In 2023 Jaeger-LeCoultre adds a new chapter to this story of craftsmanship and artistry: the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Dragon’. Created to coincide with Chinese New Year, the new timepiece pays tribute to the Year of the Dragon, and to the talents of the master enamellers and engravers in the Métiers Rares™ atelier of the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Swivelling the watch case to its reverse side reveals a majestic dragon surrounded by golden clouds. Engraved into the pink gold case metal, the dragon seems to leap out from the background of glossy black Grand Feu enamel. The polished surfaces of the dragon’s body, the fine details of its scales – highlighted with black rhodium – and the contrasting sandblasted texture of the clouds catch and refract the light to enhance the illusion of movement and power.

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 master engraver devoted 80 hours to the creation of this masterpiece.

The dial of the Reverso Tribute Enamel features the same opaque black Grand Feu enamel as the case-back. The elegant simplicity of the 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 and made only to order, the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Dragon’ 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 ‘DRAGON’

Case: Pink gold

Dimensions: 45.5 mm x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm

Calibre: Jaeger-LeCoultre manually wound Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power reserve: 42 hours

Dial: Black Grand Feu enamel, applied indexes

Case back: Black Grand Feu enamel, dragon engraving

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Reference: Q39324D1 - Made to order

• Showcasing the expertise of the Manufacture’s Métiers Rares™ atelier in the crafts of miniature painting, guillochage and Grand Feu enamelling

Since the early days of the Maison, Jaeger-LeCoultre has adopted Asian motifs and adapted Eastern decorative crafts to embellish special timepieces, embracing and perpetuating the cultural exchange that has existed between Asia and Europe for some 2,000 years. In 2023, La Grande Maison pays homage to this tradition with two new Reverso Tribute timepieces decorated with miniature-painted enamel reproductions of works by Katsushika Hokusai, Japan’s most celebrated 19^th-century artist: The Waterfall at Ono on the Kisokaido Road (Kisokaidō Ono no bakufu) and The Waterfall Where Yoshitsune Washed his Horse at Yoshino in Yamato Province (Washū Yoshino Yoshitsune uma arai no taki).

Hokusai’s fame rests on the innovative approach he brought to ukiyo-e painting, transforming a genre that had been narrowly focused on the hedonistic lifestyle of 19^th-century Edo Japan’s merchant class into a broader genre that that included landscapes, plants and animals.

The two works reproduced for the new Reverso Tribute enamel models are from a series of eight ukiyo-e paintings titled A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces (Shokoku taki meguri) made by Hokusai after he spent two years travelling around Japan’s main island, Honshu, from 1831 to 1833, discovering some of its most inspiring landscapes. The master artisans of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares™ atelier have previously paid homage to these works with a Reverso Tribute model in 2021 depicting the waterfall at Kirifuri, followed by the waterfall at Amida in 2022. The two new pieces created for 2023 continue this homage to the Japanese master, choosing subjects that also reflect the deep attachment to nature that is intrinsic to La Grande Maison’s spirit.

A Great Japanese Master with a Fascination for the Natural World

Innovative in his composition and use of colour, Hokusai (c.1760–1849) was a highly prolific illustrator, printmaker and ukiyo-e artist and, during his lifetime, woodblock printing flourished as a means of reproducing ukiyo-e paintings. As a consequence of Hokusai’s fame, ukiyo-e and woodblock prints became central to forming the West's perception of Japanese art. His monumental series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, includes The Great Wave off Kanagawa – one of the world’s best-known works of art – which Jaeger-LeCoultre honoured with a limited-edition Reverso in 2018. A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces marked the first time that the theme of falling water was approached in ukiyo-e painting. Highly expressive, each work is dominated by the waterfall, which dwarfs its human onlookers.

Capturing the Beauty and Power of Waterfalls

The Waterfall at Ono portrays a famous site in Nagano Prefecture, on the ancient road that linked the historic capital of Kyoto with the seat of the Tokugawa shoguns in Edo (today’s Tokyo). A small Shinto shrine stands on a rocky promontory next to the falls and, on a bridge below it, a group of travellers stand in awe of the power of the falling water. The composition of the painting amplifies this sense of power, with the water plunging in a straight vertical line between two towering cliffs. The Japanese traditionally believed that remarkable physical phenomena indicate the presence of a kami or Shinto god, and Hokusai rendered his scenes with a powerful sense of life, reflecting his animistic beliefs.

The Waterfall at Yoshino depicts a famous Japanese tale – an episode from the life of General Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159–1189). Fleeing from his older brother who considered him a traitor for joining forces with the Emperor, Go-Shirakawa, the General paused to rest and bathe his favourite horse amid the mountains of Yoshino (in today’s Nara prefecture). In this powerfully graphic composition, the waterfall’s strong curves express the full force of the water passing through a deep, tree-lined valley. Evoking an image of a giant hand embracing the earth with fingers spread open, it is a poignant exploration of the relationship between nature, man and animals.

