Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso : pure elegance and style
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is a mythical watch symbol of elegance and style. Discover in this article, its history and best references.
Jaeger-Le Coultre Reverso : the elegant watch by definition
While it is true that elegance is not just a style or a combination of different garments, but above all an attitude and a way of being, nothing prevents us from wanting elegance through very specific elements such as watches.
In terms of elegance, few watches have been recognised and appreciated for decades, such as the Patek Philippe Calatrava, the Rolex Datejust or, and this is the subject of this article, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso.
If only a dozen or so models in the entire history of Swiss watchmaking were to be preserved, there is no doubt that the Reverso would be one of them, as it has been able to survive the passage of time thanks to its discreet innovation.
The story behind the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso wristwatch
We are in 1880 when Edmond Jaeger, a renowned French watchmaker, decided to set up his company specialising in speed measurements for the aviation and automotive industries in Paris.
For his part, in 1900, Jacques-David LeCoultre took over the family watch factory and its hundreds of employees: LeCoultre & Cie. This company, which notably manufactured blanks for Patek Philippe & Cie, was flourishing at the time.
The two men met at the beginning of the 20th century and quickly became friends around common values and passions. Jaeger and LeCoultre were to take on watchmaking challenges such as the launch of ever-thinner watches and minimising the size of movements as much as possible.
In 1937, the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand was officially born, one of the most renowned and respected watchmaking houses in the world because of its seriousness and exceptional expertise.
This world-famous company is known worldwide thanks in large part to its flagship model. Cartier had the Santos, Rolex will have the Datejust, in 1931, Jaeger has its Reverso.
The famous pivoting Jaeger Le Coultre Reverso
The Reverso, a pivoting stroke of genius
In 1930, English officers playing Polo (an English sport par excellence) asked the businessman César de Trey to develop for them a robust watch capable of withstanding the torments of this eventful and sometimes brutal sport. Back in Europe, the businessman presented the need to Jacques-David LeCoultre. The Swiss watchmaker, in association with Jaeger, developed the famous Reverso with its pivoting case system enabling the dial to be protected if necessary. The concept of the Reverso stands out and makes it possible to wear both an elegant art-deco watch and a sports watch.
The patent will be registered on March 4, 1931, the beginning of a long uninterrupted history. A watch that has survived through the ages, knowing how to evolve with the times, particularly in terms of watchmaking complications and case size.
Reverso 270.8.62, the perfect compromise?
As tastes and habits change over time, we have gradually become accustomed to wearing larger watches. If in the 1960s the standard was 35mm excluding the crown, today we are around 40mm in Europe and sometimes more depending on the region of the world.
Thus, the initial 1931 Reverso or even its more recent but nevertheless vintage iterations of the 50's, 60's or 70's, seems today small on a man's wrist.
Hence the interest, in our opinion, to be interested in the "Big Model", the size of the case is here 26x36mm, a real nice presence for a rectangular watch. By enlarging, the Reverso gains a very elegant small second.
A splendid Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso 270.8.62 which was offered in Paris
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso : an art deco watch
This reference 270.8.62 allows, in our opinion, to keep all the art deco DNA of the Reverso while dressing the male wrist with a nice balance of proportions. The dial with small seconds and "guilloché" is extremely elegant.
Concerning the caliber, it is here the famous 822 manually wound, a model of finishing and reliability.
This reference is today between $3,000 and $4,500 depending on the condition, the set and the quality of the supplier (professional or private individual). This is an appreciable price-quality ratio, while the Datejust is gradually passing the 4,000$ mark. A beautiful alternative to Rolex for a watch with incomparable elegance and a rich history.
Elegance is priceless...
Of course, a Rolex Datejust will be more valuable as time goes by than a Reverso large model. The truth of the Reverso is quite different, far from financial speculation and trivial negotiations, the value proposition of the sports watch from Jaeger-LeCoultre is different: timeless elegance.
Whether you are 17 or 77 years old, the Reverso will give you an extra soul and natural class that no Rolex can offer. Of course, the potential added value is not the same, but the heart has its reasons that reason ignores.
It's time to let your emotions speak for themselves, let's be elegant, let's adopt the Reverso! And you can find several available vintage Reverso here, in our page dedicated to old Jaeger-LeCoultre watches.
We hope you have found that article useful.
WD