Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to remake a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001 for a while now. It’s a really beautiful watch, and I thought it would be a fun challenge to try and recreate it. I mean, who wouldn’t want to have a go at making something so intricate?
First things first, I needed to get the right tools and materials. This was a bit of a headache, to be honest. I spent a good amount of time searching online, reading forums, and comparing different products. And after a lot of back and forth, I finally got everything I needed.
I started with the most crucial part – getting the right screws and bolts. After some digging, I found out that 2BA screws are pretty common for small stuff like this. So, I searched for “2BA screws” and “2BA bolts” online. There were tons of options, from brass to stainless steel. I even saw some specialized ones like “2BA countersunk screws” and “6BA bolts”. Eventually, I found a supplier called “G.R Fasteners” that had a huge selection of BA threaded machine screws, and they had everything from 0BA to 8BA. I ordered a bunch of 2BA screws and some other sizes just in case. I also found that it should be a 4.0mm drill size for 2BA.
- Ordered 2BA screws from G.R Fasteners
- Got some extra BA screws in different sizes
- Confirmed that 4.0mm is the correct drill size for 2BA
Next, I needed to figure out the dart tips. Yeah, you heard that right, dart tips! Apparently, 2BA is a common size for soft-tip dart points too. Who knew? I stumbled upon a brand called One80 that makes these “Matt Black Soft Tips Dart Points.” They come in a pack of 150, which is more than enough for my project. I read that they’re pretty durable, so I decided to give them a shot.
Getting to Work
With all the parts in hand, I finally started working on the watch. The first step was to drill out a passageway plug in the Amal carbs from my old 1970 BSA 650 Lightning motorcycle. I had two of them lying around, and I figured they’d be perfect for this project. I used a 4.0mm drill bit, just like the one I found earlier for the 2BA screws. It worked like a charm!
Then, I tapped the hole. This was a bit tricky, but I managed to get it done. I used a 2BA taper tap with a right-hand orientation, which I found after some more research. I remembered reading that Goliath is a good brand for taps, but I didn’t end up buying one from them.
After that, it was just a matter of putting everything together. It was a bit fiddly, but I took my time and made sure everything was aligned properly. And you know what? It actually worked! I couldn’t believe it. I mean, it’s not exactly like the original Patek Philippe, but it’s pretty darn close. And for a first attempt, I’m pretty proud of myself.
So, that’s the story of how I remade a Patek Philippe Calatrava 5088/100P-001. It was a challenging but rewarding project, and I learned a lot along the way. Now, I have a unique timepiece that I can proudly say I made myself. Not bad, right?
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