Artistry and Precision in Miniature

The miniature paintings on the Reverso case-backs were executed using the Geneva technique, involving at least 14 layers of enamel, each fired at 800°C before the next can be applied, and requiring a total of 80 hours’ meticulous work. As well as the technical feat of reproducing Hokusai’s original colours (including the graduated bokashi effect) in an entirely different medium, the enameller faced the challenge of precisely reproducing every detail with pinpoint accuracy, on a scale approximately one-tenth of the original. Most remarkable, perhaps, are the cartouches near the top of each frame, in which the original captions have been hand-written on a microscopic scale while remaining perfectly accurate and legible. Beyond mastering this technical feat, the enameller seeks to express the original artist’s intention and touch, imbuing each work with emotional resonance and a sense of soul.

The simplicity and discreet styling of the watches’ front dials – with the faceted appliqué hour-markers, Dauphine hands and chemin-de-fer minutes track characteristic of all Reverso Tribute timepieces – provides a contrast to the intricacy of the miniature paintings. However, this apparent simplicity belies the highly complex craftsmanship behind their creation. The background of both dials has been guilloché by hand: the pattern on the Waterfall at Ono piece is a classical barleycorn design, requiring three to four hours of painstakingly accurate work. For the Waterfall at Yoshino the craftsman applied a lozenge pattern comprising no fewer than 800 lines, each of which required five passages of the lathe (4,000 passages in total), representing eight hours of work only for the guillochage. Once the guillochage is completed, four to five layers of translucent green enamel are applied, with each layer requiring separate firing and drying – representing a total of eight additional hours of work, over the course of a week.

Embodying La Grande Maison’s vision of the world of art and culture, and showcasing the talents housed in the Métiers Rares™ (Rare Handcrafts) atelier within the Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux, the two new Reverso Tribute Enamel timepieces are a noble addition to the continuing story of the Reverso and its boundless scope as a canvas for creative expression.

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL HOKUSAI – The Waterfall at Ono

Case: White Gold

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually wound Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, Minutes

Power Reserve: 42 Hours

Front dial: Barleycorn guilloché, Grand Feu enamel

Caseback: Closed – miniature-painted Grand Feu enamel

Strap: Black alligator

Reference: Q39334T5

Limited edition: 10 pieces

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL HOKUSAI – The Waterfall at Yoshino

Case: White Gold

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick

Calibre: Manually wound Calibre 822

Functions: Hours, Minutes

Power Reserve: 42 Hours

Front dial: Lozenge guilloché, Grand Feu enamel

Caseback: Closed – miniature-painted Grand Feu enamel

Strap: Black alligator

Reference: Q39334T4

Limited edition: 10 pieces

This is an exchange that Jaeger-LeCoultre has embraced throughout the Manufacture’s history. Coinciding with 90 years of the Reverso, Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrates this ongoing cultural exchange with an exquisite new Reverso Tribute Enamel timepiece.

Kirifuri Waterfall (Kirifuri-no-taki)

Uniting European craftsmanship with Japanese art, the reverse side of the case celebrates Eastern art with an enamel miniature painting that faithfully reproduces a woodblock print of Kirifuri Waterfall made by Katsushika Hokusai in the early 1830s. Kirifuri Waterfall is taken from A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces, a series of eight woodblock prints depicting waterfalls that the artist visited between 1831 and 1833 in different regions of Japan’s main island, Honshu.

Embodying La Grande Maison’s creativity and its vision of the world of art and culture, the new timepiece is testament to the talent and skill of the artisans working in the Métiers Rares® (Rare Handcrafts) atelier within the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre.

In a carefully orchestrated process beginning with the case back, the decoration of this timepiece presented many challenges that were particular to this work of art. First among those challenges was to reproduce a work measuring 37 x 24.5 cm onto a surface little more than one-tenth the size of the original – capturing every detail in perfect scale, including the group of tiny human figures at the base of the waterfall.

To express the power and beauty of the water as it cascades 100 metres down the mountainside Hokusai used a greater sense of perspective and bolder colours for Kirifuri Waterfall than in his previous work. The enameller had not only to mimic this perfectly but also to create the illusion of the woodblock printing technique, which produces a specific effect entirely different from enamelling. A particular challenge is that multi-coloured prints require the use of multiple woodblocks, with each different colour applied in turn – and there was the added challenge of reproducing the bokashi effect of subtly nuanced and graduated colours seen in the original. To achieve these illusions, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s master enameller had to develop her own technique.

The simplicity of the Reverso Tribute dial – with its faceted appliqué hour-markers and Dauphine hands – places full value on the beauty of its decoration. An artistic response to the miniature painting on the case back, this dial is decorated with an unusual, wavy guilloché pattern chosen to echo the effect of moving water. Executed by hand, using a century-old lathe for which a special cam was tooled to achieve this particular pattern, the visual effect of the waves is amplified by layers of translucent grand feu enamel in a soft shade of green that exactly matches a detail of the painting on the reverse side.

Following multiple firings to build up the enamel layers, the final challenge is the faultless application of the indexes (which requires tiny holes to be drilled through the pristine surface of the enamel) and the transfer of the chemin de fer minutes register.

