Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso

We admittedly have a thing for Reversos. Whether classic or contemporary, the Reverso has become a staple in the collections of many men (and women) of discerning taste. Though similar stylistically to the Cartier Tank Louis, which predates it by twelve years, the Reverso is anything but a replica of the Tank. Whereas the Tank was built for style, the Reverso was built for sport. Its origin story is legendary but bears repeating: in 1931, a Swiss watch salesman named César de Trey was in India pursuing business opportunities. At a polo match, a disgruntled player showed de Trey the cracked crystal of his watch, and wondered if something might not be done with it. The idea took root in de Trey's mind, and he took it back to Jacques-David Lecoultre, who enlisted the help of Edmond Jaeger, owner of a case manufacturer.   Its distinctive Art Deco styling is a product of its era, but without being dated. This is because Alfred Chauvot, the designer who conceived of the now-emblematic design, created it according to the principles of the Golden Ratio. With nearly perfect proportions, it remains evergreen despite changing tastes. Though it was discontinued in the 1960s, it has—since its reintroduction in the 1980s—been in continuous production. Over the decades there have been many variants of the Reverso, from “Duoface” special editions with two dials, or special editions modeled after the Reverso of 1931. But it’s the original Reversos from the 1930s that are the quintessence of the model. Examples show up on the market so rarely, since an original Reverso tends to be a cherished family heirloom that gets passed down from generation to generation. Additionally, to bring that point home, many vintage Reversos get monogrammed. So it’s rare to find one that hasn’t been touched by the engraver’s hand. This one, however, hasn’t been. We’ve been fortunate to come across only one other 1930s Reverso over our five years of operation. That one, while being an excellent example, had a black dial, and the case back was monogrammed. So when we found this one, which has not only a silver dial, but no case back engraving, we knew how special it was. Moreover, it’s the only Reverso from this era we’ve found that comes on a bracelet; even though it's an aftermarket addition, we felt that it was an interesting touch that gives the watch the sporty spirit in which it was designed.