Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duoface Day/Night

The Reverso is one of the very first wristwatches designed for sporting use. 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 conception to the gentlemanly sport of polo. While touring India in the 1920s, 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 that had 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 impact problem polo players could face on the field. Once reversed, the delicate components of the dial were protected from the shocks sustained while on horseback. No more would polo players risk cracking crystals or receiving damage to 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. This particular Reverso is a Duoface Day/Night model. Rather than featuring a time-only dial on one side of the reversible case and a solid case back on the reverse, it instead offers two dials — one with home time, and the other with a second time zone and a 24-hour display. Housed in a 26mm x 36mm white gold case with sapphire crystals and a signed crown, the home-time dial features a black guilloché dial with applied polished Arabic numerals and 'dagger' indices and a 'dauphine' handset. The second dial features a salmon-toned guilloché periphery with a recessed luminous subsidiary dial displaying a satin finished hour and minute track with a 'sword' handset. Powered by a manually-wound Calibre .854 Jaeger-LeCoultre movement, it comes paired to a signed black leather strap with a signed white gold deployant clasp. This Reverso dates from the 2010s and is one of the most unique, wearable executions of the famed model that we’ve had the pleasure to carry in recent years. Perfectly suited to the modern traveler, this lovely example blends the best of dress design, sporty functionality, and two gorgeous dials to spend your time admiring!