Today, I tried to make an imitation of the Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Master Control Chronograph, the specialty store edition. Let me tell you, it was a wild ride.
First off, I started digging around the internet for some info. I typed “JLC Master Control comparing the 37mm and 40mm models” into Google. I also searched for “Master Grand Taille” to see what came up. It’s like going down a rabbit hole, you know? You start with one thing and end up reading about all sorts of stuff.
I found out some pretty cool things about the JLC Master Control Chrono. Apparently, it’s a great deal for the price. You get an in-house automatic chronograph movement, a 40mm steel case, and a two-tone sector dial. For a top-tier watch, that’s not too shabby, they say it should be priced at around 7.
Then, I learned that the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control series is no joke. These watches are really put through their paces by the watchmakers. I read that they go through a 1,000-hour Master Control certification. That’s like, what, more than 40 days? They also adjust these watches in six different positions. It’s mind-boggling how much effort goes into these things.
I started sketching out the design, trying to get the look of that two-tone sector dial just right. Then, I moved on to figuring out the movement. It’s a JLC caliber 759, an automatic chronograph with a column-wheel control and a vertical-clutch coupling. I’m not gonna lie, some of this stuff is way over my head. But I did my best to replicate the basic functions.
Building the replica:
- First, I spent a whole afternoon just trying to get the right shape for the case. I was initially going to do 37mm, but then realized it was too small. 40mm is a good size.
- Next, I started working on the dial. I printed out a bunch of different versions, trying to match the colors and the layout of the original. It took me a few tries, but I finally got something that looked pretty decent.
- Then came the hard part: the movement. I don’t have the tools or the skills to make a real chronograph movement, so I had to get creative. I ended up using a basic quartz movement and adding some extra gears and levers to make it look like a chronograph. It doesn’t actually function like one, but it looks the part, at least from a distance.
- Finally, I assembled everything together. It was a bit fiddly, but I managed to get it all working. I even made a custom strap for it, just like the original.
After a few days of tinkering, I finally had my imitation Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronograph. It’s not perfect, of course, and I am not a watchmaker. But I’m pretty proud of how it turned out. I took some photos and put them up on my blog. It’s pretty cool to see it all come together like this.
Anyway, that’s my story of trying to imitate a Jaeger-LeCoultre. It was a fun project, and I learned a lot along the way. Maybe one day I’ll be able to make a real one. But for now, I’m happy with my little imitation.
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