Sameera Gamage 
A true celebration of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s legacy and innovation in one breathtaking timepiece. The Reverso Tribute Minute Repeater isn’t just a watch; it’s a symphony of sound, style, and sophistication.
There are few names in the world of haute horlogerie that command as much reverence as Jaeger-LeCoultre. Referred to as the “Watchmaker’s Watchmaker,” the Maison has long been celebrated for its technical ingenuity and exemplary craftsmanship. One of the most revered complications in watchmaking is the minute repeater. This extravagant, yet useful, complication combines mechanical complexity with auditory elegance.
There are very few complications in watchmaking that appeal to both the visual and auditory senses. Creating a chiming watch that can audibly announce the time on demand requires the highest levels of watchmaking knowledge and acoustical sensibility, similar to that of creating a musical instrument. Making a minute repeater demands exceptional precision from the watchmakers. It involves hundreds of finely tuned components all working in harmony to produce a clear, melodious chime. For example, the gongs must be hand-shaped and tempered to achieve perfect resonance, while the hammers strike with a carefully calibrated force that avoids distortion.
Related Reading: The Art of Complications – The Minute Repeater
Jaeger-LeCoultre has an extensive history with minute repeaters, dating back to the early 19th century, with this high complication being a cornerstone of the brand’s pursuit of acoustic innovation ever since. The Reverso, first introduced in 1931, has evolved from its original purpose as a sports watch into an icon of Art Deco design and technical versatility. While initially known for its flipping case, the Reverso has increasingly become a canvas for Jaeger-LeCoultre’s most sophisticated complications, with the minute repeater being perhaps the most poetic among them. Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced the first minute repeater in the Reverso timepiece in 1994, citing it as the most challenging complication to incorporate into this model.
This year’s Watches & Wonders was all about the Reverso for Jaeger-LeCoultre. The brand brought its iconic flip-case design into the spotlight, celebrating both its history and its potential for innovation. Several interactions of the Reverso were showcased, with one of my standout favourite timepieces in this year’s fair being the Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds with its stunning Milanese bracelet. Alongside the Reverso Hybris Artistica, which features the gyrotourbillon complication, the other high-complication Reverso released was the minute repeater.
Jaeger-LeCoultre released the Reverso Tribute Minute Repeater as part of the Nonantieme Collector’s Box. This Nonantieme box was designed to house six limited-edition Reverso timepieces, with each watch representing a pinnacle of innovation and artistry. An exception timepiece created for those connoisseurs who appreciate arts and mechanics, the Reverso Tribute Minute Repeater will be limited to 30 timepieces.
Case Design
This new Reverso Tribute Minute Repeater is presented in a 51.1 x 31mm Pink Gold 750/1000 (18 carat) case. The case has the same elegance and design as the Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds, with the engraving on the case (visible when the dial is opened) being another artistic detail on a beautifully decorated timepiece. Unlike conventional timepieces, where the slider to activate the minute repeater is located on the opposite side of the crown, the Reverso has it sitting between the 1 and 2 o’clock hour indices, making it easier to activate if you are right-handed!
Dial Design
As with all Reverso timepieces, there are two dial faces. The first in this model is the time-only front dial, which is where the skilful work of the artisans is displayed. The front dial showcases a radiant hand-guilloché barley-seed pattern elevated by multiple layers of grand feu enamel in a new teal blue colour. This barley-seed pattern is mesmerising to say the least. A beautiful display of an intricately woven pattern that is enhanced with the teal blue colour in enamel. The dial also features a sunburst finish, which means this teal blue goes from darker to lighter shades depending on the lighting angles.
The ‘Reverso’ dial is where we see the mechanical artistry, beautifully executed to show just how complex a minute repeater movement is. Unlike the front dial, this Reverso side has been openworked, and with its perfect execution, the mechanical artistry of the engineers and watchmakers meets the exceptional skill of the artisans. Everything has been beautifully constructed, from the skeletonised bridges to the finely finished components; it all gives a clear view of the minute repeater’s mechanical action, especially when you shift your eyes to the bottom of the dial face, where the Trebuchet hammers perform the chimes. It’s not just technical, it’s art. The layout is balanced, the architecture is sharp, and the finishing is exactly what you’d expect from Jaeger-LeCoultre. This is where the watch really comes alive, where you can see and hear the mastery that goes into every chime.
Movement
At the heart of this new Reverso Tribute Minute Repeater is Jaeger-LeCoultre’s new in-house Calibre 953 movement. This manual winding movement is as much about sound as it is about precision. This openworked movement, entirely conceived, designed and produced in-house by the engineers and watchmakers at the Jaeger-EeCoultre Manufacture, features an impressive seven patents. Three of these patents include the crystal gongs (2005, patent CH698533), the trebuchet hammers (2009, patent EP204848A2) and the silent-interval elimination (2021, patent CH709152B1).
All the components of the work together to beautifully sound out the time to hours and quarter-hours. Another spectacular feat of the Calibre 953 movement is that it produces a 48-hour power reserve. This is indeed impressive, considering its manual winding and the fact that the minute repeater draws on a substantial amount of energy from the movement.
Initial Thoughts
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso Tribute Minute Repeater is more than just the brand showcasing its technical brilliance; it’s also a statement of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s identity. Every detail of this timepiece, from the chime of the patented gongs to the stunning intricately hand-finished dial, showcases Jaeger-LeCoultre’s dedication to pushing boundaries while honouring tradition.
I’m a lover of skeletonised timepieces, so to see the ‘reverse’ side being open-faced to show the minute repeater in action, alongside the technical complexity of the Calibre 953 movement, is really something special. It’s the kind of watch that makes you stop, stare, and appreciate the sheer skill involved, not just in making it work, but in making it beautiful. For me, this is Jaeger-LeCoultre at its best, blending mechanical mastery with timeless design in a way only they can.
Specification: Reverso Tribute Minute Repeater
- Dimensions: 51.1mm x 31mm
- Case Material: Pink gold 750/1000 (18 carats)
- Dial: The front dial features a radiant hand-guilloché barley-seed pattern elevated by multiple layers of grand feu enamel in a new teal blue colour. Reverso face features an openworked dial showcasing Calibre 953 movement along with a minute repeater mechanism.
- Movement: In-house Calibre 953
- Movement Power reserve: 48 hours operating at 4Hz (28,800 VpH)
- Crystal: Sapphire with antireflective coating on both sides.
- Bracelet/Strap: Black leather strap
