Watches and Wonders
Watches and Wonders: Jaeger-LeCoultre Showcases a Trio of Reverso Tributes
Fairgoers are flipping for new versions of the Geographic, Duoface, and Monoface Small Seconds.
By Rhonda Riche
Editor-At-Large
Advances in technology can certainly change the way a watch is designed and manufactured. Just think of how computers can help watchmakers engineer tiny cogs.
What’s fun to see is how a legacy brand like Jaeger-LeCoultre is using 21st-century tech on the Reverso, a timepiece that’s been around since 1931. To make things even more meta, the Reverso Tribute line is all about reviving the Art Deco aesthetic of the very first Reverso. What old is new, what new is old,
Reverso Tribute Geographic
Just as technology changes, so does taste. The Reverso started out as a sport watch, but its elegant silhouette meant that it soon transcended its original purpose and was also adopted by both men and women.
From a technical standpoint, the Reverso’s calibres were built to follow the shape of its rectangular case. This has allowed JLC’s engineers to play with all kinds of complications. The latest is the Reverso Tribute Geographic with its brand-new in-house Calibre 834. This mechanism has been engineered from the ground up (as opposed to adding to existing modules). It uses 209 components to activate two important complications: a World Time and a Grande Date.
The technology used in creating this travel watch extends to the design and decoration as well. The unique date disc display has been patented, and the map disc has been laser cut with 141 hollows, each hand-filled with glowing lacquer.
There are two versions of this 49.4mm x 29.9mm x 11.14mm thick watch: one in steel with blue dial details and one in pink gold complemented with hits of black and grey. The front dial of both timepieces has a sunray finish, and the large date display is contained within a polished metal frame that complements its respective case. A circular small seconds display provides a counterpoint to the angular geometry.
World time is shown on the reverse side of the watch, nested into the polished caseback. There are three levels of this ingenious display. First, the city names are engraved directly onto the caseback. Then, set within the aperture is a rotating 24-hour ring that indicates day and night. Lastly, in the middle is a world map marked with the longitudes that provide additional visual orientation in relation to the time zones.
Reverso Tribute Duoface Small Seconds
Of course, the Reverso has undergone many changes since 1931. In 1994, the Maison launched the Duoface, marking the first time the reverse side was used to host a second dial.
To pay homage to this revolutionary timepiece, JLC is adding two new versions to the Tribute Duoface Small Seconds family. The novelty is that the 2025 editions display a different time zone on each dial. The front dial features a small seconds register, and the reverse dial offers a 24-hour/night-and-day display. Plus, there are two new dial colors – black and blue.
The surface of the pure black version harkens back to the original 1931 Reverso but is sleeker and more contemporary. Alternatively, the vivid blue version has been carefully crafted with 24 layers of transparent lacquer.
Both measure in at 47mm x 28.3mm x 10.34mm and employ the classic manually wound Calibre 854, which features 160 components, two time zones, and a 42-hour power reserve.
Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds
Of course, advancements in technology also apply to the way brands sell the story of their watches. At the JLC booth, the new Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds provided many Instagrammable moments. (Also shout out to Jaeger-LeCoultre for providing a calming space with actual air flow.)
With its elegant 18-karat pink gold case, matching Milanese bracelet, and grained matte finished dial, this strikingly simple creation looks luminous with just the tiniest amount of sparkle provided by polished indices.
It’s a testament to the versatility of the Reverso that the addition of the Milanese mesh bracelet can transform the emblematic rectangular design of the watch into something more sinuous. Backing up the beauty of this piece is the hardworking, Calibre 822W.
Pricing & Availability
Each one of the new models in the Reverso trilogy is available today. For the Reverso Tribute Geographic, the stainless steel variation joins the Maison’s catalog as part of the permanent collection whereas the pink gold iteration is a limited edition of just 150 pieces. In addition, both colorways of the Reverso Tribute Duoface Small Seconds and the Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds will be made in continuous production. For more information and pricing, visit the Jaeger-LeCoultre website.