As with all enamelling, the firing process can change colours in unpredictable ways, so for both the back and the front of the Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai, many hours of research and experiment were required in order that the dial colour would perfectly match the painting on the reverse, and that the painting would give a faithful rendering of Hokusai’s original colours. In addition to these hours of research, almost five working hours must be dedicated to the guillochage alone, followed by eight working hours for the layers of translucent green enamel. More than 70 working hours are required only to paint the miniature masterpiece on the case back.

ABOUT HOKUSAI

The Japanese artist best known in the West, Hokusai (c.1760–1849) was a highly prolific illustrator, printmaker and ukiyo-e artist. His fame was secured when he was in his eighties, by his monumental woodblock print series Thirty-Six Views of Mount FujiI, which includes The Great Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura), one of the world’s best-known works of art. (Jaeger-LeCoultre honoured that work by reproducing it as a miniature enamel painting on a limited-edition Reverso in 2018.)

Thanks to a craze for ukiyo-e painting, which depicted the hedonistic lifestyle of the merchant class in Edo Japan (1600–1868), woodblock printing flourished from the 17th to 19th Century, as a means of reproducing those paintings. Innovative in his composition and use of colour, Hokusai was instrumental in transforming ukiyo-e from a style of portraiture into a broader genre that included landscapes, plants and animals. As a consequence of his fame, ukiyo-e and woodblock prints became central to forming the West's perception of Japanese art.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL

Case: White gold

Dimensions: 45.5 mm x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm

Movement: Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822, manually wound

Functions: Hours, minutes

Power reserve: 42 hours

Dial: Guilloché and Grand Feu enamel

Case back: Grand Feu enamel miniature painting

Water resistance: 3 bar

Strap: Black alligator

Reference: Q39334T2 - Limited edition of 10 pieces

The installation, titled Spacetime, further expands the cultural and creative universe of the Manufacture by exploring the relationship between the three physical dimensions of space, and the fourth dimension of time. Following its debut in China at Watches & Wonders Shanghai on April 14^th, Spacetime will be exhibited in key cities around the world over the course of the year.

THE ANAMORPHOSIS

Michael Murphy’s main body of work emphasises perspective: his installations require the viewer to change position in order to fully appreciate them. Fusing classical art-making techniques with digital processes and manual skills, he has invented an entirely new formula for rendering two-dimensional images as suspended, three-dimensional mobiles. These anamorphic installations comprise a multitude of objects hanging at various heights and distances. Depending on the viewer’s line of sight, they appear to change form: from a seemingly random and chaotic jumble of shapes they coalesce into a highly organised and recognisable image. Thus, the viewer experiences a perceptual shift, breaking down the barrier between the art medium itself and the subjective experience.

“We are delighted to be collaborating with Michael Murphy. His artistic installation requires extreme precision, a value that we share at Jaeger-LeCoultre. Our watchmakers throw their heart and soul into every ingenious sketch, every oscillation of the balance wheel, every escapement wheel - always pushing the boundaries of precision." says Catherine Rénier, Chief Executive Officer of Jaeger-LeCoultre.

For this new work, the Maison has collaborated with an artist whose work is often based on images of instantly recognisable cultural icons. “The Reverso has this iconic graphic identity and that's the type of content that I often work with,” says Michael Murphy.

The timepiece chosen to be represented through Spacetime is the newly released Reverso Tribute Nonantième, which expresses the time in an entirely different manner on each of its faces. The artist immediately saw a parallel between this new Reverso and his anamorphic works, many of which have two distinct sides, showing two entirely different images when viewed from different positions.

“My Reverso design explodes into an array of parts that tell a story about the watch and how it works,” explains Murphy. “I dissected it into all of its working components and composed them in a way that creates two different photographic illusions, one renders the front of the watch and one the reverse.”

The shape of each of the artwork’s 69 components resembles a familiar part of a watch. However, each is photo-printed with different fragments of movement and dial components. These parts appear exactly as in the watch only when they are lined up perfectly, as the viewer walks around the installation.

PARALLELS WITH WATCHMAKING

Beyond the obvious connection to the Reverso, Murphy’s work has many parallels with watchmaking, especially the need for extreme precision. “We create these artworks that are made of a lot of suspended objects that have to line up with one another in three dimensions and we deal with just one millimetre tolerance,” says the artist. “For us, working on a piece more than 12 feet [3.6m] tall, one millimetre adds a real level of complexity. The precision of watchmaking is something we can really relate to.”

As with the development of a new watch calibre, Murphy’s art requires an intense level of planning. It is a highly complex process involving 75 steps that must be taken in the right sequence, beginning with the mapping of exactly where in the three dimensions each component must be, in order to create an image that the viewer can understand. As in a watch movement, if one tiny element is off, the entire work is off.

“SPACETIME” INSTALLATION

The title of the new work, Spacetime, came naturally to an artist who has always been fascinated by the relationship between space and time. In physics, spacetime is any mathematical model that fuses the three dimensions of space and the one dimension of time into a single four-dimensional manifold.

