So, I got it into my head that I wanted to mess around with imitating a fancy watch – specifically, the Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Duomètre Sphérotourbillon. You know, that classic style everyone’s into. I’ve always been a bit of a watch nerd, and this one’s a real beauty. I figured, why not see if I could make something that looks similar, just for kicks?
First off, I started digging around for info about this watch. Found some stuff about the Watches & Wonders event in 2024, and a few close-up looks at the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon in white gold. Man, that thing is slick. There’s also this limited edition one, the Moon version, only 75 of them made. Talk about exclusive!
Then I dove into the mechanics of Jaeger-LeCoultre movements. I bumped into something about the Cal. 476, apparently also called the 12A. This was their first automatic movement, way back in 1946. It’s wild to think it took 20 years after the first automatic wristwatch came out for them to jump on board. These guys were big shots in the early 1900s, making movements for big names like Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin.
After soaking all this in, I started sketching out my own designs, trying to capture the vibe of the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon. I ain’t no professional watchmaker, so I wasn’t about to try and build a working tourbillon or anything. But I grabbed some cheap watch parts online, got some tools, and started tinkering. It was a lot of trial and error, let me tell you. Lots of tiny screws and fiddly bits. I tried to imitate the basic layout of the dial and the dual-wing setup they’ve got going on.
- Sourcing Parts: I found a basic quartz movement online, nothing fancy, but it does the job.
- Dial Design: Printed out a dial that looks kinda like the JLC one. Had to resize it a few times to fit the case.
- Hands: Used some old watch hands I had lying around. Painted them to match the style.
- Case: Got a plain, round watch case that seemed like a good fit for the style.
Putting it all together was a whole other story. I used glue, mostly. And a lot of patience. It’s definitely not perfect, and it sure ain’t fooling any watch experts, but it kinda looks like the real deal from a distance. At least, I think so.
I wore it out a couple of times, just to see what it felt like. It’s kinda cool, pretending to have a super expensive watch on your wrist. Got a few compliments, too, which was a nice little ego boost.
The Aftermath
All in all, it was a fun little project. It took me a few weeks, working on it here and there. I learned a lot about watch movements and how these things are put together. It’s way harder than it looks! I definitely have a newfound respect for those real watchmakers. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a fun challenge, and the end result is a neat little conversation piece. Plus, I got to play pretend for a while, which is always fun.
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