• Homage to La Serenissima: the beauty and shimmering light of Venice, as captured by J.M.W. Turner, one of the greatest landscape painters in Western art history

• Showcasing the Métiers Rares™: uniting the crafts of miniature painting, enamelling, paillonage and hand-guillochage

• Intricate enamelling: a complex process requiring 14 layers of enamel to recreate the sense of depth and perspective, the limpid light and the floating effect of the clouds

• An exclusive production: four Reverso Tribute Enamel timepieces, each issued in a limited edition of only 10 pieces each

Venice, La Serenissima. Renowned for its extraordinary light and beauty, the city has inspired generations of artists throughout the centuries. Among them was J.M.W. Turner, who found in Venice an inexhaustible source of inspiration. His luminous interpretations of the city not only captured its unique atmosphere but also helped shape the course of landscape painting in Western art.

This September, coinciding with its participation in the Homo Faber Biennale in Venice, Jaeger-LeCoultre pays tribute to the host city with four new limited-edition Reverso Tribute Enamel timepieces. The caseback of each watch features a miniature reproduction of one of J.M.W. Turner’s paintings of La Serenissima, reaffirming Reverso’s role as a canvas for artistic expression.

EXPRESSING A VISION OF ART AND CULTURE

Beginning in Europe and now extending worldwide, Homo Faber was created to honour and promote excellence in craft in all its forms. This aligns closely with Jaeger-LeCoultre’s commitment to supporting not only the highly specialised technical crafts inherent to watchmaking but also the artistic crafts associated with Haute Horlogerie. Expressing Jaeger-LeCoultre’s vision of art and culture, the new Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Turner Series’ pays homage to this shared mission while showcasing the talents and skills of the Manufacture’s in-house Métiers Rares™ atelier.

Turner, a pioneer of modern art: Born in London in 1775, Joseph Mallord William Turner is acknowledged as one of the most influential painters in Western art history. While best known as a landscape painter, his work explored many aspects of the rapidly changing world in which he lived: industrialisation, profound social change and political and economic upheaval. Revealing a precocious talent from an early age, his first works followed the prevailing style of realism. However, rejecting established conventions, he soon developed a far more expressive approach, using loose brushstrokes – and sometimes his thumb or a palette knife – to create dynamic compositions. Employing colour and light not only to represent his subjects but also to evoke emotion, Turner transformed the course of landscape painting and anticipated artistic developments that would emerge many decades later. As a precursor of modern art, he exerted a profound influence on both Impressionism in the late 19^th century and Abstract Expressionism in the 20^th century. His artistic legacy has continued to shape generations of artists since his death in 1851.

Venice, Turner’s enduring fascination: Turner was intrigued by the very idea of Venice, his imagination fuelled by the writings of Shakespeare and Lord Byron. He made three journeys to the city – in 1819, 1833 and 1840 – the first when he was already a mature artist of 44. Each visit took place in late summer, when humidity shrouds the canals in a soft haze and the light seems to make the buildings levitate above the lagoon. Although Turner exhibited only 25 Venetian paintings during his lifetime, his output was remarkably prolific: over the course of his three visits, he produced some 150 watercolours and as many as 900 drawings in less than four weeks. His oil paintings of Venice were created later, upon his return to his London studio.

Capturing Turner’s light in enamel: The new Reverso Tribute Enamel timepieces unite the crafts of enamel miniature painting and paillonné enamelling on the casebacks with guillochage and enamel on the dials. The swivelling case of the Reverso lends itself naturally to artistic decoration and Jaeger-LeCoultre has used the blank metal reverse side of the case as a canvas on which its enamellers have created a series of highly accurate, miniaturised reproductions of celebrated works of art. To reproduce the shimmering beauty of Turner’s paintings, each Reverso Tribute Enamel timepiece requires approximately 80 hours of work.

As Turner’s works were of different formats, each view was cropped to capture the essence of the composition while also fitting the portrait orientation of the Reverso case. For each watch, the first of many challenges was to miniaturise the original works – the largest measuring 68 x 91 cm – to 2 cm^2, literally postage-stamp size, without losing any detail.

Equally important was capturing the ethereal quality of light and its shimmering effect on the water, as well as recreating Turner’s subtle interplay of perspective that characterises the original paintings. To achieve the ‘floating’ effect created by the clouds required the enameller to work across multiple enamel planes – a complex technique that began with the enameller to painting the clouds as part of the original miniature work, then applying (and firing) two layers of translucent enamel to those areas. The clouds are then repainted on top of these translucent layers before two more layers of translucent enamel are applied over the entire surface. To enhance the limpid effect of the light, the enameller used the craft of paillonage on areas depicting water, applying a sheet of silver leaf over the base enamel before beginning to paint the image with translucent coloured enamel.

To achieve the desired effects, each work required 14 layers of enamel – three base layers, four layers of painting and seven layers of translucent ‘fondant’ – with separate firings at 800°C after each layer. Discreetly positioned on each image, a secret signature in the form of a gold-leaf paillon identifies the enameller who created the piece.

The dialogue of guillochage and enamel: The colourful dials are decorated with meticulously hand-guilloché patterns beneath translucent Grand Feu enamel, with the patterns and colours chosen in response to the miniature paintings on the casebacks.

Capturing the light with every movement of the wrist, the intricate hand-guilloché patterns are engraved using a manually operated rose engine lathe, requiring up to 1,080 passages of the lathe. After completion of the guillochage, the enamelling requires an additional eight to nine hours of work for each dial, with up to five layers of enamel and six or seven separate firings at 800°C. The final challenge is the faultless application of the faceted indexes (requiring tiny holes to be drilled through the pristine enamel without cracking it) and the transfer of the chemin de fer minute track. The simplicity of the faceted applied hour-markers and Dauphine hands – design codes shared with every Reverso Tribute model – places full value on the beauty of the decoration.

THE LIGHT OF VENICE: FOUR EVOCATIVE WORKS RECREATED IN MINIATURE

While rich in detail, much of the art that Turner created in Venice was less about depicting the city itself than about exploring how the moods of nature – the light, the water and the sky – unfolded against the backdrop of Venice. Compelling and atmospheric, his paintings of La Serenissima capture the city’s fragility and fading glory as well as its grandeur, with a sense of melancholy behind its beauty. The artist evokes the transient effects of light, atmosphere and time with an almost cinematic quality, so that the viewer is not simply looking at an image but experiencing it with multiple senses.