“I’ve always thought of my installations as having four dimensions,” Murphy explains. “I create these artworks that are illusions of flat images that float in three dimensional space [with] the length, the width, and the height. And then the experiencing of the piece happens over time. That's the fourth dimension of the work.”

The collaboration with Jaeger-LeCoultre has fulfilled a desire, long held by the artist, to make a time piece – in the literal sense. “Time is an essential component to all of my work – the fourth dimension. But I have always been fascinated by the aesthetic of internal watch parts and their precision and have always wanted to make a time piece – a piece that is about time.”

For the viewer, Michael Murphy’s Spacetime captures the beauty and precision of time-keeping and time-making in a new and uniquely fascinating way.

Discover the Augmented Reality of the installation

ABOUT MICHAEL MURPHY

Michael Murphy (b. 1975) is an American artist best known for his unique style of art-making, which he calls Perceptual Art. He describes his technique, which emphasises the viewer’s perception, as “illusions of images rendered in three dimensional space”. In his early career, Murphy created commissioned works while teaching art in universities, and since 2013, he has devoted his time exclusively to creating art. Among Murphy’s most notable works are Gun Country and The Immigrant – which invite people to reflect on important social issues – his portraits of Barack Obama, and several works created for Michael Jordan and Nike. The artist lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. His portfolio can be viewed online at perceptualart.com.

ABOUT THE REVERSO

In 1931, Jaeger-LeCoultre launched a timepiece that was destined to become a classic of 20th-century design: the Reverso. Created to withstand the rigours of polo matches, its sleek, Art Deco lines and unique reversible case make it one of the most immediately recognisable watches of all time. Through nine decades the Reverso has continually reinvented itself without ever compromising its identity: it has housed more than 50 different calibres, while its blank metal flip side has become a canvas for creative expression, decorated with enamel, engravings or gemstones. Today, 90 years after the Reverso was born, it continues to epitomise the spirit of modernity that inspired its creation.

In 1991, 60 years after the Reverso’s creation, Jaeger-LeCoultre presented the Reverso Soixantième. With power reserve and date displays, it was the first Reverso with complications and the first with a sapphire crystal caseback, providing a window onto the mechanical treasure within. Although the Reverso case and its shaped movement had not initially been designed for complications, the Soixantième revealed its full potential, unleashing a sequence of pieces that gave new visual expression to the great watchmaking complications.

In 2021, nine decades after the Reverso was born, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents the latest episode in this story: the Reverso Tribute Nonantième, which gives a completely new visual expression to an alliance of several classical complications.

Reverso Writes a New Chapter in the Story of Complications

The launch of the Soixantième in 1991 had coincided with the rebirth of complicated watchmaking that followed the quartz crisis. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s long and distinguished history as a creator of high complications provided its engineers and designers with an exceptionally rich archive from which to learn, and develop new calibres. Nevertheless, the Manufacture’s goal of creating six new Reverso models within the decade, each incorporating one of the great classical complications, was very ambitious – not least, given the particular challenges posed by rectangular movements, which dictate a different architecture from that of round movements.

The Soixantième was followed in 1993 by the Reverso Tourbillon – the Manufacture’s first wristwatch tourbillon. In 1994, Jaeger-LeCoultre released the Reverso Répétition Minutes, the first time the Maison had miniaturised a minute repeater for a wristwatch, and the world’s first rectangular minute repeater movement. In 1996, La Grande Maison introduced the Reverso Chronographe Rétrograde, with an intricate display on the reverse side that solved the problem of how to arrange the chronograph counters within a rectangular frame. This was followed two years later by the Reverso Géographique and, coinciding with the Millennium, the Reverso Quantième Perpétuel.

In 2001, Jaeger-LeCoultre marked the completion of another decade in the Reverso story with the Septantième. Its movement, Calibre 879, offered an 8-day power reserve – almost unheard-of at the time. And now, nine decades after the Reverso was born, La Grande Maison introduces a new alliance of complications.

The Reverso Tribute Nonantième

The front dial of the Nonantième exudes refinement and elegance. The pink gold case with its signature gadroons frames a silvered, sunray-brushed dial with applied golden indexes and Dauphine hands. In the lower half of the dial, a moonphase display is set within the circle formed by the small seconds counter. Beneath 12 o’clock is a large date display, framed by an applied filet of pink gold that echoes the rectangular shape of the dial and case.

The classically elegant aesthetic of the front dial gives no hint of the surprise concealed on the reverse side of the watch. Flipping the case over reveals an entirely new visual expression of some of watchmaking’s most familiar complications. Dramatic and captivating, it is unlike anything seen on a Reverso before.

The solid pink-gold caseback is dominated by two round apertures of different sizes, arranged like a figure-eight and encircled by gadroons that echo the rectilinear gadroons on the upper and lower edges of the case. The small upper aperture displays a semi-jumping digital hour indication. Seen for the first time in a Reverso, this complication recalls digital displays developed by the Manufacture for wristwatches in the 1930s.

