foxindebox Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Hi everyone, I've just started work on my vintage Jaeger Lecoultre franken and thought I'd share my progress with anyone who is interested. Firstly I have sourced a mid sixties JLC K800c manual wind movement, complete with dial and hands from eBay (if I remember rightly, it cost about £70). It is in very good working condition and keeps time well (although not accurately measured as yet). I have decided to get the dial restored, so removed it and posted it off to D R Bill and Sons, who by all accounts are very good. I did want the dial to be more of a silver colour instead of the current "champagne" it should be. Hopefully, it should look good with the case I have sourced (more of that in the next post). Anyway, here are some more pictures I took when removing the dial to send away. So, that's all for now...... Plenty more to come. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astonjenks Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 This is my JLC repeater from late 19th Century taht was completely rebuilt and recased, they are a wonderful watch making co. Best of luck with your project. AJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxindebox Posted August 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Thanks, What a beautiful watch you have there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astonjenks Posted August 17, 2014 Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Many thanks I posted a video on general a while ago where you can hear the repeater in action, she really is a very special piece (and very large :-) AJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxindebox Posted August 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 17, 2014 Right, here are some movement and case pictures. Not the best pictures I'm afraid due to limits of my iphone And now for the case which was bought on an M2M sale for €30, which is good value for period LeCoultre That's it for now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 What an elegant case. This is going to be a beauty. Look forward to seeing her when she is complete. Sent from my droptop using telepathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogladio Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Looks like you stumbled over some great parts deals. Thread subscribed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krpster Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Agree completely. Great project. What an elegant case. This is going to be a beauty. Look forward to seeing her when she is complete. Sent from my droptop using telepathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxindebox Posted August 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thanks very much for all of your kind comments and interest. I have had the movement for about six months now and have been hunting high and low for a suitable case. When I found this one (on this board care of rolojack) I jumped at the chance to get it. Luckily enough the dial and movement fitted perfectly, and so now I am currently trying to source a suitable crown (preferably JLC signed), whilst waiting for the dial to come back. The only problem I can foresee is that I'm not entirely sure what type of crown I need to get. There is no tube or thread so that rules out a screw down, similarly there are no o rings inside the case which I think rules out a crown with a tube attached. The only conclusion I can come to is that a vintage dustproof crown might be the one I need. Then.... What type of strap to go for? Hmmmmm any ideas chaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanshogun Posted August 19, 2014 Report Share Posted August 19, 2014 Nice project! Vintage jlc is a hole I need to fill in my collection. How much does the dial restoration from those guys run? Been thinking about one for my Heuer, but there is what looks to be a nos one on the bay for around £170. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gran Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 A mesh strap! or steel bracelett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martijnp Posted August 20, 2014 Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 I love these projects. Would love to do this all myself but I simply can't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxindebox Posted August 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2014 Nice project! Vintage jlc is a hole I need to fill in my collection. How much does the dial restoration from those guys run? Been thinking about one for my Heuer, but there is what looks to be a nos one on the bay for around £170. The restoration runs to a VERY reasonable £65. Can't wait to see how it turns out, I'm really excited to get cracking with putting this all together. A mesh strap! or steel bracelett Mmm.....Mesh..... I like it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kernow Posted August 22, 2014 Report Share Posted August 22, 2014 Well come on, pic's needed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanshogun Posted August 22, 2014 Report Share Posted August 22, 2014 The restoration runs to a VERY reasonable £65. Can't wait to see how it turns out, I'm really excited to get cracking with putting this all together. Mmm.....Mesh..... I like it!! Wow that's surprisingly cheap. Now I just need a guy to work on the case! I will have to try a franken/project watch soon myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxindebox Posted August 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2014 Well here we go... The dial came back today and I think it looks lovely I popped the hands back on And into the case she went. There are still a few bits n bobs that need sorting (such the crown and strap), but I am over the moon with the result and just had to pop it on a strap to try it on. Anyway, I hope you all like it! More pictures to come when it's finally finished. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraggle42 Posted August 22, 2014 Report Share Posted August 22, 2014 Wow, that dial refinishing looks great - they've completely gotten rid of the dent in it. Looks a lovely piece, and I'd stick with a leather strap meself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted August 22, 2014 Report Share Posted August 22, 2014 Dude that looks awesome. Very unique. Love the simplicity and elegance. Beautiful build. Sent from my droptop using telepathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxindebox Posted August 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2014 Thanks very much guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxindebox Posted October 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2014 Just thought I'd post an update to this thread. One of the issues I had with this build was that here was no casing ring with the movement. I used a plastic one and it did the job, but I was not satisfied. Also the crown was not the right one for the case I bought. I didn't mind an unsigned crown, but I had no idea which one would fit. So, I decided to send it off to a watchmaker I had used before and trusted implicitly. Christian Danneman (watch guy.co.uk) is a great guy and very reasonable so I sent the watch to him for a casing ring to be made, a new crown and tube fitted and a complete service (I had cleaned and oiled the watch myself, but am in no way up to his standards). I've not yet had the watch back, but here are the work in progress pictures he sent (which are regularly updated). There will be more pictures to follow when he job is completed. I highly recommend Christian for any work on Gen watches (unfortunately he does not work on reps). These pictures are posted with permission from watchguy.co.uk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droptopman Posted October 10, 2014 Report Share Posted October 10, 2014 This is going to be sweet. Sent from my droptop using telepathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uberscreamer Posted October 11, 2014 Report Share Posted October 11, 2014 This is absolutely gorgeous work here, Fox. And that dial refinishing... holy cow that was much nicer than I expected for the price you quoted. Looking forward to seeing the finished product and some wrist shots when it's all finished. Subscribed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxindebox Posted October 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Hi everyone, Here are some more pictures from the service. I've got the watch back now, so will post some more pictures with a strap on (ooh err missus). Lots of bits and pieces. Balance is in. Train is back together. Dial and hands back on. Back in the case with the new casing ring. Not bad for a 50-60 year old movement. Finally, a couple of pictures with a mesh strap fitted. I'm not sure about it though.... I've got a brown croc Hirsch strap that I'm going to try. I'm going to dig out my SLR and take a few proper pictures. I'll post them when I'm done. That's all for now 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraggle42 Posted October 14, 2014 Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Lovely movement and dial. Is that a bit of water staining around the crown / keyless mechanism? Obviously not corrosion otherwise wouldn't be working so well. Enjoy it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxindebox Posted October 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2014 Lovely movement and dial. Is that a bit of water staining around the crown / keyless mechanism? Obviously not corrosion otherwise wouldn't be working so well. Enjoy it! I think so, didn't look like corrosion though. The guy who did the service didn't mention it and he's as good as gold. If it was going to cause a problem, he would have got in touch before completing the work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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