Alright, guys, so today I wanna talk about something I’ve been messing around with lately – trying to recreate that super classy Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Reverso Tribute Monoface watch, you know, the one that just screams luxury? I’ve always loved the look of it, but the price tag? Ouch. So I thought, why not try to make my own version? Let me tell you, it’s been a journey.
First off, I started by digging around online, looking at every picture and video of the Reverso Tribute Monoface I could find. I spent hours just staring at the details, the way the light hits the dial, the sleek lines of the case, you name it. I even went down a rabbit hole learning about the history of the Reverso, how it was designed for polo players back in the day. Pretty cool, right?
Research and Planning
- Gathering Reference: This was the fun part. I collected tons of images of the watch from different angles.
- Understanding the Specs: I found out the real deal uses a hand-wound movement, the Caliber 822, which runs at 21,600vph. Not that I could replicate that, but good to know!
- Materials: The original is all stainless steel and leather, which seems doable enough.
Then came the hard part – figuring out how to actually build this thing. Now, I’m no watchmaker, so I knew I wasn’t going to be crafting a movement from scratch. Instead, I decided to focus on the look and feel of the watch. I found a cheap quartz watch with a similar rectangular case shape online. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a starting point.
The Build Process
- Taking it Apart: I carefully took apart the donor watch, which was nerve-wracking, to say the least. I didn’t want to break anything important.
- Finding a Dial: I got lucky and stumbled upon a watch face online that kinda resembled the silver opaline dial of the Reverso. It wasn’t an exact match, but it had the right vibe.
- The Strap: This was easier than I thought. I found a brown leather strap with a similar look and feel to the original. It even had that fancy interchangeable feature, which was a nice bonus.
Putting it all together was tricky. I had to carefully fit the new dial into the case, making sure it was centered and secure. Then, I attached the new strap, which was pretty straightforward.
The Result
The final product? Well, it’s not going to fool any watch experts, that’s for sure. But honestly, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It captures the essence of the Reverso Tribute Monoface, at least to my eyes. It’s got that classic, elegant look that I was going for, and it feels pretty good on the wrist.
Of course, it doesn’t have the prestige or the intricate mechanics of the real Jaeger-LeCoultre. And let’s be real, the actual Reverso is a masterpiece of watchmaking, with prices starting at around $8,900 and going way up from there. Mine cost me, well, a lot less than that. But hey, it was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. Plus, now I have a cool-looking watch that’s kind of unique, even if it’s just a humble imitation.
Would I recommend this to everyone? Probably not. It takes some patience, a bit of luck, and you have to be okay with it not being the real deal. But if you’re like me, and you love the style of the Reverso Tribute Monoface but can’t justify the price, it’s a fun little project to try out. Just don’t expect to pass it off as the genuine article!
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