In the large aperture below the hour, minutes are displayed on a rotating disc that is partially concealed by a three-quarter plate lacquered in vivid blue – in the Atelier des Métiers Rares® – and sprinkled with tiny golden stars to depict the night sky. Within a small circle at the centre, an applied golden sun and moon, pass above a horizon, to indicate night and day. In the semi-circle below the horizon, a JL logo is set on a sunray-pattern background.

As is the case for all complicated Reverso models, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s engineers developed an entirely new, manually wound movement for the Nonantième, Calibre 826. Comprising 230 components and showing the same time on both faces of the watch, it offers a power reserve of 42 hours.

The Reverso Tribute Nonantième is offered in a limited edition of 190 pieces, available exclusively at Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

REVERSO TRIBUTE NONANTIEME

Case material: Pink gold

Case dimensions: 49.4 x 29.9 mm

Thickness: 11.72 mm

Movement: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 826

Functions:

Front display: Hours, minutes, small seconds. Grande Date. Moon phases

Back display: Digital semi-jumping hour, minutes on a disc. Night-day indication

Power reserve: 42 hours

Water resistance: 30 metres

Strap: Black alligator

Reference: Q711252J

In chocolate brown, red, burgundy or blue, the lacquered dials created a stylish and exuberant contrast with the case metal and – at a time when coloured dials were rare in watchmaking – made the Reverso appear even more modern and distinctive.

Over the decades, the Reverso has appeared with a variety of dials and in different case sizes – without ever compromising the integrity of the original design – and, in 2016, Jaeger-LeCoultre returned to the stylistic codes of the original 1931 model to create a series of Tribute models.

For 2021, recalling the early use of colour that distinguished the Reverso, La Grande Maison presents the Reverso Tribute Small Seconds in Green. The rich tone of the sunray-brushed lacquer dial and matching leather strap is reminiscent of the deep green of the pine forests that surround Jaeger-LeCoultre’s home in the Vallée de Joux.

The dial features all of the signature design elements of the Reverso Tribute: the hours are marked by applied indexes rather than numerals. Their faceted shape echoes the form of the Dauphine hands and adds visual depth to the lacquered surface. In the lower half of the dial, the circular track of the small seconds display provides a counterpoint to the linear geometry of the dial and case. Echoing the sunray brushing of the dial, a sunray pattern on the inside of the cradle is visible when the case is flipped over.

In keeping with Reverso tradition, the solid metal back of the reversible case is an ideal canvas for personalisation with a motif or engraving. The owner can choose to keep this personalisation hidden, as a private pleasure, or to turn the case over, so that the back becomes the front.

The slim 8.5mm case houses the manually wound mechanical Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822/2; a rectangular shaped movement with small seconds designed expressly for the Reverso, it offers a power reserve of 42 hours.

Reconnecting the Reverso to its roots in the sport of polo, Jaeger-LeCoultre began a collaboration in 2011 with Casa Fagliano. Celebrated throughout the polo world for its handmade boots, Fagliano has created straps for a series of special Reverso models. In keeping with the relaxed modernity of the Tribute collection, the calf leather strap of the new Reverso Tribute Small Seconds, made to Fagliano’s signature design, is in the same green as the dial, creating a unified aesthetic that underlines the timelessness of the Reverso design.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

REVERSO TRIBUTE SMALL SECONDS

Case material: Steel

Case dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm

Thickness: 8.5mm

Movement: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822/2

Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds

Power reserve: 42 hours

Water resistance: 30 metres

Case back: closed

Strap: Green calf

Reference: Q3978430

Created in 1931, at the height of Art Deco period, the Reverso was developed to meet the demands of the newly fashionable ‘sporting gentleman’ – specifically, the polo player. A masterful integration of form and function, with its clean lines and flip-over case, it has become one of the world’s most recognisable watches – an icon, in the true sense of the word.

Soon after its introduction, as the Reverso was adopted by tastemakers from all walks of life, new variations appeared. Even before the Reverso’s first anniversary, coloured dials were introduced, creating a vivid contrast with the case metal and adding a note of exuberance to its streamlined symmetry. This new limited edition recalls that early use of colour, to further enrich the Reverso story.

Reverso Tribute Duoface Fagliano

Marrying the dual-time zone complication of the Duoface with the purified aesthetic of the Tribute collection, the new timepiece is complemented by an original strap, specially designed and hand-crafted by Casa Fagliano, the world-famous Argentinian maker of polo boots.

Originally developed in 1994, the Duoface offers two contrasting dials, each displaying a different time zone, thanks to the hand-wound Calibre 854A/2. To maintain the perfect integrity of the case design, the second time zone is adjusted by a small slider set into the top case-band and completely invisible except when the case is released from the carriage to be flipped over. A deeply etched sunray pattern on the inner surface of the carriage adds to the visual enjoyment of turning the watch over.

On the front dial, in keeping with the original Reverso design, the hours are marked by straight indexes, doubled at 12. Their faceted shape adds visual depth to the rich burgundy-red of the lacquered surface and echoes the form of the Dauphine hands. The circular track of the small seconds display at six o’clock provides a counterpoint to the linear geometry of the dial and case.

