Jaeger-LeCoultre has 188years of history filled with innovation that propels them forward to continually set new boundaries in the art of fine watchmaking. The Hybris Mechanica collection of watches is not only ground-breaking but also are ultra-complicated timepieces that have established a constellation of stars shining with unparalleled brilliance.
2021 sees the latest addition to the Hybris Mechanica collection, which has taken a total of six years in the making. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque is the first timepiece in the world that has four different faces for timekeeping indications.
Following on from the unique design of the brand’s iconic Reverso model, Jaeger-LeCoultre has created another world-first; a double-faced case that’s continuously driven by the in-house calibre 185, and a double-faced cradle with indications synced and updated every day at the stroke of midnight by a complex and ingenious mechanical proprietary system.
Altogether, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque has 11 Complications, which is quite astounding for a single timepiece.
With almost two centuries of knowledge and Jaeger-LeCoultre’s approach to modern innovation, the brand tells the story of time in four chapters of horological complications.
Design:
Chapter 1 – Recto Face
The first chapter features the tourbillon. The tourbillon is one of the main protagonists in this latest timepiece. The tourbillon is located at the 7 o’clock position on the “recto” face of the case. This flying tourbillon makes one rotation per minute, and in order to get a single corrected average time measurement, the balance position is always continuously varying.
The recto face showcases the highest functionalities in mechanical horology. In addition to the tourbillon, a perpetual calendar indication at the 5 o’clock position is also shown.
Chapter 2 – Verso Face
The verso face features Jaeger-LeCoultre’s master ability as an innovator of chiming watches. The Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque will unleash its melody with just a simple slide of the lever located just above the crown. Jaeger-LeCoultre states that the melodies play out in “first, a series of low notes, correlating to the number of hours.
Second, an alternating couplet of high and low notes, corresponding to the quarter-hours. And concluding the melody, a succession of high notes, indicating the number of minutes to be added to the elapsed quarters.”
A secondary time display is also shown on the verso face of the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque. The secondary time indicates the same time as the recto face, however in a jumping-hours and peripheral-minutes format. When the Quadriptyque strikes the time, a set of springs, cams, hammers, and gongs all go into a motion of symphony.
The chimes set out by the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque is not only acoustic excellence but innovation at its apex.
Chapter 3 – Uncover the Orbit
The third face features a world first in the history of mechanical watchmaking. Jaeger-LeCoultre brings together for the first time three displays of lunar formation, the synodic cycle, the draconic cycle, and the anomalistic cycle — in a single wristwatch. Located on the interior face of the cradle, this combination of indications shows the different eclipse events from solar, lunar to the also rare lunar phenomena such as supermoons.
Jaeger-LeCoultre states that “The display of the synodic, draconic and anomalistic cycle together in a wristwatch is unprecedented in horology, with the latter two indications protected by patent, making the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 the only watch ever made to provide such depth of information about astronomical phenomena.
Chapter 4 – Reverse the Universe
The last face (exterior face) of the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque features a representation of the phases of the Moon in the Southern Hemisphere. Indications of moon phases in most watches today showcase a perspective from the Northern Hemisphere. However, the Reverso Quadriptyque’s display of the Southern Hemisphere’s moon phase is a tribute to Reverso’s dualism.
The moon phase features a star-flecked sky chart which has been engraved and lacquered in a gradient of blue shades. This then forms as the main backdrop to the beautiful pink-gold moon. All of this has been intricately and artfully created at the Atelier des Métiers Rares® of Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Jaeger-LeCoultre has created a special presentation box just for the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque. This presentation box comes with a built-in mechanism that allows the wearer to quickly and intuitively set all the calendar and astronomical displays of the watch, after some time of the watch not being worn.
The Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 Quadriptyque really is truly something special. The six years of research and development were only made possible by the 188 years of innovation and knowledge accrued in the workshops of La Grande Maison. With the Reverso Quadriptyque, Jaeger-LeCoultre has most certainly expanded the boundaries of what’s possible in watchmaking.
