Jaeger-LeCoultre

Introducing Four New Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Models

by Cheryl Chia . Mar 27, 2023

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Introducing Four New Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Models

Despite having double sides and a swivelling case, the versatility of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso may not be immediately apparent from a design standpoint, as the gears that power every mechanical watch are circular, making form movements inherently limiting. When viewed under this angle, the sheer variety of Reverso models launched over its history is all the more impressive, ranging from the enormously complex Quadriptyque and Grande Complication à Triptyque to the Grand Reverso 101 Joaillerie with the world’s smallest movement to the simple yet elegant Tribute and Classic models, all while serving as a boundless canvas for artistic creativity. This year, Jaeger-LeCoultre has doubled down on its rectangular icon once again, unveiling four new Reverso models including a brand new chronograph.

Reverso Tribute Chronograph

Image by John Snow

Image by Kaigo

Measuring 49.4 by 29.9 mm and just 11.14 mm thick, the watch is available in both steel with a greyish blue dial and pink gold with a black dial. Like the original, the back of the watch features an open-worked dial with an outsized chronograph seconds display that occupies two-thirds the dial and a semi-circular retrograde minutes display beneath. Almost entirely visible through the dial is the new chronograph Calibre 860. It appears that the fundamental architecture of the gear train and the chronograph mechanism are similar to that of the original movement. The column wheel and balance flank the retrograde minutes counter, and a lengthy coupling lever snakes across the chronograph seconds dial. To maintain the watch’s height, the horizontal coupling system was kept in place. However, the power reserve has been enhanced to 51 hours from the original 40, and the bridges have been redesigned to expose additional components of the movement, such as the motion works, which contributes to a greater sense of depth on the dial.

Image by Yana Black

What’s evident even after nearly three decades since the introduction of the first Reverso chronograph is that the ability to design small, shaped chronograph movements remains as rare a feat as ever.

Tech Specs

Reference: Pink gold Q389257J; Steel Q389848J
Movement: Manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 860; power reserve of 52 hours; 3 Hz (21,600 vph)
Functions: Hours and minutes on both dials, Chronograph with retrograde 30-minute counter
Case: 49.4 x 29.9 mm x 11.14 mm thick; Pink gold; water-resistant to 30 meters
Dial: Black or blue-grey sunray-brushed (front); Skeletonised (back)
Strap: Fagliano Collection calf leather and canvas strap and additional calf leather strap

Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon

Alongside the chronograph, Jaeger-LeCoultre has also unveiled a stunning iteration of the Tribute Duoface Tourbillon, originally introduced in platinum to commemorate the 185th anniversary of the brand in 2018.

Despite being a tourbillon, the watch is compact and elegant, coming in at 45.5 lug to lug, 27.4mm wide and just 9.15mm thick. It is executed in pink gold with a silver sunray-brushed dial. The “flying” construction of the one-minute tourbillon enables the balance and overcoil hairspring to be fully visible at six o’clock and maintains the austere beauty of the dial. The reverse offers a striking contrast, with gold bridges that have been adorned with Clous de Paris guilloche, which was executed using a traditional straight-line engine lathe and required six hours of work. The vibrant warmth of gold is further contrasted with a black dial for the second time zone, blued screws and steel work. The second time zone display allows independent adjustment for both hours and minutes, and located right next to it is the day and night indicator.

Below, the massive bat-shaped bridge of the tourbillon have been open-worked revealing the tourbillon. Notably, the cage, which doubles as the seconds indicator, has a rather unusual construction. It runs on ball bearings and is driven by a wheel on its periphery rather than a conventional pinion underneath. Beyond that, it rotates on a fixed wheel with internal teeth, resulting in a tourbillon that is remarkably airy.

Tech Specs

Reference: Q392242J
Movement: Manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibe 847; power reserve of 38 hours; 3 Hz (21,600 vph)
Functions: Hours, minutes, second time zone, night & day, tourbillon
Case: 45.5 X 27.4 mm; 9.15 mm thick; Pink gold; water-resistant to 30 meters
Dial: Silver sunray-brushed (front); Black sunray-brushed (back)
Strap: Black alligator

Reverso Tribute Small Seconds

The range of Tribute watches are so named as they are a nod to the Reversos that were introduced with coloured dials in the 1930s. Up until now, the brand has unveiled various dial colours including a deep green, blue and burgundy with steel cases. This year, however, it has brought back the classic combinations of black and silver dials with pink gold cases as well as a silver opaline dial with a stainless steel case. These traditional hues bring out the Tribute’s assertive character, with its faceted dauphine hands and bar indices that set it apart as the most appealing model among contemporary Reversos. At the same time, the brand has also introduced a burgundy dial with a pink gold case.