The design of the reverse dial plays on the tension between circles and straight lines, anchored by contrasting decorative finishes. The stippled texture of Clous de Paris guillochage contrasts with the gleaming opaline finish of the central time display and the smaller circle that displays the day-night indication.

Both dial treatments are balanced by the warm tones of the pink gold case which, in turn, is complemented by the two-tone strap. Inspired by the canvas-and-leather boots that it makes for summer polo, Casa Fagliano combined cordovan leather and canvas for the new strap – as always, cutting and stitching every piece by hand.

The Reverso Tribute Duoface Fagliano is a limited edition of 190 pieces, boutique exclusivity.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

REVERSO TRIBUTE DUOFACE FAGLIANO

Dimensions: 47 x 28.3mm x 10.3mm

Calibre: Manually wound mechanical movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 854A/2; 21,600 vibrations per hour

Functions: Front: Hours, minutes, small seconds. Reverse: Second time zone, 24-hour day/night indicator

Power reserve: 42-hour

Case: 18-carat pink gold

Dial: Front: Burgundy-red lacquer, applied golden hour markers, Dauphine hands. Reverse: Silvered grey and velvety Clous de Paris guillochage, applied golden hour markers, Dauphine hands

Strap: Bi-material cordovan leather and canvas, designed and hand-crafted by Casa Fagliano, pin buckle in 18-carat pink gold

Water resistance: 3 bar

Reference: Q398256J

Since its creation, the Reverso has remained unscathed by the passing time and fashions, maintaining its characteristic Art Deco features: its simple, refined lines; the iconic, rectangular case; the typical gadroons; and the reversible system. The first Reverso was invented in 1931, when a British officer stationed in India issued a challenge to shield his watch dial during often animated polo matches. Reversible, just as the name suggests, it soon became an icon far beyond the Swiss borders. The case can be slid with a finger to reveal either a solid, easily customisable reverse side or a second dial. The new pieces presented at SIHH 2019 demonstrated the design's eternal youth, the most noteworthy of which were:

• Reverso Tribute Small Seconds

• Reverso Tribute Duoface

• Reverso Tribute Duoface Fagliano Limited

• Reverso One Duetto

REVERSO TRIBUTE SMALL SECONDS

At SIHH 2019, three new interpretations of the Reverso Tribute line enchanted collectors, watch professionals, and the general public. Let’s review the main charms of these three pieces inspired by the historic 1930s model.

The new Reverso Tribute Small Seconds showcases a very pure design that enhances the daring colour of its dial and the matching topstitched strap designed by the celebrated Casa Fagliano. Wine red, burgundy, crimson, or aubergine – while the descriptions differ, this deep, dark, enchanting red is most definitely this piece’s colour. This passionate, fiery shade evokes both the fire that fuels the master watchmakers and craftsmen of Jaeger-LeCoultre and the passion of its lovers of beautiful objects, many of whom love to collect multiple Reverso models. Enhanced by its shimmering, satiny exterior, the Reverso Tribute Small Seconds will prove no exception to the rule.

Art Deco Inspiration

The pared-down details of the new Reverso Tribute Small Seconds form a captivating contrast against the attractive wine-coloured dial, showcasing the iconic gadroons, Dauphine hands, hand-applied hour-markers, and a small seconds in an aperture at 6 o’clock. These functions are powered by the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822/2 manually wound mechanical movement, which was entirely designed, produced, and assembled in-house. The watch's solid reverse offers a blank, fully customisable space in keeping with the design's reversible heritage.

Casa Fagliano strap

To achieve flawless aesthetics and extra sophistication, on the Reverso Tribute Small Seconds the Manufacture's craftsmen have matched the shade of the sunray-brushed dial to the leather strap. Dressed in shimmering wine tones accentuated by topstitching, the strap has been designed by Casa Fagliano. It serves as a clever nod to the shared polo heritage of the Reverso and the famous Argentinian boot maker, which is intimately involved in international polo championships.

REVERSO TRIBUTE DUOFACE & REVERSO TRIBUTE DUOFACE

FAGLIANO LIMITED

The names alone evoke a promise: that of the ingenious Duoface concept developed by Jaeger-LeCoultre for the Reverso in 1994. This high-precision watchmaking feat conceals a revolution universally appreciated by lovers of fine mechanisms: two time zones on two separate dials powered by a single movement – the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 854A/2 – housed in a case 10.3 millimetres thick. On the front, an aperture at 6 o’clock features the small seconds. Meanwhile on the reverse, a day/night indicator shows whether it is daytime or nighttime in the home country.

Limited edition, unlimited delight

Available in boutiques only, the new Reverso Tribute Duoface Fagliano Limited is even exclusive in the number of pieces released. Limited to just 100, it radiates rarity in every detail, from the most discreet to the most visible. Its two textured dials subtly display their functions in an elegant pink gold case, revealing a blue sunray-brushed ground on the front and a silvered guilloché motif on the reverse. To continue this contrasting composition, the Cordovan leather strap, entirely handmade by Casa Fagliano, dons two tones of bright blue accentuated by elegant topstitching.

