Watches and the world of sports, as we often tell you, are much closer than you might imagine. Among the various maisons that over the years have developed timepieces suitable precisely for sports use, we certainly cannot fail to mention Jaeger-LeCoultre.
In fact, the manufacture introduced the Reverso in 1931, a watch featuring a tilting case specifically designed for polo players and which today has become one of the icons of the world of hands.
(If you want to learn more about the history of the Reverso, I invite you to read our article dedicated to the watch).
Recently the watch manufacturer unveiled the Tribute collection to pay tribute to the first model from the 1930s. The Tribute collection introduced by JLC draws inspiration from the design canons of the first model and is now joined by a new chronograph model.
The iconic reversible case
As many of you may know, what has made Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso iconic is undoubtedly its reversible case born with a very specific purpose.
In fact, thanks to this peculiarity, polo players who wore the watch during matches could turn it upside down on the back side so that any accidental blows would not damage the glass and dial of the timepiece.
Over the years, due to the success that the flip case has found, Jaeger-LeCoultre has decided to make the most of the Reverso by going so far as to insert, in some models, a second dial in place of the case back so that you have two watches in one.
Among the various complications that have appeared on the second side of the watch are, for example, the retrograde 30-minute counter chronograph of the new Reverso Tribute Chronograph, which takes its inspiration from the groundbreaking Reverso Chronograph of 1996.
The design of the 49.4 x 29.9 mm rectangular case of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s new chronograph faithfully echoes the design of early 1930s examples of the Reverso.
Made of steel and rose gold, this 11.14 mm-thick reversible case encloses a dial on the front that shows hours and minutes thanks to baton hour markers, Dauphine hands, and a peripheral chemin de fer minute track.
In the steel version, the blue-gray dial with a sunburst finish is the result of a hue achieved through the use of the ALD (atomic level deposition) process, which allows very thin layers of titanium oxide to be deposited.
In the rose gold version, however, the black dial creates a perfect contrast with the case tone. On the edge of this you can see at 2 and 4 o’clock the buttons for the chronograph functions, which can be consulted by rotating the watch case.
In fact, instead of the traditional metal case back, we find the second dial dedicated to the chronograph. Through the upper chronograph seconds counter, indicated by the blue hand, it is also possible to consult the time thanks to the Dauphine hour and minute hands.
Also located in the lower part of the skeletonized dial is the 30-minute retrograde chronograph counter.
The caliber of the new Reverso Tribute Chronograph
Powering the new model in the Reverso family is the caliber 860, a fully integrated hand-wound chronograph movement. This manufacture caliber, which can be seen through the skeletonized second dial, is equipped with a column wheel and horizontal coupling that ensure a lower thickness of the movement. Thanks to two systems enclosed within the movement, the hour and minute hands of both dials can turn clockwise simultaneously.
Formed of more than 300 components and endowed with a 52-hour power reserve, the caliber of the Reverso Tribute Chronograph is complemented by the Côtes de Genève motif finishes observable on the bridges.
Watch straps
Complementing the design of the two versions of the Reverso Tribute Chronograph are a blue fabric strap, plus an additional one in black leather, for the version with a steel case and a black fabric strap, plus an additional one also in black leather, for the version with a rose gold case.
Our opinion
With this new Reverso, Jaeger-LeCoultre has added yet another model to its Tribute collection, offering the possibility of choosing an elegant watch that encapsulates all the Art Deco style within it but, at the same time, is now made with the sports complication par excellence, thus making it the much more versatile model suitable for different types of use.
Price
The new Reverso Tribute Chronograph in steel will be sold at a list price of EUR 24,400 and the rose gold version at a list price of EUR 42,700.
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