Venice, the Dogana and San Giorgio Maggiore: Chosen as the setting for the Homo Faber Biennale, the island of San Giorgio Maggiore sits directly across the lagoon from St Mark’s Square. In Turner’s painting, made in 1834, the emphasis is on light, colour and reflection, with the bright white façade of the island’s eponymous church anchoring the composition and rows of buildings receding into the hazy distance. Silver paillons incorporated beneath the enamel enrich the texture of the lagoon, lending exceptional brilliance to the water and intensifying its constantly shifting reflections. The bustling activity of Venetian life – traders’ sailing boats, small vessels loaded with provisions and gondolas ferrying passengers across the canal – contrasts with the barely rippling surface of the lagoon. The green tones of the water are echoed on the dial, which is decorated with a new guilloché pattern, soleil croisé, creating a subtle texture beneath layers of richly lustrous enamel. This guilloché comprises 180 finely engraved lines, each executed in six successive passages of the rose-engine lathe, for a total of 1,080 passages.

Venice, from the Porch of Madonna della Salute: The hazy light brings a remarkable sense of depth to this view, with the foundations of the buildings seeming to merge into their reflections in the water and their architectural details sublimated by the atmospheric effect of light. Delicately applied silver paillons beneath the enamel heighten the texture of the water, capturing the subtle reflections and shimmering luminosity that define Turner’s vision of Venice. Painted in 1835, this work clearly demonstrates Turner’s evolving style, as he adapts watercolour techniques to oil painting – an innovation denounced by traditionalists that would nevertheless revolutionise the landscape genre. Based on a pencil sketch made by Turner during his first visit to Venice, the composition reflects studies developed further after his second visit in 1833. The green tone of the water is echoed in the Grand Feu enamel dial, where a rice-grain guilloché pattern creates constantly changing effects of light and shade as the wrist turns, echoing Turner’s rendering of Venice’s shimmering atmosphere. This vertical barleycorn guilloché is achieved through 70 precisely engraved lines, each requiring six successive passages of the rose-engine lathe, for a total of 420 operations.

Bridge of Sighs, Ducal Palace & Custom House, Venice: A direct tribute to the great 18^th-century Venetian artist Giovanni Antonio Canaletto, this is the first view of Venice that Turner painted in oils, completed 14 years after his initial visit to the city. Although not shown in this crop, the original painting depicts Canaletto seated at his easel in the far left of the composition. With reflections smudged by the hazy atmosphere of a late-summer day, the buildings appear to float between the lagoon and the sky, the rosy coral colour of the Doge’s Palace providing a counterpoint to the green of the water and the bright cerulean tone of the sky. The subtle reflections of the lagoon are further enhanced by delicate silver paillons beneath the enamel, adding remarkable texture to the water while amplifying its luminous interplay with light. The pure blue sky is echoed in the dial, where a basket-weave guilloché, composed of 46 finely engraved lines executed in six successive passages of the rose-engine lathe, is overlaid with translucent blue Grand Feu enamel, creating a shimmering effect as it catches the light.

Venice, the Bridge of Sighs. In this view of Venice, painted in 1840, Turner captures both the beauty and the decline of the city, contrasting the darker foreground with the glowing light reflected on the buildings. The effect is further enhanced by silver paillons beneath the enamel, which bring exceptional texture to the water while revealing ever-changing reflections as the light plays across the surface. Through the human figures, he expresses his concern for the profound social and economic changes of his time and, when he exhibited the painting, he accompanied it with two lines of a poem adapted from Byron, who had been deeply moved by the fall of the Venetian Republic: “I stood upon a bridge, a palace and a prison on each hand.” The subtle lavender tint in the blue sky is carried over to the Grand Feu enamel dial, where a wavy hand-guilloché pattern evokes the rippling reflections of light on Venice’s canals. This wide and deep horizontal wave guilloché is achieved through 41 precisely engraved lines, each requiring nine successive passes, for a total of 369 passages.

Calibre 822, a timeless movement: Like all time-only Reverso Tribute models, the watches of the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Turner Series’ are fitted with the manually wound Calibre 822, developed by Jaeger-LeCoultre specifically for the Reverso and a cornerstone of the collection for more than two decades. Shaped to fit the rectangular case, it measures just under 3 mm in height, ensuring the slender profile of the Reverso case and exceptional comfort on the wrist. With a power reserve of 42 hours and a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz), Calibre 822 delivers reliable precision, uniting fine watchmaking with the decorative crafts of guillochage, enamelling, paillonage and miniature painting.

Offered in a limited edition of 10 pieces per model, the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Turner Series’ is a tribute to the city hosting the Homo Faber Biennale.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘TURNER SERIES’ – Venice, the Dogana and San Giorgio Maggiore

Original painting: 1834, oil on canvas, 91.5 x 122 cm (National Gallery of Art, Washington DC)

Case: 18K (750/1000) white gold

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Front dial: ‘Soleil croisé’ hand-guilloché, Grand Feu enamel

Caseback: Miniature-painted Grand-Feu enamel

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Reference: Q39334W1

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘TURNER SERIES’ – Venice, from the Porch of Madonna della Salute

Original painting: 1835, oil on canvas, 91.4 x 122.2 cm (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

Case: 18K (750/1000) white gold

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Front dial: Rice-grain hand-guilloché pattern, Grand Feu enamel

Caseback: Miniature-painted Grand-Feu enamel

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Reference: Q39334W2

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘TURNER SERIES’ – Bridge of Sighs, Ducal Palace & Customhouse

Original painting: 1833, oil on mahogany, 51.1 x 81.6 cm, (Tate Britain collection)  

Case: 18K (750/1000) white gold

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Front dial: Barleycorn hand-guilloché, Grand Feu enamel

Caseback: Miniature-painted Grand-Feu enamel

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Reference: Q39334W3

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘TURNER SERIES’ – Venice, the Bridge of Sighs.

Original painting: 1840, oil on canvas, 68.6 x 91.4 mm (Tate Britain collection)

Case: 18K (750/1000) white gold

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Front dial: Wavy hand-guilloché pattern, Grand Feu enamel

Caseback: Miniature-painted Grand-Feu enamel

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Reference: Q39334W4

• Exceptional craftsmanship: hand-engraved case representing 180 hours of work; hand-lacquered and hand-bevelled bridges; fully skeletonised reverse dial

• Mechanical excellence: Gyrotourbillon with 123 components, inner cage rotating 360° every 16 seconds, peripheral carriage rotating once per minute

• Innovative double-wheel buckle mechanism: 18K pink gold (750/1000) folding clasp adjustable to 0.5mm

As it continues to expand the mechanical and artistic potential of Haute Horlogerie through the Hybris series of limited-edition timepieces, Jaeger-LeCoultre revisits the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179, harnessing the skills of the master engravers in the Manufacture’s Métiers Rares^TM atelier.