REVERSO ONE DUETTO

In natural, life-size surroundings at SIHH 2019, Jaeger-LeCoultre highlighted a number of women's models, including the new Reverso One Duetto pieces, which are instantly recognisable thanks to their thin case. These three new interpretations of a famed 1930s model show that they still have the potential to turn heads along with their dials.

Warm, glittering, and almost velvety, the strap of the new Reverso One Duetto in pink gold presents a captivating, eye-catching shade. Dressed in a beautiful, deep red – burgundy or crimson depending on preferences – this subtly shimmering, satin-finished strap suits all skin tones. A strip of brilliant-cut diamonds lines either end of the case, which of course contains the Duetto concept. The twin sets of hands are driven by a single movement, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 844.

Two diamond-hemmed dials

The front face of the Reverso One Duetto, with its simple yet refined, silvered, sunrayed guilloché dial, lends itself to daytime wear. The blued Dauphine hands and delicate Arabic numerals perfectly pair with its pure decor. Meanwhile, the reverse side elegantly flatters evening wear. Its shimmering, lacquered dial in hypnotising burgundy reveals gold-plated hour-markers split into sun-like rays. The enthralling depths of the heavenly vault have once again served as inspiration for the Manufacture's master craftsmen. They enchant women looking for beauty coupled with precision.

Reverso Tribute Small Seconds

Dimensions: 45.6 x 27.4 mm

Thickness: 8.5 mm

Calibre: 822/2 – Manual

Case: stainless steel

Functions: Hour/minute/small seconds

Power reserve: 42 hours

Dial: Burgundy red, Sunray-brushed, Applied hour-markers

Reference: Q397846J

Boutique exclusivity

Reverso Tribute Duoface Fagliano Limited

Dimensions: 47 x 28.3 mm

Thickness: 10.3 mm

Calibre: 854A/2 – Manual

Case: pink gold

Functions: Front: Hour/minute/small seconds / Back: 2nd time zone, 24-hour day/night indicator

Power reserve: 42 hours

Dial: Front: Blue, Sunray-brushed, Applied hour-markers / Back: Silvered, Clous de Paris guilloché, Applied hour-markers

Reference: Q398258J

Limited Edition of 100 pieces

Boutique exclusivity

Reverso Tribute Duoface

Dimensions: 47 x 28.3 mm

Thickness: 10.3 mm

Calibre: 854A/2 – Manual

Case: Stainless steel

Functions: Front: Hour/minute/small seconds / Back: 2nd time zone, 24-hour day/night indicator

Power reserve: 42 hours

Dial: Front: Blue, Sunray-brushed, Applied hour-markers / Back: Silvered, Clous de Paris guilloché, Applied hour-markers

Reference: Q3988482

Reverso One Duetto

Dimensions: 40.1 x 20 mm

Thickness: 9.09 mm

Calibre: 844 – Manual

Case: pink gold, stainless steel

Functions: Hour/minute identical front and back

Power reserve: 38 hours

Dial: Front: Silvered sunrayed guilloché / Back: Midnight Blue/Burgundy spangled lacquered

Diamonds: 56 diamonds – 0.63 carats

Reference: Q3342520, Q3348420, Q3348120

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Ever since its founding in 1833, Jaeger-LeCoultre has made precision an art in its own right, striking the perfect balance between well-honed expertise, artistic vision, sophistication and aesthetic refinement. In keeping with the inventive spirit of founder Antoine LeCoultre, the master watchmakers of the Manufacture create bold collections at the very forefront of Fine Watchmaking: Reverso, Master, Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris, Rendez-Vous and Atmos – the rich heritage of the Grande Maison, an undying source of inspiration over the centuries for unprecedented creations that never cease to push the limits.

www.jaeger-lecoultre.com

An exceptional timepiece combining finesse and grand complications

Following in the footsteps of iconic models such as the Hybris Mechanica 11 and Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon, this exceptional timepiece boasts ideal proportions, a sign of refinement highly sought after and cherished by connoisseurs. The quest for pure finesse has certainly been a driving force for the watchmakers of the Grande Maison, both in the original design of the Reverso Tribute Tourbillon Duoface and in the exceptional quality of its finishes. Remarkable in more ways than one, the technical feat achieved here is maintaining the tourbillon’s moving carriage and its sprung balance through the use of an ingenious ball-bearing system, all while still offering the freedom to express oneself fully on the back of the watch. A single watch that offers two-time zones on two separate dials is at the heart of this revolutionary concept. Developed in the workshops of the Manufacture, the concept of reversibility is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for Jaeger-LeCoultre to this day. Suffice to say, with two distinct but inseparable faces, the illustrious Reverso Tribute seems to possess the ideal design to house this complication. The design of the Duoface has been completely revamped, resulting in an entirely new layout so that all the various components can fit into a platinum case measuring a mere 9.15 millimetres. The result is two hand-fittings in a single movement brought together with a grand complication, a challenge that remains formidable to achieve.

