Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to get into watchmaking for a while, and I thought, what better way to start than by trying to make a copy of a really fancy watch? I picked the Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Duomètre Sphérotourbillon because, well, it looks super cool and complicated. I mean, who wouldn’t want a mini spinning globe on their wrist?
First off, I did a ton of research. I watched videos, read articles, and basically stared at pictures of the real watch until I could see it in my sleep. The real challenge was figuring out how all those tiny parts work together. This watch has a dual-wing design, which basically means it has two separate mechanisms, one for timekeeping and one for the tourbillon, that spinning cage thing that’s supposed to make the watch more accurate.
- Gathering Materials: This was a pain. I couldn’t just go to the store and buy watch parts. I ended up ordering a bunch of stuff online, some from those shady overseas websites. I even bought some cheap watches just to tear them apart for parts. My workbench looked like a watch graveyard.
- Building the Case: I decided to go with a classic style, so I opted for a simple, round stainless steel case. I used a lathe to shape it, which was a whole new experience. Let’s just say I made a few… prototypes before I got it right. It was tough, and it didn’t turn out perfect, but it was round and shiny, so that’s a win.
- Assembling the Movement: This was the hardest part. I started with the mainspring, the heart of the watch. Then I carefully placed the gears, levers, and all those other tiny parts. I had to use tweezers and a magnifying glass, and my hands were cramping like crazy. I spent hours just trying to get the balance wheel to tick. I remember one night I was so frustrated I almost threw the whole thing across the room.
- Creating the Tourbillon: The tourbillon was a beast of its own. It’s a tiny cage that rotates, and it has to be perfectly balanced. I tried to make one out of some thin wire and a few gears from an old alarm clock. It took me weeks, and honestly, it doesn’t look exactly like the real one, but it spins, which I’m pretty proud of. The first time I got it to spin, I’m pretty sure I did a happy dance around my workshop.
- Putting It All Together: Once I had all the parts, I started putting them together. It was like a very complicated puzzle, but way more stressful because if you break a piece, you can’t just go get a new one. I slowly assembled the movement into the case, added the dial and hands, and finally closed it all up.
The Final Result
After months of work, I finally had something that resembled a watch. It doesn’t look exactly like the Jaeger-LeCoultre, but it’s got its own charm. The tourbillon spins, the hands move, and it actually keeps time, though it’s not super accurate. I wear it sometimes, and it’s a great conversation starter. People are always asking me about it, and I get to tell them the whole story of how I made it. It’s a bit rough around the edges, maybe a little wonky in places, but hey, I made it! It’s got character, you know? And every time I look at it, I remember all the hard work and frustration that went into it. I’m not sure I’d do it again, but it was definitely an experience I’ll never forget. Who knows, maybe this is just the beginning of my watchmaking journey.
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