Alright, folks, gather ’round. Today, I’m gonna tell you about my little project: trying to imitate the Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Polaris Chronograph. Yeah, that fancy watch that costs an arm and a leg. Now, I ain’t no millionaire, so the real deal was out of the question. But I thought, “Why not try to make something that looks like it?”
So, I started my research. Looked up everything I could find about the Polaris Chronograph. Scoured the internet for pictures, specs, anything that could help me to get this down. Found some folks online talking about how these watches are stunning but too big for some wrists. One guy was debating between the Automatic and the Chronograph version, says he’s got a 6.5-inch wrist. Another mentioned the Memovox, saying it’s really expensive. I mean, yeah, the original goes for around $19,823!
Then I stumbled upon some websites talking about imitation watches. Some people make a living out of copying these luxury items. I found them on some online shops offering imitation watches at “best prices”, and the others were selling it. I found the other sites offering the same for even cheaper. After looking into the details, I found the prices for the replica of Jaeger-LeCoultre are ranging from $200 to $3000. Now, I’m not trying to fool anyone, and I definitely don’t have that kind of money for a replica, so I decided to roll up my sleeves and get to work.
First thing, I needed a base watch. Something with a similar shape and size. I rummaged through my old watch box and found this old thing I used to wear years ago. It was a bit beat up, but the size was right, and it had a chronograph function. Perfect! The movement is the most important thing, so I picked one with a chronograph movement.
Next, the dial. This was the tricky part. I looked at a bunch of high-quality images of the Polaris Chronograph. The dial has this beautiful blue color, with those distinct markers and hands. I searched online and in local stores for a dial that was close enough. I found some similar chronograph dials and purchased it.
Once I had all the parts, it was time to put it all together. I carefully took apart my old watch, replaced the dial, and put it all back together. It was a bit of a struggle, to be honest. I’m no watchmaker, but I managed to make it work.
Here’s what I used:
- An old chronograph watch with a blue dial
- A replacement dial, similar to Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Polaris Chronograph
- Small screwdrivers, tweezers (borrowed from my wife’s beauty kit)
- A lot of patience
It took some time, but I managed to put together a decent imitation of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph. It’s not the real deal, of course, but it looks pretty good on my wrist. I even started wearing it out – to work, hanging out with friends. No one’s noticed it’s not the real thing yet!
Now, I’m not saying you should go out and make your own imitation watch. But it was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watches in the process. Plus, I saved myself a ton of money. Would I rather have the real Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph? Of course! But for now, this little imitation will do just fine.
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