Notably, the pink gold cases, which measure 45.6 lug-to-lug by 27.4 mm are now slimmer, coming in at just 7.56mm versus 8.5mm previously, making them all the more refined and elegant. This ultra-thin watch is equipped with the correspondingly slim hand-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 822. It measures a mere 2.94 mm in thickness, with a frequency of 21,600 vph and a power reserve of 45 hours.

Tech Specs

Reverso Tribute Small Seconds (Pink Gold)

Reference: Pink gold/black: Q713257J; Pink gold/burgundy: Q713256J; Pink gold/silver: Q7132521
Movement: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822; power reserve of 42 hours; 3 Hz (21,600 vph)
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds
Case: 45.6 x 27.4 mm; 7.56 mm thick; Pink gold; water-resistant to 30 meters
Dial: Black sunray / Burgundy lacquer / Silver sunray
Strap: Fagliano Collection interchangeable calf-leather-and-canvas and all-calf-leather (Pink gold/black; Pink gold/burgundy); Fagliano Collection interchangeable calf-leather-and-canvas strap and black alligator strap (Pink gold/silver)

Reverso Tribute Small Seconds (Steel)

Reference: Steel Q713842J
Movement: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822; power reserve of 42 hours; 3 Hz (21,600 vph)
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds
Case: 45.6 x 27.4 mm; 7.56 mm thick; Pink gold; water-resistant to 30 meters
Dial: Silver opaline
Strap: Fagliano Collection calf-leather-and-canvas

Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179

The line-up also includes an artistic rendition of the Calibre 179, which debuted in the 2016 Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon. The Calibre 179 is the fourth iteration of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s signature bi-axial tourbillon and the second Gyrotourbillon movement that was shaped to follow the Reverso’s rectangular case after the Gyrotourbillon 2’s Caliber 174 launched in 2008. The aim was to design a movement that was both smaller and slimmer than the massive Gyrotourbillon 2.

Executed in pink gold, the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 is almost identical in proportions to the Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon, coming in at 51.2mm by 31mm, albeit thicker at 13.63mm. In addition, the case lugs have undergone a slight revamp, with a more refined and elongated design to ensure it sits more elegantly on the wrist. Inside the cradle is an engraved sunray pattern, which emanates from a blue lacquer disc insert. The Duoface movement itself has been decorated with two distinct effects that complement each other. On the front dial, the surface of the movement plate has been hollowed out and filled with blue lacquer, creating a dynamic geometric pattern that pays homage to the Art Deco period that influenced the original design of the Reverso. It complements the deep blue lacquered gradient dial that is lighter in the centre and transitions to a midnight blue on its periphery.

On the reverse dial, half the movement bridge has been open-worked, leaving behind slim supporting bridges that are engraved and filled with blue lacquer. This design is also reflected in the hours and minutes ring, producing a captivating contrast to the equally large tourbillon aperture beneath that has a silvery micro-blasted finish.

Comprising a total of 123 components, the Gyrotourbillon features an ultra-light titanium inner cage and a peripheral carriage that rotates on ball bearings. These two elements turn at varying speeds perpendicular to each other. The inner tourbillon cage rotates at the speed of one revolution every 16 seconds while the peripheral carriage makes a full rotation once per minute, doubling as the seconds hand of the watch. It houses the proprietary Gyrolab balance wheel that’s shaped like the brand’s logo and designed for high efficiency as well as easy regulation. It is attached to a hemispherical hairspring, which being thinner than a cylindrical, is apt for this particular execution of the Gyrotourbillon while ensuring greater concentricity than a flat hairspring.

Tech Specs

Reference: Q39424E1
Movement: Manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 179; power reserve of 40 hours; 3 Hz (21,600 vph)
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)
Case: 51.2 x 31 mm x 13.63 mm thick; Pink gold; water-resistant to 30 meters
Dial: Blue lacquer (front); Skeletonised, coated with blue lacquer (back)
Strap: Dark Blue alligator leather
Availability: Limited to 10 pieces

Reverso Tribute Chronograph

Tech Specs

Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon

Tech Specs

Reverso Tribute Small Seconds

Tech Specs

Reverso Tribute Small Seconds (Pink Gold)

Reverso Tribute Small Seconds (Steel)

Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179

Tech Specs

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