Presented in an 18K pink gold (750/1000) case richly engraved with an image of Pegasus, the flying horse of Greek mythology, the new timepiece also features hand-lacquered dial plates and bridges. The fully skeletonised reverse dial is complemented by hand-bevelling of the bridges and tourbillon cage.

Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 Pegasus is presented on a blue alligator strap with an innovative, micro-adjustable clasp and will be a limited edition of five pieces.

SHOWCASING THE ARTISTRY OF THE MÉTIERS RARES^TM ATELIER

From polo to Pegasus: The legendary winged horse of Greek mythology – believed to have carried thunderbolts for Zeus and to have created springs to flow wherever its hoof touched the ground – Pegasus symbolises freedom, creative power and elevation beyond limits. More than a myth, it represents the moment when technique becomes imagination.

This symbolism resonates with the Reverso’s equestrian origins. Designed on the polo field, its swivelling case reflects a constant interplay between protection and expression, discipline and freedom – echoing the dual nature of the horse itself. The connection extends through the Year of the Fire Horse, a sign of intensity, independence and bold energy. Together, these references position the horse as more than inspiration: a thread that unites function, symbolism and creative transformation at the heart of the Reverso.

Celebrating the savoir-faire of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares^TM atelier, the hand-engraved case marries rare artistic sensibility with remarkable precision and dexterity: the Maison’s master engraver must devote 180 hours of intensely focused work to each watch, to craft the image of Pegasus against a background of clouds. The sculptural effect of the relief engraving creates areas of reflection and shadow, emphasising the sense of volume. As the engraving wraps seamlessly around the convex case-sides, it almost completely obscures the join between the upper and lower sections of the case.

Where mechanism becomes art: The cloud motif that forms the backdrop to Pegasus is repeated on the front dial, where two dial plates – each on a different level – enhance the symmetry of the time display and the tourbillon aperture.

To create the decoration, more than 50 hollows were formed in the surface of the 18K pink gold (750/1000) plates, leaving only the cloud-shaped outlines visible. Each hollow is then hand-filled with different shades of blue lacquer, applied in multiple layers until its surface is perfectly flush with the outlines.

Between the plates, open-worked bridges, also hand-lacquered in dark blue, offer a tantalising glimpse of the movement – in keeping with the Hybris philosophy of celebrating mechanical as well as decorative art.

Turning the case over to the reverse dial, where the Duoface movement displays the second time zone, the beauty of the calibre is fully revealed.

Blue lacquer has been applied to the fine tracery of the skeletonised hours-minutes ring and its supporting bridges, highlighting the airy aesthetic. It contrasts with the warm tones of the 18K pink gold (750/1000) movement components and the soft texture of micro-blasted surfaces.

The skeletonisation is complemented by hand bevelling and hand-applied lacquer. Representing approximately 14 hours of hand-bevelling work only for the cage of the Gyrotourbillon and eight hours for the signature shape of one bridge on the reverse side, the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 is testament to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s commitment to craftsmanship of the highest order.

A MECHANICAL MASTERPIECE

Inspired by a fascination with the tourbillon: Calibre 179 features the fourth evolution of the Gyrotourbillon, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s signature multi-axis tourbillon – a technical tour-de-force developed expressly for the rectangular case of Reverso. The demand that the regulating mechanism be integrated into a shaped movement that follows the contours of the rectangular Reverso case and is slim enough to be comfortable on the wrist, makes the engineering feat even more noteworthy. Moreover, as a Duoface movement, Calibre 179 displays a different time zone on each dial as well as a 24-hour indicator on the reverse dial.

Highly complex and visually enthralling to observe as it pirouettes around its twin axes, the Gyrotourbillon comprises 123 components, including one ultra-light titanium cage and a peripheral carriage mounted on ball-bearings. These two elements turn perpendicularly to each other at different speeds – the inner tourbillon cage rotating 360 degrees in just 16 seconds and the peripheral carriage making a full rotation once per minute. This peripheral carriage also provides a small-seconds function, indicated on a ring that encircles the tourbillon aperture. A closer look reveals a greyed semi-spherical balance spring beating at the heart of the mechanism, as well as the distinctive double-anchor shape of a Gyrolab balance ‘wheel’ – both elements paying testament to Jaeger- LeCoultre’s tireless quest for greater precision and mechanical efficiency. In this quest, the Manufacture’s engineers have created balance springs in several different forms over the years and this hemispherical shape, perfectly adapted to the hollow sphere at the heart of the Gyrotourbillon, adds aesthetic refinement as well as mechanical efficiency. The double-anchor shape of the Gyrolab was designed to reduce air friction and thus further enhance timekeeping accuracy.

Rather than being held in place by a conventional bridge, the tourbillon mechanism is supported by a ring of ball bearings, creating the illusion that this flying Gyrotourbillon is floating freely in the space between the front and back dials of the Reverso. The effect is amplified by the light reflected from the mirror-like surface of a polished blue lacquer disc positioned on the supporting cradle of the watch directly beneath the tourbillon aperture.

REVERSO: FROM ART DECO ORIGINS TO TIMELESS DESIGN ICON

Since its creation in 1931, the Art Deco lines and swivelling case of the Reverso have made it one of the most recognisable designs in watchmaking.  The rectilinear geometry and harmonious proportions of the case belie the complexity of the signature slide-and-swivel mechanism. Emphasised by the signature gadroons above and below the dial and a deeply engraved sunray pattern on the inside of the case cradle, the strong Art Deco lines counterbalance the intricate decoration of the case and dials of the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 Pegasus.

A movement as complex as Calibre 179 naturally requires a generously sized case; however, with a thickness of 12.41mm and refined lugs, Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 Pegasus is both elegant and wearable. Fastening the dark blue alligator strap, the adjustable folding clasp epitomises Jaeger-LeCoultre’s approach to refined elegance through technical innovation. Crafted in 18K pink gold (750/1000) and comprising 46 components, it incorporates an intricate double-wheel system that allows for micro-adjustments to the nearest 0.5mm, ensuring a perfect fit.

