Alright, today I wanna talk about how I tried to copy that fancy Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Duomètre Sphérotourbillon watch. You know, the one that looks like it came straight outta a steampunk novel? Yeah, that one. I’ve always been a sucker for complicated watches, and this one’s a real doozy. So, I rolled up my sleeves and gave it a shot.
First off, I gotta say, I didn’t just jump in blind. I spent a good chunk of time staring at pictures of this thing online. I mean, really staring. Trying to figure out how all those gears and springs fit together. It’s like a tiny, beautiful machine on your wrist. I even watched some videos of watchmakers taking them apart and putting them back together. Made my head spin a little, not gonna lie.
Then came the fun part – trying to find the parts. Now, I’m not made of money, so I wasn’t about to buy genuine JLC parts. Instead, I started hunting around online for similar-looking bits and pieces. I found some decent-looking gears and a mainspring that seemed like it might work, mostly from old, broken watches and clocks I found. It was like a treasure hunt, except instead of gold, I was after tiny screws and balance wheels. I spent days digging through boxes of this stuff. Finally, I got everything I thought I needed, and I felt like it was worth it.
Next up, assembly. This is where things got really tricky. I had my tools laid out, my magnifying glass on, and a whole lot of coffee. I started with the base plate, trying to get the main parts in place. Let me tell you, those tiny screws are a pain in the butt. I even lost a few. My fingers felt like sausages, and I swear my eyes were crossed by the end of it. I had to take breaks just to keep my hands from shaking, but this is fine since I was not in a hurry.
The tourbillon was the hardest part, no doubt. Getting all those tiny gears to mesh just right, and then making sure the whole thing spun smoothly, well, it took me days. I’d get it almost working, then something would slip, and I’d have to start all over again. I may have let out a few curse words along the way, but that’s what happens when you’re trying to play master watchmaker in your living room. I mean, it’s understandable, right?
Finally, after what felt like forever, I had something that kinda, sorta resembled the JLC Duomètre Sphérotourbillon. It wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot. The finishing was rough, some of the gears were a little wonky, and the whole thing was definitely bigger than the real deal. But, you know what? It ticked! And that tourbillon, it actually spun. And it’s just cool to see it rotate!
My Results
- Movement: Got it ticking, but it’s not keeping perfect time. It is hard to adjust, but I am doing fine with it.
- Tourbillon: Spins, but it’s a bit wobbly. Well, I can live with that.
- Aesthetics: Looks the part from a distance, but up close, it’s pretty clear it’s a homemade job. I think it looks good for a homemade one.
So, was it worth it? Absolutely. I learned a ton about how watches work, I got to challenge myself, and I ended up with a unique timepiece that I’m pretty proud of. Would I do it again? Maybe. But next time, I’m definitely investing in a better set of tools. And maybe a stronger magnifying glass. And probably a lot more coffee. I am a big coffee lover, for sure.
Anyway, that’s my story. Hope you enjoyed it. And if you are thinking about doing it too, good luck and let me know how you do with it.
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