Pairing the beauty of a flying tourbillon with a dual time zone display is a feat that only Jaeger-LeCoultre could accomplish. The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon Pink Gold features a highly sophisticated and innovative movement, complex yet, ultra-thin. An ingenious flying tourbillon visible on both front and reverse dials, with the second time zone on the reverse dial.
On the wrist, with the front dial visible, the Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon has an elegant yet highly distinctive presence. Capturing the spirit of the early 1930s models, the silver sunray-brushed front dial allows the tourbillon to take the center stage. As the case turns over, it reveals the cradle, where a visually dramatic sunray pattern centers on a mirror-polished disc; the disc is precisely aligned with the tourbillon to reflect light back through the delicate mechanism.
The reverse dial of the watch projects an altogether bolder character, enhanced by partial skeletonisation and glorious decoration, including hand angling of the bridges, all executed in the Manufacture’s Métiers Rares workshop. The second time zone is indicated by golden hands and indexes on a black sunray-brushed dial, and above the dial, the night and day indicator features an exquisite starry night sky.
Inspired by its first tourbillon, the Reverso Tourbillon introduced thirty years ago. In 1993, harnessing the legacy of its first tourbillon movement Calibre 170, which was developed for a pocket watch in 1946, Jaeger-LeCoultre released the Reverso Tourbillon. Not only was it the Manufacture’s first wristwatch tourbillon, it was also the first in a rectangular case and the first with a shaped movement.
The Manufacture’s expertise in tourbillons has grown steadily from that point, with its development of multi-axis tourbillons incorporating a variety of shaped balance springs like those on the Gyrotourbillon. Today, the expertise continues to expand, with the development of a series of new configurations, the most recent being in Calibre 847 introduced in 2018.
Uniting a flying tourbillon with the Duoface complication, this ultra-thin hand-wound movement comprises 254 components and measures just 3.9 mm thick. To achieve this, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s watchmakers had to completely rethink the tourbillon mechanism to reduce as much height as possible. As well as dispensing with the upper bridge, to which the balance wheel is normally fixed, they replaced the outer tourbillon cage with a ball-bearing system and attached the balance wheel to the center of the tourbillon. Normally, the hairspring would be attached to the outer tourbillon cage; however, in the absence of such a cage, a new solution was required. Jaeger-LeCoultre invented and has patented a unique S-shaped balance spring; one end is attached to a fixed point at the center of the tourbillon mechanism and the other end fixed to the balance wheel.
Comprising 62 components and weighing a mere 0.455 grams, this highly sophisticated tourbillon is eloquent testimony to the Manufacture’s mastery of this regulating mechanism, as well as its status as one of the very few Manufactures to develop and produce its own hairsprings in-house.
To enhance the elegance and wearability of the Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon, its case is just 9.15 mm thick, despite the complexity of the movement. Its clean Art Deco lines and strong geometry lend the case an air of deceptive simplicity.
The 18K pink gold case measures 45.5 mm x 27.4 mm x 9.15 mm thick and the watch is delivered on a black alligator strap. On the wrist, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon Pink Gold wears extremely well and true to its size. Yet, another feat of horology from La Grande Maison. It’s time to add Jaeger-LeCoultre to the ‘Holy Quartet of Watchmaking’.
Sticker Price $140,000 USD. For more info on Jaeger-LeCoultre click here.