Crafted for true connoisseurs of art and mechanics, the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 Pegasus blends exceptional watchmaking savoir-faire and decorative artistry in a noble expression of the 180 skills brought together under one roof at the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

REVERSO HYBRIS ARTISTICA CALIBRE 179

Case: 18K pink gold (750/1000)

Dimensions: 51.1 x 31 mm x 12.41 mm thick

Calibre: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 179

Functions: Hours and Minutes on both dials; second time zone with 24-hour indicator on reverse dial, Gyrotourbillon (visible on both front and reverse dials)

Power Reserve: 40 hours

Front dial: Blue lacquer

Back dial: Skeletonised, coated with blue lacquer

Water resistance: 30m

Strap: Blue alligator leather

Reference: Q39424E5 - Limited edition of 5 pieces

• Xu Beihong: honoring the visionary Chinese artist whose bold ink paintings helped define modern Chinese art in the early 20^th century
• Masterful miniaturisation:  each caseback showcases a meticulously hand-painted enamel reproduction of Xu Beihong’s horse paintings, capturing lifelike detail on a canvas just 2 cm² in size
• Métiers Rares^TM mastery: a fusion of three refined crafts – enamel miniature painting, grand feu enamelling and guillochage, all mastered in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares™ atelier
• Limited edition: offering 10 pieces for each of the three Reverso Tribute Enamel models

To celebrate the forthcoming Lunar Year of the Horse, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents a series of three new Reverso Tribute Enamel timepieces in white gold. Honouring the origins of the Reverso in the sport of polo, each caseback features a miniature reproduction of a work by the renowned Chinese artist Xu Beihong capturing the power and beauty of the horse. The dial of each piece is decorated with hand-guillochage and grand feu enamel.

AN HOMAGE TO THE HORSE, BRIDGING TWO CULTURES

Created in 1931, the Reverso was designed to meet the demands of the newly fashionable ‘sporting gentleman.’ Among the most favoured pastimes was polo – a fast-paced, horseback sport. Polo-playing military officers in India during the British Raj challenged watchmakers to create a timepiece that could endure the rigours of the game. The Reverso was the answer: a masterful fusion of form and function. As the design evolved, the Reverso transcended its sporting origins while retaining its swivelling case and Art Deco lines – the hallmarks of one of the world’s most recognisable wristwatches.

While horses are intrinsically linked to the Reverso, in Chinese culture they have been revered for millennia – valued for transport, agriculture, and especially military use. Symbolising courage, strength, integrity, loyalty, grace, and power, the horse naturally became a central figure in Chinese mythology, embodied in creatures like the longma (dragon horse) and Tianma (flying horse). The horse is the seventh sign in the Chinese zodiac, and in February 2026, the Lunar New Year will usher in the Year of the Horse.

INTRICATE CRAFTSMANSHIP PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE FATHER OF MODERN CHINESE ART

Xu Beihong (1895–1953), the most influential Chinese artist and art educator of the 20th century, is recognised as the pioneer of modern Chinese painting. He believed that traditional techniques had become stagnant, limiting the ability of Chinese art to convey modernity. Drawing inspiration from the European tradition – particularly through his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and his travels across Europe from 1919 to 1927 – Xu Beihong embraced oil painting and advocated for drawing from real life. Best known for his ink-and-wash depictions of horses and birds, his mastery allowed him to convey vitality and movement with remarkable economy, often embedding symbolic meaning into his brushwork.

The Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Xu Beihong’ series reinterprets the artist’s legacy through three exceptional crafts: enamel miniature painting, grand feu enamelling, and guillochage – all executed by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s in-house Métiers Rares™ atelier.

THREE POWERFUL IMAGES COMPLEMENTED BY DIALS IN EVOCATIVE COLOURS

The first challenge in decorating the casebacks was to miniaturise Xu Beihong’s original ink-and-wash paintings – each over one square metre – onto surfaces just 2 cm² in size. The miniature reproductions had to capture the dynamic energy of the artist’s bold brushstrokes and the subtle detail that so eloquently conveys the spirit of the horses. Each caseback requires 80 hours of enamel painting.

On the dial side, grand feu enamel is applied over hand-guilloché patterns, offering a visual dialogue with the paintings. Each enamel colour complements the background hues of the originals – colours frequently used in Chinese landscape painting for their symbolic resonance. The refined design of the Reverso Tribute highlights the guilloché patterns and the rich enamel tones.

Two of the watches, ‘The Running Horse’and ‘Two Horses’, are inspired by Xu Beihong’s 1942 masterpiece Running Together (Six Horses) – itself an homage to the Six Steeds of the Zhao Mausoleum, a series of 7^th-century stone reliefs commemorating the warhorses of the Tang dynasty emperor Taizong. The third model, ‘The Standing Horse’, is based on Xu Beihong’s 1939 work Standing Horse, a portrait of quiet strength and nobility.

‘THE RUNNING HORSE’ – Illustration of majesty and grace

A single galloping horse, exuding majesty and grace, appears almost transcendent. The dial glows with green grand feu enamel – known in Chinese art as Evergreen Pine Green – symbolising the enduring vitality and noble resilience of ancient pines. The enamel overlays a hand-guilloché sunray pattern composed of 120 lines, crafted with precision before the enamelling begins.

‘TWO HORSES’ – Illustration of energy and mutual affinity

This dynamic scene of two galloping horses – one black, one white – evokes energy and mutual affinity. The dial features a barley-seed guilloché pattern, beneath a translucent grand feu enamel in Distant Mountain Blue. This shade recalls the misty silhouettes of far-off peaks, a serene and timeless motif in Chinese painting.

‘THE STANDING HORSE’ – Illustration of nobility and latent power

With bold brushstrokes and a commanding composition, this artwork captures the horse’s nobility and latent power. Even in stillness, it radiates movement. The dial displays a herringbone guilloché pattern of 120 precise lines beneath a layer of soft orange grand feu enamel. The tone – Crimson Dawn Orange –reflects the colours in the original painting’s landscape and evokes the warmth and vitality of sunrise.

Powered by the manually wound Manufacture Calibre 822, the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Xu Beihong’ series is a fitting homage to the origins of the Reverso, a revered artist, and the upcoming Lunar New Year. Fusing fine watchmaking with decorative arts, these three timepieces are offered in limited editions of 10 pieces each.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘XU BEIHONG’, ‘THE RUNNING HORSE’

Case: 18K white gold 750/1000 (18 Karats)

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Dial: Sunray-pattern guilloché, green grand feu enamel

Caseback: Miniature-painted grand feu enamel

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Buckle: Interchangeable double-folding clasp

Reference: Q39334B3

Limited edition of 10 pieces

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘XU BEIHONG’, ‘TWO HORSES’

Case: 18K white gold 750/1000 (18 Karats)

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Dial: Barley-seed guilloché, blue grand feu enamel

Caseback: Miniature-painted grand feu enamel

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Buckle: Interchangeable double-folding clasp

Reference: Q39334B2

Limited edition of 10 pieces

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘XU BEIHONG’, ‘THE STANDING HORSE’

Case: 18K white gold 750/1000 (18 Karats)

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Dial: Herringbone guilloché pattern, orange grand feu enamel

Caseback: Miniature-painted grand feu enamel

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Buckle: Interchangeable double-folding clasp

Reference: Q39334B1

Limited edition of 10 pieces

• Masterful miniaturisation:  a majestic, meticulously hand-engraved horse, requiring 80 hours of engraving work on each enamelled caseback
• Métiers Rares^TM mastery: perfectly matched Black Opaque grand feu enamel caseback and dial
• Limited edition: offering 10 pieces

Jaeger-LeCoultre pays tribute to the 2026 Lunar New Year with the creation of the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Horse’, masterfully enamelled and engraved in the Métiers Rares™ atelier of La Grande Maison. In a limited edition of just 10 pieces, the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Horse’ will exceptionally be presented ahead of the Lunar New Year at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Dream Shaper exhibition in Shanghai in September 2025.

