A BOLD NEW INTERPRETATION ELEVATES THE QUINTESSENTIAL SPORTING COMPLICATION TO A NEW LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATION
Key facts
- The pink gold case (18 karat, 750/1000) is complemented by solid pink gold dial, movement bridges, indexes and buckle
- New dial decoration amplifies the rectilinear Art Deco geometry of the Reverso case
- Open-worked reverse dial with pink gold bridges reveals the complexity of Calibre 860
Following the launch of the Reverso Tribute Chronograph in 2023 in a steel or 18k (750/1000) pink gold case, Jaeger-LeCoultre has reinterpreted the quintessential sporting complication in a ‘full pink gold’ version for 2024. The 18k (750/1000) pink gold case is complemented by a solid 18k (750/1000) pink gold dial, movement bridges, applied indexes and pin buckle. It will be produced in a limited edition of 250 pieces.
A sporting icon inspires aesthetic beauty and constant technical innovation
Born in 1931 with a protective swivelling case designed to be worn on the polo fields, the Reverso was quickly adopted by tastemakers from all walks of life, attracted to its elegant and sporty Art Deco aesthetics. Through more than 90 years of evolution, its case has unfolded from the original Staybrite steel to precious metals, while the blank metal flip side has been decorated with engraving, lacquer, enamel or gemstones – or has become a second dial. Continually reinventing itself without ever compromising its identity, it is one of the world’s most recognisable wristwatches, acknowledged as an icon of 20th-century design.
Celebrating the Reverso’s polo origins with a unique expression of the ultimate sporting complication, the Reverso Tribute Chronograph honours the Reverso Chronograph of 1996, which had introduced an entirely new architecture for the integrated chronograph calibre. That earlier movement has been reinvented with Calibre 860, which displays the time on both the front and reverse dials in addition to revealing the beautifully crafted chronograph mechanism on the reverse side.
A new dial design and an open-worked reverse side, both in solid pink gold
The Reverso Tribute Chronograph epitomises La Grande Maison’s core watchmaking philosophy of expressing mechanical sophistication through aesthetic creativity and fine craftsmanship. Now, the Maison’s pursuit of excellence has led it to create a new version in full pink gold.
The front dial introduces a new style of decorative finish to the Reverso Tribute line: the pink gold surface has been laser-engraved with fine horizontal lines spanning the width of the dial – a clean, elegant and contemporary aesthetic that reinforces the rectilinear geometry of the Reverso case and amplifies the three horizontal gadroons above and below the dial. Set against this background are the signature Reverso Tribute design details: applied trapezoid indexes, Dauphine hands and a chemin de fer minutes track. On the new dial, the minutes track is highlighted in black, creating a striking contrast with the pink gold.
On the reverse side, the open-worked dial reveals the complexity of the finely crafted chronograph mechanism. The 18k (750/100) pink gold bridges feature hand-bevelled edges and vertical Côtes de Genève decoration – all crafted within the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture in Le Sentier. The counters, chronograph seconds and minute tracks are highlighted in black, enhancing legibility and creating contrast, while blue chronograph hands and blued screws add a dash of colour. The polished 18k (750/100) pink gold indexes are invisibly attached to the minute track and appear to float above the movement.
Calibre 860: a new expression of the chronograph
The Reverso Tribute Chronograph is powered by Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 860, which revisited the ground-breaking Reverso Chronograph Retrograde of 1996. Its movement, Calibre 829, was not only the first rectangular shaped chronograph movement in a rectangular case of Jaeger-LeCoultre, but also the first manually wound integrated chronograph to be developed in the post-quartz era at Jaeger-LeCoultre. Like all Jaeger-LeCoultre movements, it was designed, produced, assembled and decorated at the Manufacture.
Calibre 860 is a fully integrated hand-wound chronograph movement with start/stop and reset pushers, a retrograde 30-minute counter, central seconds, and a second indication of time. In compliance with the Manufacture’s approach to product integrity, whereby a movement should be shaped according to the case that houses it, the calibre had to be rectangular. The result is a beautifully balanced and distinctive dial layout, with a large chronograph seconds display in the upper part of the dial, and the retrograde 30-minute indicator on an arc at the base of the dial.
Beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, Calibre 860 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. To display hours and minutes on both front and reverse dials, the movement powers two sets of hands that must move in opposite directions to indicate the time in correct clockwise fashion on both faces of the watch. Calibre 860 offers 52 hours of power reserve, allowing the high energy requirement of a retrograde chronograph to be combined with two time indications. Despite this complexity and no fewer than 300 components, Calibre 860 respects Jaeger-LeCoultre’s philosophy of elegance, fitting into a case of 11.14 mm of thickness.
Fagliano Collection straps add character and style
The two straps offered with each watch – a signature of the Reverso Tribute line – feature a Presto quick-release system and an interchangeable buckle for easy changes. Reconnecting the Reverso to its roots in the world of polo, a tan calf leather strap designed by the Buenos Aires atelier of the celebrated Argentinian polo bootmaker Casa Fagliano, adds a dash of sporty sophistication while a black alligator lends a more classical air to the timepiece.
Epitomising the guiding forces that accompany the Manufacture in its quest for beauty and precision, the Reverso Tribute Chronograph is a magnificent new expression of tradition, craftsmanship and innovation.
