Alright, so I’ve been messing around with watches for a while now, and I gotta say, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire has always been a bit of a dream watch for me. It’s just so darn classy! But, you know, the price tag is way out of my league. So, I thought, why not try to imitate it? Not a straight-up replica, mind you, but more like capturing the essence of its classic style. Here is what I did.
First thing I did was to look at a ton of pictures and videos of the Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire online. I wanted to get a really good feel for its design, the way the dial is laid out, the shape of the hands, the whole vibe. You can find a bunch of these watches being sold online on places like Chrono24, so it wasn’t too hard to find good images.
Next, I started hunting for a base watch. Something that had a similar case shape and size. I didn’t need anything fancy, just a decent-quality watch that I could modify. I ended up finding a used watch from the Jaeger-LeCoultre Club line from the 70s. Apparently, these were entry-level models back then, but they still had that JLC quality. And the design, it was just striking!
Once I had the base watch, I started thinking about the dial. The Duomètre’s dial is pretty unique, with its two sub-dials and the moon phase indicator. I knew I couldn’t replicate it exactly, but I wanted to get a similar layout. I did not find anything that I want. So, I decided to just keep the original dial for now.
Then came the hands. The Duomètre has these beautiful, thin hands that are a big part of its elegance. I searched around online for some similar-looking hands, and after a bit of trial and error, I found a set that looked pretty close. Swapping out the hands was a bit tricky, but I managed to do it without messing up the watch too much.
Finally, I added a new strap. The original strap was fine, but I wanted something a bit more luxurious, something that would elevate the watch’s overall look. I went with a nice, dark leather strap, and I think it really makes a difference.
The Result
- Look and Feel: It’s definitely not a Duomètre, but I think I managed to capture some of its classic style. It’s got that same elegant vibe, and it’s definitely a step up from the original watch.
- Cost: The whole project cost me a lot less than an actual Duomètre, which is a huge win. It turns out that used JLC watches can be quite pricey, especially those with complicated movements.
- Satisfaction: I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watch modification along the way.
So, that’s my little imitation project. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine, and I’m proud of it. Maybe one day I’ll be able to afford the real deal, but for now, this will do just fine. If you’re into watches and looking for a fun project, I’d definitely recommend giving something like this a try. You might surprise yourself with what you can create!
Click to consult