A NEW TRIBUTE TIMEPIECE WITH A DOUBLE EQUINE REFERENCE

Created in 1931 with an ingenious swivelling case, the Reverso was conceived as a solution for polo players who needed to protect the dial and glass of their watch when playing on the field. While quickly adopted by watch enthusiasts from all walks of life, drawn to the piece for its unique Art Deco aesthetic and the potential for personalised decoration on the caseback, the Reverso and its origins are forever linked to the sport played on horseback.

The Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Horse’ is the fourth in a series paying homage to the Chinese Zodiac, following the Years of the Tiger, Dragon, and Snake. A symbol of power, beauty, and freedom, but also vitality, speed, and perseverance, the horse holds an important place in Chinese art and culture. Frequently depicted as a subject in itself, it now also adorns the Reverso caseback.

CELEBRATING THE HORSE AS A WORK OF ART

Turning the watch case to its reverse side reveals a majestic hand-engraved horse whose head and forelegs seem to leap out from golden clouds suspended in the sky. Surrounding it, the opaque black Grand Feu enamel complements the shine of the horse’s polished surfaces, while contrasting details on the mane, muzzle, and hooves – hand-drawn with black rhodium – add a lifelike appearance to the horse. A sand-blasted texture on the clouds enhances the illusion of movement.

To amplify the sense of volume and depth, the master engraver used a technique called modelled engraving, an exacting skill that requires absolute focus and remarkable dexterity. Adding to the challenge, the engraver’s work began not on a bare metal surface, as is usual, but on one already coated with Grand Feu enamel, requiring unprecedented accuracy to avoid any damage to the flawless enamel. Using 10 differently sized chisels to sculpt the metal step by step, the engraver devoted 80 hours to the creation of this masterpiece.

The dial of the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Horse’ features the same glossy black Grand Feu enamel as the caseback. The elegant, Art Deco-inspired simplicity of the signature Reverso Tribute dial, with its faceted appliqué hour markers, chemin de fer minutes track, and Dauphine hands, places full value on the beauty of the glowing black background while perpetuating the Reverso aesthetic.

The apparent simplicity of the pure black enamel is subtly misleading, as Grand Feu enamelling is a process where the outcome of each firing remains partly unpredictable. Achieving such a deep, rich black requires five to six successive layers of enamel, each followed by careful firing and cooling, spread over several days of meticulous work. This is followed by half a day of polishing to achieve a perfect, uniform shine. That the two surfaces are perfectly matched in colour and purity is testament to a level of skill that can only be acquired through many years of experience. Jaeger-LeCoultre remains one of very few watch Manufactures to have its own in-house enamelling and engraving atelier, safeguarding and advancing this ancient craft.

THE IN-HOUSE MECHANICAL MOVEMENT

Equipped with the manually wound Calibre 822, the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Horse’ indicates hours and minutes and has a power reserve of 42 hours. Like all Jaeger-LeCoultre calibres, the movement was entirely designed and produced in-house at La Grande Maison’s Manufacture in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux.

With the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Horse’, Jaeger-LeCoultre adds a new chapter to its story of craftsmanship and artistry, where culture and creativity evolve in harmony with the technical expertise of the Manufacture’s watchmakers.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘HORSE’

Case: Pink gold 750/1000 (18 Karats)

Dimensions: 45.6 mm x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm

Calibre: Manually wound Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Dial: Black Opaque Grand feu enamel

Caseback: Black enamel, engraving

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator with interchangeable folding buckle

Reference: Q39324D3

Limited Edition: 10 pieces

• Persian miniature painting: requiring 100 hours for the creation of each caseback
• Métiers Rares^TM mastery: 4 refined crafts – enamel miniature painting, grand feu enamelling, paillonnage and guillochage
• Limited edition: offering 4 timepieces of 10 pieces each

Jaeger-LeCoultre presents a series of four new Reverso Tribute Enamel timepieces that celebrate the origins of the Reverso in the sport of polo, capture the power and beauty of the horse, and pay homage to one of the world’s greatest works of literature and art – the Persian epic poem, Shahnameh. In tribute to the history of miniature painting, which originated in Persia, the caseback of each piece features a miniature reproduction of an illustration from the magnificent edition of the Shahnameh dedicated to Shah Tahmasp created in the 16^th century. Just as the Reverso was born from polo, these timepieces tell a story within a story – capturing not only the essence of the game that inspired its creation but also paying homage to polo’s ancient Persian origins through the artistry of miniature enamel painting. The new timepieces combine four traditional crafts: miniature enamel painting, paillonnage, grand feu enamel and guillochage, reaffirming the skill and talents gathered together in La Grande Maison’s in-house Métiers Rares™ atelier in the Vallée de Joux.

AN HOMAGE TO THE HORSE, THROUGH THE SPORT OF POLO

Created in 1931, the Reverso was designed to meet the demands of the newly fashionable ‘sporting gentleman’. A challenge was set by polo-playing military officers in India during the British Raj of 1858-1947 to create a watch that could withstand the rigours of the polo field. The Reverso was the answer – a masterful integration of form and function. Quickly adopted by tastemakers from all walks of life, the Reverso soon transcended its original sporting purpose as new variations appeared – for both men and women. However, its iconic double-sided case (historical patent CH159982) and distinctive Art Deco lines have remained constant, making the Reverso one of the world’s most recognisable wristwatches.

The origins of polo, however, trace back far beyond the British Raj to ancient Persia, as celebrated in the Shahnameh. Horses, revered as sacred, were integral to Persian culture and central to activities such as battle, hunting, and sport. Polo, a display of harmony between horse and rider, was first recorded in Persia more than 2,000 years ago. As the sport spread to India, the nobility became enthusiastic players and it became a cornerstone of social life. It was in this environment that César de Trey was inspired to create the Reverso, a watch that subtly carries the legacy of this noble and ancient sport.

A LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERSIAN CULTURE AND ENAMEL MINIATURE PAINTING

The Reverso’s design brought an unexpected benefit beyond its practical function on the polo field. Its blank metal flip provided an ideal canvas for personalisation, initially through lacquer and engraving. Polo-playing soldiers in India, who commissioned Reverso timepieces, often adorned them with their coat of arms or initials during visits to Indian royal courts. Some took this a step further, challenging the Manufacture to reproduce Indian miniatures – an art form deeply rooted in the tradition of oriental miniature painting – on the back of their watches.

Embracing this challenge, Jaeger-LeCoultre refined the ancestral enamelling technique, adapting it to the Reverso’s proportions and giving rise to some of the most intricate and evocative timepieces in its history. Over the decades, enamelling has journeyed alongside the Reverso, continually evolving to celebrate different cultures and themes, ensuring that the art form remains at the heart of La Grande Maison’s creative expression.

Dating back to 1936 and 1949, the Jaeger-LeCoultre museum holds two extraordinary examples of this craftsmanship: the Reverso ‘Indian Beauty’, depicting an Indian princess, and the Reverso ‘Rama’, representing the Hindu god Rama. These masterpieces mark the beginning of a rich artistic legacy that continues today with the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Shahnameh’.

Just as the Reverso was born from polo, these latest timepieces bring its story full circle – honouring both the sport’s Persian origins and the enduring artistry of miniature enamel painting, which led the Maison to discover Persian culture and, most notably, the Shahnameh. Also known as the Book of Kings, this Persian epic was written by the poet Ferdowsi over more than 20 years, from 977 to 1010. Comprising 50,000 rhyming couplets, it chronicles the history of Persia’s rulers – from its mythical beginnings to its conquest by the Arabs in 642.

One of the most magnificent editions of the Shahnameh is the copy dedicated to Shah Tahmasp, containing 258 illustrations – each considered a masterpiece of Persian miniature painting. Created by two generations of Persia’s greatest artists, this edition was presented in 1568 to the Ottoman sultan Selim II and held at the Topkapi Palace for several centuries. In the 1970s, its bound manuscript was broken up, and its folios are now dispersed among museums and private collections worldwide.

INTRICATE CRAFTSMANSHIP CELEBRATES PERSIAN MINIATURE PAINTING AND THE IN-HOUSE MÉTIERS RARES™ ATELIER

The term Persian miniature painting refers specifically to paintings made on paper using opaque watercolours, ink, silver and various forms of gold. Despite the name, they are not miniature in size but are generally “book sized”, to be bound in with illuminated manuscripts. Miniature painting flourished in Persia from the 13th century onwards, reached its apotheosis in the 16th century – when the Shah Tahmasp Shahmaneh was created – and also made its way to Mughal India. This rich tradition of finely detailed, miniature artworks is the reason why such paintings were commissioned to be enamelled on the back of Reverso watches, offering a unique way to preserve and showcase these masterpieces while embracing the art of miniature painting in a wearable form. Persian miniatures are characterised by a flattened, multi-layered style rendered in bright and pure colours, with great attention to detail in the subjects’ costumes and the background landscapes or architecture.

Expressing the Maison’s vision of art and culture, the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Shahnameh’ series reinterprets Persian miniature painting through four exceptional crafts – enamel miniature painting, grand feu enamelling, paillonnage and guillochage – in a magnificent showcase for the talents and skills being nurtured in the Manufacture’s in-house Métiers Rares^TM atelier.

The first of many challenges in decorating the caseback was to miniaturise the original works – measuring 48 x 32 cm, drawn with the finest of lines and packed with tiny details – and reproduce them on a surface of 2 cm². Moreover, the reproductions had to recreate the dreamlike feeling of a mythical world and the drama of the stories, and to replicate dozens of rich colours.

The enamel paintings are further elevated by the craft of paillonnage, where delicate pieces of fine gold leaf (24k, 999/1000) are carefully cut to match the shape and size of the desired motif, a tribute to the traditional technique of using gold leaf in the original Persian miniatures to achieve a rich, lustrous gold hue. The paillons (fragments) are then meticulously placed by hand on the surface to be enamelled. This highly skilled work requires 100 hours of miniature enamel painting and paillonnage for the creation of each caseback.

On the front dial of each watch, grand feu enamel is applied over a hand-guilloché base executed on a 100-year-old hand operated lathe – an evocative artistic response to the miniature paintings on the casebacks. The simplicity of the Reverso Tribute design codes places full value on the beauty of the guilloché pattern and the rich colour of the enamel.

On the front dial of each watch, grand feu enamel is applied over a hand-guilloché base – an evocative artistic response to the miniature paintings on the casebacks. The simplicity of the Reverso Tribute design codes places full value on the beauty of the guilloché pattern and the rich colour of the enamel.

FOUR EXTRAORDINARY IMAGES COMPLEMENTED BY COLOURFUL DIALS

The Shahnameh divides Persian history into three main cycles: myth, legends and history. The four paintings chosen for the Reverso Tribute Enamel series depict stories from the legends cycle and, in each, horses feature strongly – demonstrating their central importance in Persian culture.

SIYAVUSH PLAYS POLO BEFORE AFRASIYAB (METROPOLITAN MUSEUM NEW YORK)

Illustrated Folio No.180, attributed to Qasim ibn 'Ali, painted circa 1525-30

Unusual in its explicit reference to polo, this painting highlights the significant status of the game at the Safavid court during the time it was created. In the second cycle of the Shahnameh, two legendary Persian provinces were fierce rivals. The Turanian king, Afrasiyab, proposed a game of polo, which Siyavush boldly accepted – and ultimately won. Reflecting the vibrant blue of the sky depicted in the painting, the dial of this model is adorned with vivid blue grand feu enamel applied over a guilloché sunray pattern, featuring 120 lines and crafted through 7 hours of meticulous work in addition to 8 hours for the enamelling.

FARIDUN IN THE GUISE OF A DRAGON TESTS HIS SONS (AGA KHAN MUSEUM, TORONTO)

Illustrated Folio No.42, attributed to Aqa Mirak, painted circa 1525-35

In Ferdowsi’s poem, Persian King Faridun transformed himself into an azhdaha – a mythical dragon – to secretly gauge the characters of his three sons. When confronted with the fire-breathing monster, the first one fled, the second prepared to fight, and the third remained calm, demonstrating the wisdom and bravery needed to rule. The scene depicted in the painting symbolises the virtues of leadership and filial loyalty in Persian culture. The dial of this watch is adorned with an intricate herringbone guilloché pattern, consisting of 120 lines and requiring 7 hours of meticulous craftsmanship. This design lies beneath a layer of translucent grand feu enamel in a light blue hue, harmonising with the colour of the landscape depicted in the painting where the sons confront the dragon.

