The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is, in essence, one of the very first sports wristwatches.
Despite its refined and elegant appearance, it combined utility with a sleek Art Deco exterior that has become an icon of horological design. But in the case of the Reverso, looks deceive.
Though the model appears at first glance a dress watch, it owes its existence to the gentlemanly sport of polo. While touring India in the early 1930s, Swiss businessman César de Trey met a British polo player who'd just cracked the crystal of his watch on the field. De Trey returned to Switzerland with an idea already taken root in his head, which he then discussed with Jacques-David LeCoultre: What if a watch could be made with a case that could reverse?
The reversible case, masterminded by designer Alfred Chauvot, was Jaeger-LeCoultre's solution to the problems polo players faced on the field. Once reversed, the delicate components of the case were protected from the shocks sustained while on horseback. No more would polo players crack the crystals or damage the dials of their watches. Chauvot took out a patent for the Reverso in March 1931. Produced chiefly in steel, Jaeger-LeCoultre also released the Reverso in gold, and decorated the case back with engravings or even miniature portraits.
The Reverso we have here is a Duoface Day & Night model. Rather than featuring a time-only dial on one side of the reversible case and a plan back on the reverse, it instead has two dials — one with home time, and the other with a second time zone and a 24-hour display.
This particular example, however, possesses a special, exotic flair. Housed in a 26mm x 41mm rose gold carriage case with sapphire crystals, a signed rose gold crown, and a corrector pusher at 2 o’clock, it features a non-luminous silver dial with an engine-turned center, black painted ‘Arabic’ indices, a small seconds display, and a matching, blued-steel ‘sword’ handset. On the reverse side is a luminous, dark grey dial with engine-turned patterning, Arabic quadrant and dagger indices, a subsidiary date register at 6 o’clock, and a matching, luminous sword handset.
Powered by JLC's Calibre 854 manually-wound movement, this piece comes paired to a signed black alligator leather strap with a signed rose gold deployant buckle. Incredibly, it measures just 10mm tall!This special piece from the 2020s — accompanied by its inner box and setting tool — is not only one of the most unique, wearable, and functional executions of the famed Reverso, but is also supremely beautiful.
Who in their right mind could turn down such a stunning piece?
