Marking a century since the birth of Art Deco, Jaeger-LeCoultre has revisited its legendary Reverso, a timepiece first introduced in 1931 during the movement’s golden age. Originally conceived for polo players—its reversible case designed to shield the crystal from impact—the Reverso has evolved into a canvas for the maison’s technical and artistic innovation. This year, the spotlight at Watches and Wonders falls on the Reverso Tribute, featuring both Monoface and Duoface designs, adorned with intricate complications and vibrant enameling.
Among the highlights are two standout models: the Reverso Tribute Minute Repeater and the Reverso Tribute Geographic, each exemplifying Jaeger-LeCoultre’s commitment to precision and elegance.
Reverso Tribute Minute Repeater: A Symphony of Sound and Craft
Jaeger-LeCoultre made history in 1994 with the original Reverso Répétition Minutes, the world’s first rectangular minute repeater wristwatch. This year’s iteration, the Reverso Tribute Minute Repeater, debuts the new Calibre 953—a manually wound movement incorporating seven patents, including trebuchet hammers and crystal gongs for superior acoustic clarity. The mechanism also eliminates silent intervals between chimes, ensuring seamless transitions when signaling hours, quarters, and minutes. Powering the watch for 48 hours, the movement is a testament to horological ingenuity.
The front dial features a hand-guilloché barley-seed pattern, evoking soundwaves, layered with Grand Feu enamel in a striking teal hue. The reverse reveals an open-worked display of the minute repeater mechanism. Housed in pink gold and paired with a black alligator strap, the watch is a fusion of artistry and engineering.
Reverso Tribute Geographic: A Traveler’s Companion
For the first time in the Reverso Tribute line, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduces its signature world-time complication, driven by the new Calibre 834. Designed for intuitive use, the time zone adjustment is activated via a hidden clasp on the swivel case, allowing one-hour jumps with a simple slide.
The world-time display occupies the caseback, while the front showcases an innovative Grande Date mechanism. Unlike traditional designs, the date discs are arranged side-by-side—rather than stacked—ensuring legibility within the Reverso’s rectangular frame. Two versions are available: a stainless steel model with a blue sunray dial and a 150-piece limited edition in rose gold with a chocolate sunray dial.
With these releases, Jaeger-LeCoultre not only honors Art Deco’s legacy but also reaffirms the Reverso’s enduring relevance as a symbol of horological excellence.
