Alright, so I’ve been messing around with this watch thing for a while, and let me tell you, it’s been a ride. The Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Duomètre Sphérotourbillon, that’s what I’ve been trying to recreate. Now, I’m no watchmaker, but I like a good challenge, you know?
First off, I started by looking at the real deal. I mean, those Jaeger-LeCoultre watches? They’re something else. Apparently, some of them are worth a fortune, like, a million bucks for one of them! Crazy, right? There’s this Reverso Hybris Mechanica something-or-other that goes for $1.35 million. I’m not even trying to go there, just wanted to capture the essence of the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon.
I started digging around forums, and people are saying that Jaeger-LeCoultre watches, usually they lose a bit of value over time, but some special ones, like limited editions or vintage ones, they actually go up in price. Makes sense, I guess. So, the first thing I did was gather all the pictures and videos I could find of this watch. I spent hours just staring at them, trying to figure out how everything fits together.
Next, I had to figure out the materials. I’m not using gold or anything, obviously. I went with some basic metals I could get my hands on. Nothing fancy, just stuff that wouldn’t fall apart after a week. Then came the tough part: the movement. This watch has a crazy spinning tourbillon thing. Trying to replicate that? Man, that was tough. I used whatever I had lying around, some old clock parts, some wire, you name it.
Here’s how I tackled the tourbillon:
- Disassembled some old clocks: I ripped apart some old clocks I found at a flea market. Didn’t need them to tell time anyway. Got some gears and springs from them.
- Built a frame: I used some thin metal strips to create a little cage-like thing, just like the real tourbillon. Took a lot of bending and cutting.
- Assembled the thing: This was the hardest part. Getting all those tiny parts to fit together and spin was a nightmare. Lots of trial and error, let me tell you.
After countless hours of tinkering, I finally got something that resembled the watch. It’s not perfect, not even close, but it’s got that spinning tourbillon, and it kinda looks like the real thing from a distance. I even managed to make it tick, which was a huge win for me.
Honestly, the whole process was a bit of a mess, but a fun one. I learned a ton about how watches work, and I got a new appreciation for those fancy Jaeger-LeCoultre pieces. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of work, but seeing the finished product, even though it’s rough around the edges, is pretty satisfying.
What’s Next?
I’m thinking of trying to refine it a bit more. Maybe add some details to the dial, try to make the tourbillon spin a little smoother. It’s a work in progress, for sure. But hey, that’s the fun of it, right? Taking something complex and trying to make your own version of it. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll actually be able to afford a real Jaeger-LeCoultre. A guy can dream, can’t he?
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