Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duoface Day/Night

The Reverso is, in essence, one of the very first sports wristwatches. Despite its refined and elegant appearance, it combined utility with a sleek Art Deco exterior that has become an icon of horological design. But in the case of the Reverso, looks deceive. Though the model appears at first glance a dress watch, it owes its existence to the gentlemanly sport of polo. While touring India in the early 1930s, Swiss businessman César de Trey met a British polo player who'd just cracked the crystal of his watch on the field. De Trey returned to Switzerland with an idea already taken root in his head, which he then discussed with Jacques-David LeCoultre: What if a watch could be made with a case that could reverse? The reversible case, masterminded by designer Alfred Chauvot, was Jaeger-LeCoultre's solution to the problems polo players faced on the field. Once reversed, the delicate components of the case were protected from the shocks sustained while on horseback. No more would polo players crack the crystals or damage the dials of their watches. Chauvot took out a patent for the Reverso in March 1931. Produced chiefly in steel, Jaeger-LeCoultre also released the Reverso in gold, and decorated the case back with engravings or even miniature portraits. The particular Reverso we have here, a Reference 216.2.D3, is a Duoface Day/Night model. Rather than featuring a time-only dial on one side of the reversible case and a plan back on the reverse, it instead has two dials — one with home time, and the other with a second time display and a day/night indicator. Housed in a 50mm x 30mm 18K rose gold case with sapphire crystals, and a signed rose gold crown, it features a stark white dial with applied rose gold indices and a matching rose gold dauphine handset. Additionally, the features day and month apertures below the 12 o'clock marker, as well as a pointer date display and a moonphase aperture at 6 o'clock.  The reverse features a lovely, dark grey guilloché dial with a centered sub-dial and a whimsical day/night display. Powered by a manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 853 movement, it comes paired to a signed black alligator leather strap with a signed rose gold deployant buckle. In great condition, this Reverso from the 2010s is one of the most unique, wearable executions of the famed model that we’ve had the pleasure to carry in recent years. And of course, it’s perfectly suited to the modern traveler.