Created in the 1931 by Jaeger-LeCoultre as a convenient watch for polo players, the purpose of the Reverso was to be able to maintain the front of the watch protected during a polo match by virtue of swiveling and exposing a solid case back on the front. Its Art Deco lines and unique reversible case made it one of the most immediately recognizable watches of all time and a true icon in the world of horology.
In homage to its glorious history, the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds revives the codes of the first Reversos born in the 1930s and their colorful dials. A staple of La Grande Maison from Le Sentier, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds features a gorgeous deep green dial. As a side note, in 2019, the Reverso Tribute Small Seconds was released in burgundy.
Offered in an array of colors that included chocolate brown, red, burgundy or blue, the lacquered dials on the Reverso from the 1930s created a stylish and exuberant contrast with the case metal and —at a time when colored dials were rare in watchmaking— made the Reverso appear even more modern and distinctive at the time. Over the decades, the Reverso has appeared with a variety of dials and in different case sizes but always maintaining its original design cues and DNA.
Just presented at Watches & Wonders 2021, the Reverso Tribute to Small Seconds is now cloaked in green. Fitted with a strikingly beautiful sunray brushed lacquer dial in green and equipped with a matching Casa Fagliano green calf leather strap, this watch brings the deep green forests of Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux to the wrist.
The stainless steel case measuring 45.6 mm x 27.4 mm features the signature grooves and angular lugs that have made the Reverso one of the most iconic timepieces in the world. As far as the dial, it features all of the signature design elements of the Reverso Tribute including the hours marked by applied indexes with a faceted shape rather than numerals. The signature dauphine hands are also present adding visual depth to the lacquered surface. In the lower half of the dial right at 6 o’clock, the circular track of the small seconds display provides a counterpoint to the linear geometry of the dial and case. Echoing the sunray brushing of the dial, a sunray pattern on the inside of the cradle is visible when the case is flipped over. The verso side of the watch maintains its sterile look so that it can become the perfect canvas for personalization.
The beating heart of the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Green ref. Q3978430 is duly guarded by the slim 8.5mm stainless steel case. The manual wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822/2 provides a power reserve of 42 hours when fully wound. The watch is water resistant to 30 meters.
Sticker Price $8,750 USD. For more info on Jaeger-LeCoultre click here.