An outer aesthetic to match the high-flying watchmaking feats within

Designed with stylistic codes borrowed from Art Deco—the same that have characterised the legendary Reverso ever since its creation in 1931—this new opus pays homage to the original models, timepieces which are inseparable from both the history and heritage of the Manufacture. Timeless and inimitable, the specific codes of this collection have been applied with an impeccable level of respect. A blue sunrayed dial and silvered hand-applied hour-markers adorn the front side, with Dauphine hands that seem to step aside as the haunting spectacle of the flying tourbillon takes centre stage, swaying as though weightlessness at six o’clock. On the opposite side, the grained dial and Côtes de Genève finishes make the perfect housing for emblematic functions like a second time zone, small seconds, or the day/night indicator discreetly nestled at 2 o’clock. With a simple move of the finger, the watch offers up one of its two faces, each possessing an aesthetic at once complimentary and diametrically opposed. The front, adorned with deep blue, is a bold expression of elegance. The opposite side, with a rough metal effect, strives for a sober and streamlined aesthetic. Both sides bear the same flying tourbillon, a feature that brings ultimate sophistication, its lower portion lodged within the platinum case, giving it a slightly rounded and curved shape. The effect is a nod (or all-out salute) to discerning collectors who are sure to be seduced and enchanted by the subtle touch.

During the major chapters of watchmaking history and in the annals of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture, the iconic Reverso has proven time and to be one of the most beautiful rectangular watches in the world. Since its creation in 1931, the model has always rotated by means of an ingenious system of flipping the case. This trademark mechanism has often been imitated but never quite equalled. It continues to be a source of inspiration for watchmakers, artists and artisans of the Grande Maison, as well as a source of delight for lovers of rare and precious objects in which the level of sophistication is paralleled only by mechanical excellence and aesthetic achievement. With a stunning degree of complexity and design, recognisable at first glance, the new Reverso Tribute Tourbillon Duoface is no exception to the rule. Bringing together the flying tourbillon and the Duoface concept in one single model for the very first time, Jaeger-LeCoultre offers collectors an incredible embodiment of the art of watchmaking. A timepiece like no other, celebrating a new fusion between technical sophistication and aesthetic beauty; This exceptional creation is nonetheless accessible, presenting complexity and elegance with a flash of brilliance.

Reverso Tribute Tourbillon Duoface

Size: 45.5 mm x 27.4 mm

Thickness: 9.15 mm

Case: Platinum

Calibre: 847 - Manual

Functions: Hour/Minute/Tourbillon with second indicator, Second Time Zone, Night & Day indicator

Dial: Blue sunrayed (R), Silvered grained (V)

Water resistance: 30 m

Limitation: 50 pieces

Reference: Q3926480

Rendez-Vous Night & Day Medium Tribute to Cinema

A limited-edition Rendez-Vous in the Jaeger-LeCoultre tradition

The Grande Maison takes great delight in paying tribute to Cinema, and has created an exclusive edition, as in 2017, that pairs watchmaking tradition with feminine elegance in an exquisite model. The new Rendez-Vous Night & Day performs an unprecedented role with bold staging, showcasing crimson red on both its iconic function disc at 6 o’clock and on its glistening, bright red alligator-leather strap. It also appears on the winding crown in the guise of a garnet cabochon as red as film-star lips.

An ode to film and the eternal feminine

Fitted with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 898A/1, the watch reveals a day/night indicator against a new backdrop. The Moon, which traditionally features on the models of this line, gives way to a five-pointed star. Could it be a tribute to cinema and its stars? Or a subtle reminder of one of the Rendez-Vous collection’s unique characteristics? In any event, this pink gold star gracefully glides across a crimson red background, which gives a subtle nod to the deep red of its strap. A bezel set with brilliant-cut diamonds enhances this new expression and underscores the finely guilloché-adorned face of this sublimely feminine model, which can be discovered as a limited edition in Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques.

“Glory to the Filmmaker” trophy

To celebrate the red-letter day of its official release, the Rendez-Vous Night & Day Medium Tribute to Cinema will be presented at the Shanghai International Film Festival during the presentation ceremony of the now-famous “Glory to the Filmmaker” trophy. Inaugurated by Jaeger-LeCoultre, this award recognises every year the creative talents of exemplary past and present film figures who endeavour to advance and promote cinema. The world launch of the Rendez-Vous Night & Day Medium Tribute to Cinema will be beautifully accompanied by the recognition of a female cinematic personality, whom the award will be presented this year in Shanghai.

Drawn to the world of film by a shared passion for magnificent storytelling, the Grande Maison transports us once again to the imaginative and creative realm of its unbridled talents. Like the scripting and production of a cinematographic work, the new Rendez-Vous Night & Day Medium Tribute to Cinema marks the culmination of a project performed by passionate artisans fuelled by a desire to share their art with an admiring audience.

Technical characteristics:

Size: 34 mm

Thickness: 8.52 mm

Calibre: 898A/1 – Automatic

Functions: H/M/S/Night&Day

Dial: Silvered guilloche / golden appliques / red Night & Day window

Diamons: 60 diamonds - 0.69 carats

Power Reserve : 60 hours

Reference : Q344246J