Jaeger-LeCoultre Watches
Reverso Grande Automatique Model

BIRTH OF A LEGEND, THE JAEGER REVERSO

In 1931, the companies Jaeger and LeCoultre were still two separate entities. LeCoultre was an important maker of movements and of watches and was present in India. Then under British rule, polo was the game of the day and the chaps happily jostled about. Incidentally, the glass lenses of their watches got broken frequently. The players talked about their desire for a protected watch they would not have to remove. In response, LeCoultre filed an international patent on the 24th of February 1932 for a “wristwatch which can slide out of its frame and completely turn around”. Its case is in two parts. One is able to move and can slide inside the other, named the stretcher, in contact with the skin and the strap. It was called Reverso, which in Latin means, "I turn around". The first series has the ref. 201.

The mythical watch, the Reverso by Jaeger-LeCoultre was not completely created in Switzerland. And it is not a dress watch, but a sports watch. It is a child of the Art Deco style, the zenith of the sports watch. It was an immediate success beyond the polo circles and the movers and shakers of the world who indulged in the purchase. Its back, made of smooth metal is suitable for engraving initials, coats of arms, being painted and even enamelled. A modern watch for its time, the Reverso 201 is mainly made of a stainless steel called Staybrite (it lives up to its name: staying shiny), which is a rarity. Gold and steel versions are also produced, as well as gold versions made of 9 or 18 carats.

In aesthetic terms, the Reverso 201 watch changed very little between 1932 and its near extinction in the 1940s. Its size remained the same, 23 x 38mm. There are only two versions available, with a small second hand in the centre or at 6 o’clock, the latter being most widespread. By contrast, the range of dials is important. All revolve around the same theme, eminently Art Deco: indices in place of numerals, pared-down style, fine typography and sword-shaped hands. The case is fine, with curved sides and horizontal grooves. In the post-war years, the Reverso disappeared from the market as round watches became fashionable.

At the request of its Italian importer in the 70s, Jaeger-LeCoultre relaunched production. A small series of quartz movements became a stylistic success that put the model back on the map. Then in 1991, to celebrate its 60th anniversary, the Reverso came back into production.

THE KEY MODELS OF THE JAEGER REVERSO WATCH

Reverso Small for women

The small Reverso for women is the epitome of understated chic, a very French achievement. It definitely will not age.

Reverso Medium for both genders

The size above became available to both genders after having been made just for men for a long time. Hand-wound, its price is stable as the model is a classic that is regularly reissued by the brand.

Grande Reverso model

The approach is identical for the Grande or big model. Different versions have been released with a blue dial well in advance of recent trends. The gold versions are exceptional value for money.

Reverso Duetto

A model with two back-to-back dials, made exclusively for women, the Reverso Duetto was the first watch to have two separate dials. The first is elegant but simple, suitable for everyday wear. The second is made of mother of pearl and of diamond. Created for evening wear, it gives the same time as the first.

Reverso Grande Sun Moon

The Grande Sun Moon made its mark when it was created due to its practicality and size. At 39 x 29mm, it is one of the largest and therefore the most modern of all the Reverso watches. With its power reserve of 8 days, it enjoys exceptional mechanics, especially as the movement is visible through a transparent sapphire crystal, an extreme rarity among these models.

Reverso Gran' Sport

The Reverso watch has always needed to be manually wound, but every modern watch should have a self-winding option. This was the case with the Gran’Sport. Practical and comfortable to wear, the model is a classic and certainly worth its asking price.

All the figures of this study emanate from the databases of LuxPrice-index© , who survey the results of more than 200 000 auctions from the main auction houses around the world across a 12 year span.