Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5226G-001 for a while now. But, you know, these things are like, impossible to get. I heard stories about waiting lists that go on for years, 8 years for the Nautilus, something like that. And even for the Calatrava, it could be over a year. I thought, forget that noise, I’m not waiting that long.
So, I decided to find it in another way, like remake one myself! Yeah, I know, it sounds crazy, but I was determined. I started by doing a ton of research online. I found out that the 5226G-001 is a white gold watch, and it’s all about that classic, timeless design. Apparently, it’s a newer addition to the Calatrava line. I mean the price tag is way over $40,000, are you kidding me?
I dug deeper and found out the watch runs on an automatic caliber 26-330 S C movement, with a 45-hour power reserve. Fancy, right? I kept these details in mind. But where to find all the parts? That was the big question.
I started hitting up different online shops, looking for similar parts. I found a place that sold white gold watch cases that looked kinda like the 5226G. It wasn’t exact, but it was close enough for me. Then I searched for a movement that was similar to the 26-330 S C. That was tough, but eventually, I found one that was pretty similar in terms of function and power reserve.
- Case: I ordered the white gold case and waited impatiently for it to arrive.
- Movement: Got the movement from another online store. Crossing my fingers it would fit the case!
- Dial and Hands: This was the hardest part. I ended up getting a custom dial made, trying to match the look of the original 5226G. The hands were also custom ordered, trying to get that same elegant style.
Once I had all the parts, I started putting this thing together. Let me tell you, it was not easy. I watched a bunch of videos online, just to get an idea of how to assemble a watch. I almost gave up a few times, but I kept at it. I messed up a few times, but eventually, I managed to get the movement in the case. Then came the dial and hands, which was super fiddly. But I got them on!
Finally, I got a strap that looked similar to the original. I attached it to the case, and boom! I had my own “remake” of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5226G-001. It wasn’t perfect, of course. There were definitely some differences, but to the untrained eye, it looked pretty darn close.
The Result
In the end, I was pretty proud of myself. I managed to make a watch that looked and felt like a high-end piece, without spending a fortune or waiting for years. It’s not a real Patek, obviously, but it’s my own creation, and that’s pretty cool. Plus, I learned a ton about watches in the process. Would I do it again? Maybe, maybe not. It was a lot of work, but it was definitely a fun and rewarding project.
Click to consult