Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre à Quantième Lunaire for a while now. You know, the one you see in the official flagship stores? Yeah, that one. It’s a beauty, but the price tag? Ouch. So, I started looking into, let’s call them “inspired” versions.
The Hunt Begins
First, I scoured the internet, browsing through countless online shops. I found a few that looked promising, but something always felt off. The pictures were either too blurry, or the sellers were just not, you know… I just didn’t trust them. Then I decided I would try to do it myself, if I couldn’t find a good one.
Getting My Hands Dirty
I started by sourcing the parts. This was a pain. Finding parts that looked like the real deal was tough. The case, the dial, the hands – everything needed to be just right. I spent hours, days even, just looking for parts. The case was particularly tricky. The original is 40.5 mm in white gold, and I wanted to get as close to that as possible. I finally found a decent one after what felt like an eternity.
The Assembly
Once I had all the parts, the real work began. Putting it all together was like solving a really complicated puzzle. The movement was the most difficult part. I mean I am not a watchmaker, right? But, I managed to figure it out eventually, with a lot of trial and error, and a few choice words along the way. There were moments when I thought I’d messed up for sure, but I kept at it.
The Final Product
And finally, after all that, it was done. It wasn’t perfect, of course. There were a few minor details that were a bit off, but overall, I was pretty happy with it. It looked good, it felt good, and most importantly, it told time. It’s not the real thing, but for a fraction of the price, it’s close enough for me. Plus, I made it myself, and that’s pretty cool, right?
My Thoughts
Would I recommend this to everyone? Probably not. It was a lot of work, and it definitely wasn’t easy. But if you’re like me, and you just can’t justify spending a small fortune on a watch, then maybe it’s worth a shot. Just be prepared to get your hands dirty, and to spend a lot of time on it. And remember, it’s not going to be perfect, but it’ll be yours.
In conclusion, I had lots of fun doing this project, and it turned out better than I expected. I will continue to do more of this kind of project in the future.