Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Date, trying to get a good replica going. Here’s the story from the beginning.
First off, I started digging around for info on these watches. I mean, Jaeger-LeCoultre is a big name, right? Turns out, they’re pretty well-regarded and some models are good for resale. Especially this Reverso thing, which they’ve been making since 1931. Looks unique, with all that enamel and engraving stuff.
Then I jumped on a forum to check out what people were saying about it. Somebody mentioned buying one and another was asking if the JLC Master Ultra Thin Moon was worth it. They were talking about reviews from way back, like 2019 and 2016. That’s ancient history in the watch world! But it gave me a good idea of what to look for.
One thing that kept popping up was this issue with the rotor being loud. Apparently, even the real JLCs have this problem. Something to keep in mind, I guess.
After that, I went hunting for places to buy parts. Hit up a couple of online stores, and also checked out that auction site. You know, the one where you can find practically anything. I found some listings for Jaeger-LeCoultre watches and parts there. Prices were all over the place, but it gave me a ballpark figure.
I also found out these guys have made, like, 1,200 different movements and have hundreds of patents. They’re serious about their watchmaking, that’s for sure.
Here’s what I did next:
- Gathered parts: I managed to find a decent case, a dial that looked pretty close to the original, and some hands that seemed to fit the style.
- Movement: This was tricky. I couldn’t get my hands on a real JLC movement, obviously. So, I settled for a generic automatic movement. It’s not the same, but it does the job.
- Assembly: Putting it all together was a bit of a pain. Had to be super careful not to scratch anything. It’s like building a tiny, intricate machine. Used some tweezers, a loupe, and a whole lot of patience.
- Testing: Once it was assembled, I had to make sure it was running properly. Checked the timekeeping, made some adjustments, and listened for any weird noises. That rotor is definitely a bit loud, just like they said on the forums.
So, yeah, that’s the whole process of trying to imitate a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Date. It’s not perfect, not by a long shot. But it was a fun project, and I learned a lot about watches in the process. Maybe next time I’ll try a different model, or maybe I’ll just stick to admiring the real thing from afar.
Click to consult