Okay, so today I messed around with a Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Date watch, trying to see if I could make a decent knockoff. First off, I grabbed a real one to get a good look at it. Man, these things are sleek! Only 7.8 mm thick and 39 mm across, it’s crazy how they pack so much into such a small space.
I started by taking apart the original, just to see what makes it tick. Inside, it’s all tiny gears and springs, really a piece of art. I measured each part with my calipers, noting down every little detail. The case is this beautiful polished steel, and the dial has this elegant, minimalist look that I really dig.
Next, I fired up my CAD software and started modeling the case. Getting the dimensions right was a pain, especially with those smooth curves. After a few tries, I had a pretty good digital model. Then came the dial. This was even trickier because of the tiny markers and the date window. I used some high-res photos as a reference and spent hours tweaking the design until it looked just right.
For the movement, I decided to use an off-the-shelf automatic movement. I found one that was similar in size and had the date function. It wasn’t exactly the same, but it would do the job for this project. I had to modify the case design a bit to fit the new movement, but it wasn’t too bad.
Once I had all the parts designed, I started manufacturing. For the case, I used a CNC machine to mill it out of a block of stainless steel. Polishing it to get that mirror finish took forever, but it was worth it. The dial was printed using a high-resolution UV printer, and I applied the tiny markers by hand. That was probably the most tedious part, but the details matter, right?
After assembling everything, the watch actually looked pretty good! It wasn’t perfect, but it definitely had that Master Ultra Thin vibe. I wore it around for a few days, and it kept time surprisingly well. The date function worked perfectly, and the overall feel was quite close to the real thing.
- Case: 39 mm diameter, 7.8 mm thickness, stainless steel
- Dial: Minimalist design with date window
- Movement: Off-the-shelf automatic with date function
Final Thoughts
This project was a fun challenge. It took a lot of patience and precision, but it was really satisfying to see the final product come together. Would I try to pass it off as a real Jaeger-LeCoultre? No way! It’s more about appreciating the craftsmanship and seeing if I could replicate it. I learned a lot about watchmaking and gained a whole new respect for these tiny, intricate machines. If you’re into this kind of stuff, I definitely recommend giving it a try. Just be prepared to spend a lot of time and effort, but it’s totally worth it in the end.
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