Okay, so, I got this idea to try and make a knock-off of that fancy Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Duomètre Sphérotourbillon watch. You know, the one that looks like it’s got a tiny gyroscope spinning around inside? Yeah, that one. It’s a real beauty, but way out of my league price-wise. So, I figured, why not try to make something that just looks like it? I mean, I’m not trying to fool anyone, just want that cool aesthetic on my wrist without, you know, selling a kidney.
First, I grabbed some cheap watch movements off the internet. Nothing special, just needed something that ticks. Then came the fun part – the case. I found this old, beat-up pocket watch at a flea market. It had that classic, round shape I was going for, kind of like those Reverso watches, but bigger. I gutted it, cleaned it up, and polished the heck out of it until it shined like new money.
Now, for the tricky part – the “sphérotourbillon”. I knew I couldn’t make a real one. Those things are crazy complicated, like a miniature clockwork solar system or something. So, I decided to fake it. I took apart a tiny motor, the kind you find in those little vibrating toys, and rigged it up with some wire and a watch battery. Then, I fashioned a little cage-like thing out of some thin metal strips and stuck it on top of the motor. It didn’t spin perfectly, kind of wobbled around, but hey, it moved!
- Sourcing the parts: This was a mix of online orders and some good old-fashioned rummaging through junk shops.
- Case work: Lots of elbow grease here. Sanding, polishing, making sure it looked presentable.
- Faking the tourbillon: This was the most fun and the most fiddly. Lots of tiny screws and bits of wire.
- Putting it all together: This took some patience, but I eventually got all the pieces to fit.
I carefully assembled everything inside the case, added a simple watch face that I printed out and glued on, and voila! My very own, very fake, Duomètre Sphérotourbillon-inspired watch. It doesn’t tell time perfectly, and the “tourbillon” is more of a “wobble-on,” but it looks pretty darn cool, I think. It’s a bit clunky, sure, but I’m kinda proud of it. The thing actually ticks! And that little motor whirring away gives it a bit of life, makes it feel more… special, I guess.
The whole project was more about the process than the end result. I learned a lot about how watches work, or at least, how they look like they work. And I got to use my hands, which is always satisfying. It’s not a Jaeger-LeCoultre, but it’s mine, and it’s got that classy, complicated look I was going for. And maybe it doesn’t reflect my whole lifestyle, but it sure makes my t-shirt and jeans feel a little fancier. Or maybe I’m just kidding myself. Who cares. It was fun. I just wanna see something shiny on my wrist, you know?
Anyway, that’s my little watch-making adventure. Maybe I’ll try making a fake Patek Philippe next. Or maybe I’ll just stick to Lego. We’ll see. It’s more like a toy than a real watch.
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