Presented a little bit over a month ago, we now bring you our hands-on review of the latest and greatest in the Reverson collection from Jaeger-LeCoultre. Continuing to expand the creative universe of the Reverso, with new models, Jaeger-LeCoultre decided to present the Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon now in stainless steel. The Reverso is undoubtedly one of the world’s most iconic watches since 1931 and a watch that is available in a variety of different complications. Originally developed in 1994, the Reverso Duoface concept is defined by two contrasting dials, each displaying a different time zone and operated by a single mechanism. The creation of the Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon was driven by the desire to combine the Duoface concept with a tourbillon visible on both dials, without adding thickness to the calibre.
Now presented in a stainless steel case, the newest interpretation of the Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon brings a fresh aesthetic and contemporary allure to the model introduced in 18K pink gold at Watches and Wonders Geneva in 2023. Equipped with a gorgeous grey sunrayed dial on one side and an exquisite reverse dial that is partially open-worked and textured with a hand-guilloché Clous de Paris, this Reverso is now one of our favorites here at WCL.
Things to Know About the Watch
The stainless steel case of the new Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon Steel measures 45.5 x 27.4 x 9.14 mm which is almost identical in size to the Reverso Classic Monoface Small Seconds. The watch is delivered with two straps, one in dark grey calf leather and the other in black alligator leather equipped with a double folding clasp in stainless steel. The front dial features the signature applied markers of the Reverso and the usual Dauphine hands. At 6 o’clock, the tourbillon takes the center stage.
Equipped with 62 components and weighing less than 0.5 grams, the Tourbillon was assembled by hand at the JLC Grandes Complications workshop in Le Sentier. For this particular watch, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s engineers had to completely re-think the tourbillon mechanism. They dispensed with the upper bridge that normally supports a tourbillon, replaced the outer tourbillon cage with a peripheral ball-bearing system, and used the Maison’s patented S-shaped hairspring so that the spring and balance wheel could be fixed at the center of the tourbillon.
The understated front, with its sunrayed grey dial, conceals a reverse that has been crafted at the Atelier des Métiers Rares. The back of the watch features an exquisite partially open-worked design with a day and night indicator on one corner and a running seconds indicator on the periphery of the tourbillon cage. The reverso side of the watch allows for a second time zone indication.
In contrast to the cool and restrained elegance of the grey sunrayed front dial, the reverse dial is partially open-worked and richly textured with the edges of the bridges hand-bevelled and their surfaces are decorated with a hand-guilloché Clous de Paris motif.
The hand guilloché with the Clous de Paris motif around the mainplate bridges required 232 lines of guilloché work, representing 1,392 gestures in total. This is one of those watches where is difficult to decide which side to wear the watch one as both sides are incredibly beautiful.
The Movement
Powering the Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon is the in-house calibre 847, just 3.9 mm thick and featuring the Duoface concept. This manual wound movement is composed of 254 parts —with the tourbillon alone taking 62 of them— and 31 jewels, and provides a power reserve of 38 hours when fully wound while beating at a frequency of 21,600 vph.
On the Wrist & Price
On the wrist, the watch wears extremely well and true to its size with impeccable wrist presence. An incredible timepiece that makes watch dreams worth dreaming. This a perfect example of why Jaeger-LeCoultre should be inducted into a ‘Holy Quartet of Watchmaking’ or replace AP from the ‘Holy Trinity of Watchmaking’.
For the price, this is a lot of watch for the money, especially when it comes to a tourbillon of such pedigree. The hardest part is to decide which side to wear the watch on most of the time. I think that for us the Reverso side wins with its hand-guilloché motif —however, the spectacle from the tourbillon on this side is less impressive than on the front side.
Sticker Price USD 111,000. More info on Jaeger-LeCoultre here.
