Okay, so, let me tell you about this little project I’ve been messing around with. I’m calling it “Imitation Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Duomètre Sphérotourbillon Classic Style.” Now, I’m no expert watchmaker, but I’ve always been fascinated by those fancy watches, especially the complicated ones. And Jaeger-LeCoultre, or JLC as some folks call it, they’re like the kings of making these crazy, intricate timepieces.
I started by just staring at pictures, you know, really studying them. There’s this one watch, the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon, that just blew my mind. It’s got this “dual wing” thing, which is basically like having two engines in one watch, one for the tourbillon and one for the regular time-telling stuff. I found out that this crazy idea was back in 2012, and it’s still awesome.
So, I got to thinking, “How can I capture the vibe of this thing without, you know, actually making a watch that costs more than a house?” I’m not made of money, and I definitely don’t have the skills to craft something that precise. So the first thing that I do is searching for everything about this kind of watch. And there are only a few information, but it’s enough for me to start.
I started sketching, drawing out designs inspired by the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon. I wasn’t trying to copy it exactly, but more like, trying to get the feel of it. This series is from the Dual-Wing concept and the JLC’s creative. The sketches are all about those curves, those layers, that sense of depth you see in the real watch. I used a lot of circles and arcs, trying to mimic the way the different parts of the watch overlap and interact.
Then, I moved on to materials. I couldn’t use platinum or gold like the real deal. One of the information is saying this watch has 460 parts, and the case is made by platinum. But I found some nice-looking metals that had a similar shine. I even played around with different kinds of paper and plastic, cutting and layering them to create a 3D effect. It was like making a mini sculpture, but with the idea of a watch in mind.
Experiment
- First Try: I tried using just paper at first. I figured it would be easy to work with. I cut out all these little shapes, trying to copy the layout of the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon’s dial. But man, it was flimsy. It didn’t hold its shape, and it just looked like a kid’s project. Not what I was going for.
- Second Attempt: Then I thought, “Okay, let’s try something sturdier.” I went to a craft store and found some thin sheets of metal. They were shiny, like the real watch. I spent hours cutting and bending them, using my paper model as a guide. It was tough, and my fingers got all cut up, but it started to look a bit more like a watch. Still, it was rough, not refined at all.
- Mixing It Up: I realized I needed to combine materials. So, I used the metal for the main parts, like the case and the bigger pieces of the dial. But for the smaller, more delicate details, I used thicker paper, even some plastic bits I found. It was like putting together a puzzle, figuring out which material worked best for each part.
The hardest part was definitely trying to get that “tourbillon” look. In the real watch, it’s this spinning cage that’s supposed to make the watch more accurate. It’s super complicated. I obviously couldn’t make a working one, so I had to get creative. I used wires, beads, anything I could find to create a sense of movement and complexity. They call this watch “Sphérotourbillon”, and the caliber is 382, that’s really cool.
After a lot of trial and error, I finally ended up with something I was pretty happy with. It’s not a watch, not really. It doesn’t tell time, and it’s not made of precious metals. But when you look at it, you can see the inspiration. You can see the Duomètre Sphérotourbillon in there. And the limited edition even has high jewelry on it.
It’s like a tribute to the real thing, a way for me to appreciate the art of watchmaking without having to be a master watchmaker myself. And hey, it was a fun project. I learned a lot, and I got to create something unique. That’s what it’s all about, right?
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