Today, I wanna talk about my little project trying to imitate a Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Duomètre Sphérotourbillon. Now, I ain’t no watchmaker, just a guy who really digs the look of those fancy watches but can’t exactly drop a house payment on one, you know?
So, I started this whole thing by just staring at pictures of the real deal online. I spent hours, days even, just zooming in on every little detail of that Duomètre Sphérotourbillon. The way that tourbillon spins around, it’s just mesmerizing. It’s like a tiny little galaxy on your wrist.
Then, I started looking around for parts. This is where things got tricky. I mean, I wasn’t expecting to find genuine JLC parts just lying around, but I figured maybe I could find something that looked similar. I hit up all the usual spots online, you know, those places where you can buy watch parts and stuff. I found some movements that were kinda, sorta similar in look, but nothing that really nailed it.
I did find some cases that were close, though. I ended up grabbing one that had a similar vibe to the Duomètre. It wasn’t perfect, but it had that same sort of elegance, I guess. I also picked up some hands and a dial that looked the part, at least from a distance.
Now, the real challenge was putting it all together. I’ve tinkered with watches before, taken them apart, cleaned them, that sort of thing, but I’d never built one from scratch. There were a lot of tiny screws and fiddly bits. I messed up a few times, bent a hand, scratched the dial, you name it. My fingers are not good to do those details like the genuine one. I watched a ton of videos online, read some forum posts, and slowly, piece by piece, it started to come together.
The tourbillon part was the hardest. I ended up using a regular movement and just kinda faking the look of the tourbillon. I know, I know, it’s not the same, but I did what I could. I used some tiny gears and springs and arranged them in a way that sort of resembled the real deal. It doesn’t spin like the Sphérotourbillon, but it looks kinda cool if you don’t squint too hard.
The Final Result
After weeks of work, a lot of frustration, and a few choice words, I finally finished it. It’s not a perfect replica, not by a long shot. It’s more like an “inspired by” piece. But, you know what? I’m proud of it. I made it with my own two hands, and it’s unique. It’s got its flaws, sure, but it’s mine.
- Case: Imitation case, similar in style to the Duomètre.
- Dial: Aftermarket dial with a similar aesthetic.
- Hands: Generic hands that resemble the original.
- Movement: Standard movement with a “faux” tourbillon made from spare parts.
It doesn’t keep perfect time, and the “tourbillon” is just for show, but when I wear it, I get a little kick out of it. It’s a reminder that you don’t always need the real deal to appreciate something. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll be able to afford a real Jaeger-LeCoultre. But until then, I’ll be rocking my homemade homage.
Click to consult