For 2025, La Grande Maison continues its tradition of craftsmanship and artistry with the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Snake.’ This piece is the third in a series honoring the Chinese Zodiac, following the years of the Tiger and Dragon. This exquisite timepiece is made to order and produced in limited quantities, showcasing the exceptional talents of the master enamellers and engravers in the Métiers Rares atelier at the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The new Reverso Tribute Enamel 'Snake' reference Q39324D2 pays tribute to the snake, an animal that symbolizes longevity, wisdom, and mystery according to traditional Chinese beliefs. When the 18K pink gold watch case—measuring 45.5 mm x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm—is flipped to its reverse side, it reveals a striking, hand-engraved snake emerging dramatically from a wreath of golden clouds in 18K gold, set against a glossy black Grand Feu enamel background. The polished surfaces of the snake’s body, the intricate details of its scales, and the contrasting sandblasted texture of the clouds catch and refract light, enhancing the illusion of movement.
The master engraver employed modeled engraving to maximize the sense of volume and depth. This process was particularly challenging because the engraver began with a surface already coated in Grand Feu enamel, necessitating an extraordinary level of precision to prevent any damage to the pristine enamel. Using ten differently sized chisels to sculpt the metal step by step, the engraver devoted 80 hours to creating this masterpiece.
The Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Snake’ dial features the same glossy black Grand Feu enamel as the case back. The signature Reverso Tribute dial's elegant, Art Deco-inspired simplicity—with its faceted appliqué hour markers, chemin de fer minute track, and Dauphine hands—highlights the beauty of the rich black background.
The apparent simplicity of the deep black enamel is deceiving; in Grand Feu enameling, the firing process results can never be entirely predicted. Achieving such depth and richness in black requires five or six layers of enamel, each followed by a firing and cooling cycle. The fact that the two surfaces are perfectly matched in color and purity is a testament to skills honed over many years of experience. Jaeger-LeCoultre is among the few watch manufacturers with its in-house enameling atelier, ensuring the preservation and advancement of this ancient craft. The watch is powered by the manual wound calibre 822, which provides a power reserve of 42 hours when fully wound.
The Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Snake,’ created to celebrate the Chinese Zodiac Year, exemplifies La Grande Maison’s vision of culture and creativity, where artistic craftsmanship exists in perfect harmony with the technical expertise of the Manufacture’s watchmakers. The watch is a limited, made-to-order timepiece.
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