So, I’ve been messing around with watches for a while now, and recently, I got this idea to try and make an imitation of the Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Rendez-Vous Moon Classic. It’s a pretty fancy watch, and I thought it would be a fun challenge to see if I could pull it off.
Starting Out
First off, I started digging around online, trying to find any info I could about people making fake watches. I stumbled upon this forum where people were talking about buying replica watches on Chrono24 and some discussion about spotting fake JLCs. It was a bit of a mixed bag, but it gave me some ideas on what to look out for.
Gathering Materials
Next, I needed to get my hands on some materials. I found a few websites that were selling parts for imitation watches, but it was tough to know which ones were legit. I ended up ordering a bunch of different parts from various sellers, hoping that at least some of them would be decent quality.
Putting It Together
Once I had all the parts, the real work began. I started by taking apart a cheap watch I had lying around, just to get a feel for how everything fit together. Then, I carefully started assembling the imitation JLC, piece by piece. It was a slow process, and I definitely made a few mistakes along the way. There were times when I wasn’t sure if I could actually do it.
The Movement
One of the trickiest parts was getting the movement right. I found some information online about the movement used in the real JLC Rendez-Vous Moon Classic, but it was hard to find an exact match. I ended up using a movement from a different watch that seemed similar enough. I spent hours tinkering with it, trying to get it to fit just right.
The Dial and Hands
The dial and hands were also a challenge. I wanted them to look as close to the original as possible, so I spent a lot of time comparing pictures and trying to find parts that matched. It was a bit of a guessing game, but I think I got pretty close in the end. I even tried to mimic the floral look of the original, which was way harder than I expected.
The Case and Bracelet
The case and bracelet were relatively straightforward. I found some parts online that looked pretty similar to the real JLC, and they fit together without too much trouble. It was a relief to have at least one part of the process go smoothly.
The Final Product
After weeks of work, I finally finished the imitation JLC Rendez-Vous Moon Classic. It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. It looks surprisingly similar to the real thing, and it actually keeps time pretty well. Of course, it’s not the same as owning a genuine JLC, but it was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way.
All in all, it was a crazy ride trying to imitate this watch. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a good way to kill some time and learn a thing or two about watchmaking. Plus, now I have a pretty cool-looking watch to show for it.
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