SAAM COMES TO MOUNT ALBURZ (MUSEUM FÜR ISLAMISCHE KUNST, BERLIN)

Illustrated Folio No.63, attributed to unknown artist and supposedly commissioned by Sultan Muhammad, painted circa 1535

Saam, a revered warrior, abandoned his newborn son Zal – whose white hair was considered a sign of demonic possession – on Mount Alburz. Simurgh, a mythical bird that lived at the mountain’s summit, raised the child with care and wisdom. Years later, filled with regret, Saam ascended Mount Alburz to seek forgiveness and reclaim his son. The scene of Zal’s reunion with Saam reflects the themes of forgiveness, divine intervention, and the bond between father and son. Echoing the various shades of green in the painting, the watch dial is adorned with a wavy guilloché pattern, comprising 32 precise lines. This intricate design lies beneath a translucent green grand feu enamel, crafted with 7 hours of meticulous workmanship.

RUSTAM PURSUES AKVAN, THE ONAGER-DIV (AGA KHAN MUSEUM)

Illustrated Folio 294, attributed to Muzaffar ‘Ali’, painted circa 1530-35

Perhaps the most celebrated champion of Persian folklore, Rustam was called upon by a Shah to slay an onager (wild ass) that was threatening his horses. Rustam, the son of Zal and grandson of Saam, continues the lineage of heroic figures in Persian mythology, linking his feats to those of his forebears. In this painting, Rustam prepares to lasso the wild ass. As the lasso touches its neck, the onager vanishes, revealing its true identity to be Akvan, a Div (demon). Complementing the vibrant hues of the vegetation in the painting, the dial of this model is decorated with rich green grand feu enamel applied over an intricate guilloché lozenge pattern, featuring 980 lines and requiring 7 hours of meticulous craftsmanship.

The Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Shahnameh’ is a noble tribute to a majestic work of art and literature, as well as to the origin-story of the Reverso. A superb marriage of fine watchmaking with the decorative crafts of guillochage, grand feu enamelling, paillonnage and miniature enamel painting, this series of four exceptional watches is offered in a limited edition of 10 pieces each.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘SHAHNAMEH’ – Siyavush Plays Polo before Afrasiyab

Case: 18-karat white gold (750/1000)

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Front dial: Sunrayed guilloché pattern, grand feu enamel

Caseback: Miniature-painted grand feu enamel, paillonnage

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Buckle: Interchangeable double-folding clasp

Reference: Q39334S1

Limited edition of 10 pieces

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘SHAHNAMEH’ – Faridun Tests His Sons

Case: 18-karat white gold (750/1000)

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Front dial: Herringbone guilloché, grand feu enamel

Caseback: Miniature-painted grand feu enamel, paillonnage

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Buckle: Interchangeable double-folding clasp

Reference: Q39334S2

Limited edition of 10 pieces

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘SHAHNAMEH’ – Saam Comes to Mount Alburz

Case: 18-karat white gold (750/1000)

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Front dial: Wavy guilloché, grand feu enamel

Caseback: Miniature-painted grand feu enamel, paillonnage

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Buckle: Interchangeable double-folding clasp

Reference: Q39334S3

Limited edition of 10 pieces

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘SHAHNAMEH’ – Rustam Pursues Akvan

Case: 18-karat white gold (750/1000)

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Front dial: Lozenge guilloché pattern, grand feu enamel

Caseback: Miniature-painted grand feu enamel, paillonnage

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Buckle: Interchangeable double-folding clasp

Reference: Q39334S4

Limited edition of 10 pieces

• A powerful snake motif hand-engraved into the pink gold case metal (750/1000)
• A case-back and dial in perfectly matched black Grand Feu enamel
• Harnessing the Art Deco aesthetic of the Reverso Tribute to create rare works of art

In honour of the 2025 Chinese New Year, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Snake’. Made only to order and in limited numbers, the new timepiece is a fine showcase for the talents of the master enamellers and engravers in the Métiers Rares™ atelier of the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre.

A unique canvas for artistic expression

When the Reverso was created in 1931, its signature swivelling case was conceived as an ingenious functional solution to the problem of protecting the dial and glass of the watch when worn on the polo field. However, as it was adopted by tastemakers from all walks of life, the Reverso transcended its original sporting purpose and it quickly became apparent that its blank metal of the case back was an ideal canvas for artistic expression, offering limitless potential for decoration with engraving, enamel and other crafts.

For 2025 La Grande Maison adds a new chapter to this continuing story of craftsmanship and artistry with the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Snake’. The third in a series paying homage to the Chinese Zodiac – following the years of the Tiger and Dragon – the new timepiece is an ode to the animal that represents longevity, wisdom and mystery, according to traditional Chinese wisdom.

Celebrating the crafts of engraving and Grand Feu enamelling

Turning the watch case to its reverse side reveals a striking, hand-engraved snake emerging powerfully from a wreath of golden clouds (750/1000), set against a background of glossy black Grand Feu enamel. The polished surfaces of the snake’s body, the fine details of its scales – which are hand-drawn with black rhodium – and the contrasting sandblasted texture of the clouds catch and refract the light to enhance the illusion of movement.

To maximise the sense of volume and depth, the master engraver used a technique called modelled engraving, an exacting skill that requires absolute focus and remarkable dexterity. Adding to the challenge, the engraver’s work began not, as is usual, with a bare metal surface but with one that already had its coat of Grand Feu enamel, thus requiring an unprecedented accuracy of gesture to avoid all risk of damage to the pristine enamel. Using 10 differently sized chisels to sculpt the metal step by step, the engraver devoted 80 hours to the creation of this masterpiece.

The dial of the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Snake’ features the same glossy black Grand Feu enamel as the case-back. The elegant, Art Deco-inspired simplicity of the signature Reverso Tribute dial, with its faceted appliqué hour-markers, chemin de fer minutes track and Dauphine hands, places full value on the beauty of the glowing black background.

The apparent simplicity of the pure black enamel is deceptive because in Grand Feu enamelling, the outcome of the firing process is never entirely predictable. To create a black of such depth and richness requires five or six layers of enamel, with each new layer followed by firing and cooling – representing no less than 24 working hours (16 hours for the case-back and eight hours for the dial) over the course of many days. This was followed by half a day of polishing to achieve a perfect, uniform shine. That the two surfaces are perfectly matched in colour and purity is testament to a degree of skill that can be acquired only through many years of experience. Jaeger-LeCoultre remains one of very few watch Manufactures to have its own in-house enamelling atelier, safeguarding and advancing this ancient craft.

