Jaeger-Lecoultre released the Reverso back in 1931, and when they did they realised almost immediately the popularity of the model outside of the sporting arena that the timepiece was created for. In the first year of making the watch, Jaeger-Lecoultre jumped on the hype of the Reverso and released the model in colourful variations, which proved to be a huge success.
The 1931 Reverso was offered in either chocolate brown, red, burgundy, or blue, including the original black dial. It’s important to remember that Jaeger-Lecoultre released the colour variations of the Reverso during a time where coloured dials in watchmaking were very rare. The coloured lacquered dials was then certainly refreshing to see, while also being stylish and beautiful in contrast against the case metal of the Reverso model. Since its initial release, the Reverso has appeared with different styles of dial and case sizes.
For this latest 2021 release, Jaeger-Lecoultre is calling back the first use of different colours on the Reverso. La Grande Maison is now presenting the Reverso Tribute Small Seconds in green. The colour green was chosen specifically as it is reminiscent of the deep green of the pine forests that surround Jaeger-Lecoultre home in Vallée de Joux.
Design:
The Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Green comes in a 45.6 x 27.4mm steel case, which compliments the sunray-brushed lacquer green dial quite nicely. The dial of this latest timepiece has all the signature design elements that were on the Reverso Tribute, such as the hours marked by applied indexes rather than numerals. The faceted shape of the hour markers is complimented nicely by the hour and minute Dauphine hands, which add visual depth to the green lacquered surface of the dial.
In line with Reverso Tradition, the case back of the watch is seen as the ideal canvas for personalisation, either with a motif or an engraving. The owner of this beautiful timepiece can either choose to keep this personalisation hidden, only viewed in private once the watch is taken off, or turn the case over so that the case back now becomes the front of the watch.
Movement:
Jaeger-Lecoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Green comes in a very slim case size of just 8.5mm. Jaeger-Lecoultre has used their Calibre 822/2 in-house movement for this model. The Calibre 822/2 is a manually wound rectangular-shaped movement, that has had the small seconds designed specifically for the Reverso. This movement can provide a minimum power reserve of approximately 42 hours.
The green calf leather that is used on the Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Green was made to Fagliano’s signature design. The collaboration between Jaeger-Lecoultre and Casa Fagliano goes back to 2011. Casa Fagliano is celebrated throughout the polo world for their handmade boots. This collaboration between the two brands has seen Fagliano making straps for a series of special Reverso models, including this latest release.
90 years after the initial Reverso was born, the Jaeger-Lecoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Green is continuing with the spirit of modernity, which is what inspired its creation.
