It had nothing to do with watches but it was the same idea. So, I looked for a movement that was similar to the original Caliber 240 that Patek Philippe uses in this model. I managed to find a base movement that was pretty close, and then I started modifying it. I replaced some of the parts with higher-quality ones, polished others, and basically just tried to make it as close to the real thing as possible. It reminds me of a random post I saw from January 14, 2020, where someone was asking about modifying something the right way, and mentioned pricing everything but some grips and a handle. Similar vibe, you know?

Once I had all the parts, it was time to start assembling. Now, this was the tricky part. I had to be extremely careful not to damage anything. I used a special set of tools that I bought specifically for this project. It was like putting together a really complicated puzzle. I started with the movement, then attached the dial, and finally, I put everything into the case. I even found a place, “2BA” they called it, a kind of product database place. It helped a little to get some data on similar parts, but not much.

The last step was the strap. I wanted a genuine alligator leather strap, just like the original. I found a craftsman who makes these by hand, and he did an amazing job. The strap is soft, comfortable, and looks absolutely stunning.

The Final Result

After all that work, I finally had my very own remade Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001. And I have to say, it turned out even better than I expected. It’s a beautiful watch, and I’m really proud of what I accomplished. It’s not perfect, of course, but it’s pretty darn close. And the best part is, I made it myself.

This whole project was a real learning experience for me. I learned a lot about watches, about craftsmanship, and about myself. It was challenging, frustrating at times, but ultimately, it was incredibly rewarding. And who knows, maybe I’ll try my hand at another remake project in the future. There’s also a thing called Bartolini NTBT 2-Band EQ Preamp or something, might be fun to try a remake for that too, the voice is clear and transparent, or so they say. But for now, I’m just going to enjoy wearing my new watch.