— 85 years young already ! Jaeger-LeCoultre’s iconic Reverso has long since reached the age of reason, yet it continues to surprise and amaze through the magic of its swivel case.
The scope of the Reverso’s technical content encompasses a wide range according to models and successive launches, while the sophistication of its aesthetic characteristics is interpreted across an equally broad palette of creative inspirations.
For the 85th birthday of its cult line, the Grande Maison in Le Sentier wished to make the Reverso shine in a whole new light by clarifying its structure. CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre since 2012, Daniel Riedo is presenting three stylistic expressions at the SIHH 2016 : Reverso Tribute, Reverso One and Reverso Classic. The latter is available in three sizes (small, medium and large) for both men and women. In its version with a flat caseback, the Classic collection remains the ideal model for personalization, a possibility that is a particular favorite with women, whereas the Tribute collection with its twin faces houses a mechanical brain traditionally more attuned to the expectations of Haute Horlogerie connoisseurs.
A worthy heir to a proud lineage that has seen a succession of Grande Compication models, including the Gyrotourbillon® belonging to the Hybris Mechanica ® collection, the Reverso Tribute will perpetuate the watchmaking history of the Reverso by expressing the expertise of the Manufacture with its 1,200 calibers.
The first representative of this new generation, the Reverso Tribute Calendar reinterprets the black dial of the 1931 Reverso. It is distinguished by a new design featuring powerful cheap replica watchmaking identity codes, accentuated by Dauphine-type hands, hand-applied hour-markers converging on the center, as well its cradle graced with a sunburst finish – all harmoniously arranged on colorful dials with a finely grained texture.
The wonderful world of useful complications is symbolized by the hammered moon of the complete calendar on the front; and on the back by the generous day/night indicator on the dual-time display, typical of the Reverso’s Duo function. A new Manufacture hand-wound movement has been developed for this 2016 new launch, in which the innovative aspects are not confined to the caliber alone. Until now, the time-zone of the Duetto was adjusted via a pusher placed on top of the crown, which the Jaeger-LeCoultre engineers have now managed to eliminate in order to preserve the extremely pure design of the pink gold case. This is function is now recessed at noon on the top edge and accessible by releasing the case from the cradle to reach the adjustment trigger. Horological wisdom is thus enjoying a whole new lease of life and that’s something well worth proclaiming !
Reverso Tribute Calendar
CASE : 18K pink gold, reversible, water-resistant to 30m SIZE : 49.4mm x 29.9mm
MOVEMENT : mechanical hand-wound (JLC Calibre 853, 42h power reserve), 283 components
FUNCTIONS : hours, minutes, day, month, date, moon phases on the front, dual-time display, day/night indicator on the back
DIALS : opaline finely grained silver-toned, hand-applied gilt hour-markers on the front ; guilloche anthracite with Clous de Paris hobnail motif and handapplied gilt hour-markers on the back
STRAP : brown alligator leather with 18K pink gold folding clasp