Continuing on with their launches at Watches and Wonders 2023, Jaeger-LeCoultre have added yet another model to their classic Reverso line, with the introduction of the new Reverso Tribute Chronograph in both Pink Gold and Steel variations.
As the saying goes, “Why mess with a classic?” Jaeger-LeCoultre’s answer to this could be along the lines of, “Because we can” or more probably, “Because we wanted to make it better!” With the introduction of a chronograph to the Reverso Tribute collection, Jaeger-LeCoultre have improved on the classic Reverso, keeping the front clean and minimalistic, yet, turning the face over, revealing a beautifully skeletonised dial for the chronograph functions.
The Reverso Tribute Chronograph revisits and reinvents the ground-breaking Reverso Chronographe of 1996. The movement of the 1996 Reverso Chronograph, Calibre 829, was not only the first shaped chronograph movement in a rectangular case for Jaeger-LeCoultre but also the first manually-wound integrated chronograph to be developed from scratch in the post-quartz era.
Today, the Reverso Tribute Chronograph houses the the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 860, a fully integrated hand-wound chronograph movement. The Calibre 860 is a fully in-house movement, running at 28,800 vph / 4Hz and has a 52 hour power reserve. Jaeger-LeCoultre has managed to create this movement in a rectangular shape, to fit perfectly into the case and incorporates a column wheel chronograph with a horizontal clutch, which was chosen over the more familiar vertical clutch to reduce the overall thickness of the movement.
In a contradiction to conventional circular chronographs, the Reverso Tribute Chronograph must act in both forward and reverse, meaning that whilst the time is running in one direction on the front face, when flipped over must run in the opposite direction at the same time. Not an easy feat, yet Jaeger-LeCoultre has managed to perfect this in a movement that sits in the 12mm case.
Aesthetics wise, the Reverso Tribute Chronograph stays true to the Reverso style. On the front, you have a beautiful sun-brushed blue dial on the steel variant, and black on the pink gold. Both exhibit the baton style applied indices, Dauphine hands and chemin de fer minutes track that is typically Jaeger-LeCoultre – clean, elegant, classic.
Flipping the face over, and this all changes. Jaeger-LecCoultre have designed a magnificent looking chronograph face, complete with second time display (hours and minutes), timing chronograph function and a retrograde 30 minute counter in an arc at the bottom of the dial. This all sits on a skeletonised dial, complete with Côtes de Genève. The chronograph seconds and minute tracks are highlighted in black to maximise legibility. Blue screws are matched by the blue of the chronograph hands, underlining the perfect integration of movement and decoration. Enhancing the sense of visual depth, the indications for the second time display – faceted baton indexes and chemin de fer minutes track – appear to be floating above the calibre.
To further enhance the look of each model, two Fagliano straps are offered with each watch, a signature of the Reverso Tribute line. These feature an interchangeable buckle for easy strap changes and come in canvas-and-leather and all-leather options. Designed by the celebrated Argentinian polo bootmaker Casa Fagliano, they offer a sense of sophistication while reconnecting the Reverso to its roots in the world of polo.
Reference: Pink Gold Q389257J; Steel Q389848J
Specifications
- Case: 18 Carat Pink Gold / Steel
- Dimensions: 49.4 x 29.9 mm x 11.14 mm thick
- Calibre: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 860
- Functions: Hours and minutes on both dials, Chronograph with retrograde 30-minute counter
- Power reserve: 52 hours
- Water resistance: 30 m
- Front Dial: Black / Blue-Grey sunray brushed finished
- Back Dial: Skeletonised
- Strap: Black (Pink Gold) and Blue-Grey (Steel) Fagliano Collection calf leather and canvas strap and additional calf leather strap
