Jaeger-LeCoultre – Reverso: The high-precision path from icon to cult-object
When César de Trey and Jacques-David LeCoultre presented the Reverso watch in 1931, did they have any idea that they had given birth to one of the very few watch icons? Could they for one moment have imagined that this Art Deco watch specifically born to withstand the hard knocks sustained in a polo match would generate such enthusiasm that rapidly extended beyond its initial function? 80 years later, the Reverso watch is more vibrantly alive than ever. The only reversible watch to have found its way unscathed through watchmaking history, it has not only survived all the upheavals of the past century, but also demonstrated its exceptional versatility throughout its amazing career to date. The extraordinary decorative potential represented by the free surface on its back soon encouraged people to dream of various means of personalising these watches. Engraving, miniature painting, enamelling, gem-setting: the full range of decorative arts and crafts were soon called upon to enrich and personalise this “blank canvas” that was unprecedented in the watch industry. Nonetheless, above and beyond personalisation, exploration of the Reverso’s potential did not stop there. Its built-in swivel case and its dual nature soon provided new options for expressing various technical horological functions. Complications in turn adopted the Reverso, which came to be seen as a perfect showcase for their subtle intricacies. What other watch can show two faces, lending itself for example to the display of two time zones in such a user-friendly way? And what other watch is versatile enough to offer one face by day and another by night? Throughout its long history, the Reverso has steadily broadened its appeal to encompass gentlemen, elegant ladies, athletes, discerning connoisseurs, collectors and travellers alike. Having rapidly acquired iconic status in the watch industry, the Reverso has since then gradually become a genuine cult-object, with an instantly recognisable form that expresses function in truly peerless style. An object of which the use is so intrinsically bound up with its appearance. In this respect, as in so many others, the Reverso is a perfect expression of the exceptional watchmaking expertise cultivated by Jaeger-LeCoultre, the Manufacture with the forty professions. This technical and aesthetic know-how is dedicated to a single purpose: precision. Whether the tireless quest for the highest possible timing precision, research into the reliability of the 50 calibres specially developed for the Reverso, their durability and their control, the pursuit of aesthetic precision, the meticulous perfecting of shapes and sizes, or the contribution of artistic crafts, the Reverso symbolises the zealous fervour and high standards that guide Jaeger-LeCoultre in its approach to watchmaking…
Read the complete article: http://www.europastar.com/magazine/spotlights/1004083494-jaeger-lecoultre-reverso-the-high.html
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