Okay, so, I’ve been getting into watches lately, like, really into them. I decided to try and make something that looks like one of those super fancy Jaeger-LeCoultre watches – you know, the JLC Duomètre Sphérotourbillon. That thing is a beast! It’s got this crazy spinning tourbillon thing that’s supposed to make it super accurate. Anyway, I wanted to see if I could make something that kind of resembled it, at least in a classic style way.
First thing I did was just stare at pictures of the real JLC Duomètre Sphérotourbillon for hours. I mean, this watch is insane. The detail, the way it moves… it’s just art, you know? I knew I couldn’t replicate that, not even close, but I wanted to capture some of that same vibe. I focused on getting that classic style with a simple look.
I started by sketching out some designs on paper. Yeah, old school, I know, but it helps me get the ideas flowing. I messed around with different shapes and layouts, trying to find something that looked classic but also had a bit of that complicated feel that the real JLC has. It was a lot of trial and error. There were a lot of crumpled-up papers in the trash can, let me tell you.
After I had a basic design I liked, I started messing around with some materials. I didn’t use anything fancy, just some metal, some plastic. I’m not a watchmaker, I’m just a guy who likes to tinker, you know? I just wanted to see if I could put something together that looked decent. I even bought a cheap watch from Catawiki, just to take it apart and see how it worked inside. It was a Bulova Classic, nothing too special. It gave me a general idea of how it is assembled.
- Sketching: Spent hours sketching designs inspired by the JLC.
- Material Gathering: Used basic materials like metal scraps and plastic.
- Learning: Took apart a cheap watch to understand the basics.
The hardest part was definitely trying to get that multi-layered look that the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon has. I ended up using a few different layers of metal, kind of like stacking them on top of each other, to try and get that depth. It wasn’t perfect, but it was starting to look like something. I think JLC is on the same level of those big names like Vacheron Constantin or Patek, so it’s very hard to imitate. The guys at Jaeger-LeCoultre, who are making watches in Vall�e de Joux, are really masters at what they do.
The whole process took me a few weeks, working on it here and there in my spare time. I probably spent way more time than I should have, but hey, it was fun. I learned a ton about watches, about design, and about my own patience – or lack thereof. My wife kept saying I was crazy, spending hours on this silly project. But in the end, I was just very happy to do it.
The Result
So, did I end up with a perfect replica of the JLC Duomètre Sphérotourbillon? Not even close. But did I make something that I’m proud of? Something that looks kind of cool in a classic, vintage kind of way? Yeah, I think so. It’s definitely not going to fool anyone into thinking it’s a real JLC, but it’s a fun little project that I can wear and say, “Yeah, I made that.” And for me, that’s what it’s all about. It’s not about having the most expensive watch, it’s about the experience, the process, and the satisfaction of creating something with your own two hands. And who knows, maybe this is just the beginning. Maybe I’ll try to make another one, and another one, and maybe one day I’ll actually be able to make something that looks like the real deal. But even if I don’t, I’ll still have fun trying.
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