Created to celebrate the Chinese Zodiac Year, the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Snake’ is testament to La Grande Maison’s vision of culture and creativity, where the artistic crafts live in perfect harmony with the technical expertise of the Manufacture’s watchmakers.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS 
 

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘SNAKE’ 
Case: Pink gold (750/1000) 
Dimensions: 45.5 mm x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm 
Calibre: Manually wound Calibre 822 
Functions: Hours, minutes 
Power reserve: 42 hours 
Dial decoration: Black Grand feu enamel, applied indexes 
Case back decoration: Black Grand feu enamel, engraving 
Water resistance: 3 bar 
Strap: Black alligator 
Reference: Q39324D2 
Production: Limited, Made to order 

 

• An homage to Venice, as seen by a great Impressionist Master
• The timeless design of the Reverso showcases the skills of the Métiers Rares™ Atelier
• Three limited-edition pieces express Jaeger-LeCoultre’s vision of art and culture

To coincide with its participation in the Homo Faber Biennial exhibition in Venice this September, Jaeger-LeCoultre pays homage to the host city with three new limited-edition Reverso Tribute Enamel timepieces. The case-back of each piece features a miniature reproduction of one of Claude Monet’s paintings of Venice, reaffirming the Reverso as an ideal canvas for artistic expression.

An Homage to Venice, Captured by the Great Impressionist Master, Claude Monet

Painted late in his career, Monet’s ‘Venice Series’ paintings exquisitely render the architecture and exceptional light of Venice that immediately captivated the artist when he and his wife arrived in La Serenissima in autumn 1908. At first declaring the city “too beautiful to paint”, Monet soon set to work, choosing a dozen different sites and painting them repeatedly at different times of day to capture the changing light. It was a prolific period: during his 10-week stay, Monet painted 37 images.

Intricate Works of Craftsmanship Celebrating the Métiers Rares™ Atelier

Homo Faber’s mission to honour and promote craft in all of its forms closely mirrors Jaeger-LeCoultre’s commitment to support not only the craft skills of watchmaking but also the artistic crafts associated with Haute Horlogerie. With the new Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Venice Series’ timepieces, La Grande Maison showcases the talents and skills of the Manufacture’s in-house Métiers Rares™ (Rare Handcrafts) Atelier - bringing together the crafts of miniature painting, enamelling and guillochage - while paying tribute to the mission that it shares with Homo Faber.

The first of many challenges in decorating the case-back was to reproduce original works measuring more than 65 x 92 cm onto a surface of 25 x 20 mm. It was not only a feat of miniaturisation to perfectly mimic every detail of Monet’s paintings; the enameller also had to create an illusion of the impasto (the textured effect of thicker paint that the artist applied when he finished the canvases in his studio at Giverny) and recreate the dreamlike quality of the originals, with their fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. It required 14 layers of enamel to achieve the desired intensity and depth of colour – three base layers, four layers of painting and seven layers of translucent ‘fondant’, with up to 15 separate firings at up to 800° Celsius.

The three dials, decorated with hand-guilloché patterns beneath translucent coloured enamel, are an eloquent artistic response to the miniature paintings on the case-backs. The enamelling alone requires eight or nine hours of work for each dial, with up to five layers of enamel and six or seven separate firings at up to 800°C. The final challenge is the faultless application of the indexes (requiring tiny holes to be drilled through the pristine enamel) and the transfer of the chemin de fer minutes register. The simplicity of the Reverso Tribute design codes – faceted appliqué hour-markers and Dauphine hands – places full value on the beauty of the decoration.

Three Celebrated Artworks Complemented by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Vision of Art and Culture

San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk. Chosen as the setting for the Homo Faber Biennial, the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, opposite St Mark’s Square, captivated Monet. In this view, painted as the sun set behind the island, the emphasis is on light, colours and reflections, reducing the buildings to a silhouette that anchors the composition. The miniaturised reproduction of Monet’s celebrated painting required approximately 70 hours of meticulous work. The dial features grand feu enamel in a shade of blue that perfectly complements the colours of the sky on the case-back painting. Echoing the geometric lines of the Reverso’s Art Deco design, the herringbone guilloché pattern comprises 120 separate lines, each of which requires three passages of the lathe, making 360 lines altogether – a meticulous task that takes eight hours to complete.

The Grand Canal Venice. With a remarkable sense of depth and movement, this spellbinding view across the Grand Canal was painted in the afternoon. The church of Santa Maria della Salute appears to be floating on the water, its architectural details sublimated to the effect of the hazy light. The case-back that faithfully reproduces this masterwork required almost 70 hours of enamelling work. The wavy hand-guilloché pattern on the dial – which took eight hours of meticulous work to create – repeats the reflections on the water’s surface depicted in Monet’s painting. The visual effect of the waves is amplified by layers of translucent grand feu enamel in a soft shade of green that matches the water.

The Doge’s Palace. Painted from a gondola in the middle of Grand Canal at 8.00am, this view of the Doge’s Palace beautifully evokes the effect of morning light on the water. “The palace…was just an excuse for painting the atmosphere,” Monet wrote to a friend. To reproduce the shimmering beauty of this painting, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s enameller worked for almost 70 hours in total. On the dial, the lozenge guilloché pattern creates constantly changing effects of light and shade as it is turned at different angles, echoing Monet’s fascination with the effect of light on water at different times of day. Amplified by rich layers of translucent blue grand feu enamel, the geometric pattern comprises 981 lines, each of which requires five passages of the lathe. With a total of 4,905 passages of hand-operated lathe altogether, this highly skilled work takes eight hours to complete.

Offered in a limited edition of 10 pieces each, the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Venice Series’ is a fine tribute to the city that hosts the Homo Faber Biennial and a superb marriage of fine watchmaking with the decorative crafts of guillochage, enamelling and miniature painting.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL MONET – SAN GIORGIO MAGGIORE

Case: 18-karat white gold (750/1000)

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Front dial: Herringbone guilloché, Grand Feu enamel

Case-back: Miniature-painted Grand-Feu enamel

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Reference: Q39334M4

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL MONET – THE GRAND CANAL

Case: 18-karat white gold (750/1000)

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Front dial: Wavy guilloché, Grand Feu enamel

Case-back: Miniature-painted Grand-Feu enamel

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Reference: Q39334M5

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL MONET – THE DOGES’ PALACE

Case: 18-karat white gold (750/1000)

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power Reserve: 42 hours

Front dial: Lozenge guilloché pattern, Grand Feu enamel

Case-back: Miniature-painted Grand-Feu enamel

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Reference: Q39334M6