Jaeger-LeCoultre (JLC) has introduced a new “reinterpreted” version of the Reverso Tribute Chronograph. The Reverso Tribute Chronograph was unveiled during Watches and Wonder 2023, held in Geneva, Switzerland. The two versions included a pink gold case with a black, sunburst dial (front) and a golden (4N), opaline dial (reverse), and a stainless-steel case with a blue, sunburst dial (front) and a rhodium grey, opaline dial (reverse).
The new model’s Art Deco inspired dial, movement bridges, hour-markers (front and reverse) and pin buckle are made from 18K pink gold. It is limited to 250 pieces worldwide.
Key Features of the Reverso Tribute Chronograph
Image: Reverse side. The contrast of 18K pink gold movement bridges, rhodium grey, black, opaline, and blued elements looks gorgeous. Header image: Front side. Art Deco inspired 18K pink gold dial literally transports the wearer to the 1920’s-1930’s.
Functions and Operation
Front or recto dial: Hours and minutes.
Reverse or verso dial: Hours and minutes. Chronograph seconds. 30-minute counter (retrograde).
Crown at 3 o’clock: Winding and setting the time.
Pusher at 2 o’clock: Chronograph start/stop.
Pusher at 4 o’clock: Chronograph reset.
Dial
Image: Art Deco inspired 18K pink gold dial.
Front or recto dial:
Dial is made from 18K pink gold. Its “decoration amplifies the rectilinear Art Deco geometry of the Reverso case.”
Dauphine-shaped hour and minute hands.
13 trapezoidal hour-markers (2 for 12 o’clock) are made from 18K pink gold and applied on the dial.
A Chemin de fer minute track in black surrounds the outer dial, graduated in increments of 5 minutes. “Jaeger-LeCoultre” and the brand’s logo (applied) at 12 o’clock.
“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.”
Reverse or verso dial:
Openworked dial highlights the chronograph mechanism of Calibre 860.
Its bridges are made from 18K pink gold and “feature hand-bevelled edges and vertical Côtes de Genève decoration.”
Dauphine-shaped hour and minute hands and a blue (with white tip) chronograph seconds hand on an off-centre subdial (upper part of dial). The black hour track features white Arabic numerals. The opaline minute track, graduated in increments of 5 minutes, features a red marker for each hour.
Blue (with white tip) hand on retrograde 30-minute counter on an arc at 6 o’clock. The black minute track features white Arabic numerals, in increments of 10 minutes. The opaline minute track is graduated in increments of 5 minutes.
12 trapezoidal hour-markers (2 for 12 o’clock) are made from polished 18K pink gold and applied on the dial.
Movement
Image: A rectangular movement featuring time display on both sides, and a column wheel chronograph with a horizontal clutch. No wonder JLC is referred to as The Watchmaker of Watchmakers™.
Powered by Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 860, a rectangular manual winding movement that features a column wheel chronograph with a horizontal clutch. It drives the hours and minutes (both front and reverse dial), and chronograph seconds and retrograde 30-minute counter (reverso dial).
Thickness: 5.44 mm. Barrel: 1.
Parts: 292. Jewels: 38.
Frequency: 28,800 vph or 4 Hz. Power reserve 52 hours.
“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 the 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.”
Case, Straps, and Buckle
Case made from 18K pink gold.
Dimensions: Length 49.40 mm * Width 29.90 mm * Thickness 11.14 mm.
Both the front and reverse dials feature a sapphire crystal.
Water resistance 3 bar or approximately 30 metres.
Watch comes with a Casa Fagliano light brown calfskin leather strap and an additional black alligator leather strap.
The watch features an interchangeable strap mechanism. Lug width is 22 mm. The pin buckle is made from 18K pink gold. Buckle width is 20 mm.
Our Thoughts
The Reverso Tribute Chronograph was among my favourite watches of Watches and Wonders 2023. The stainless-steel version has been on my (ever growing) wish list since then.
Image: The reverse side is my favourite.
The 18K pink gold elements transforms the Reverso Tribute Chronograph into an achingly beautiful watch, slightly more than the two debut versions (at least to my eyes). The design of the front dial captures the Art Deco era, while the reverse dial highlights the brand’s technical expertise: a rectangular movement featuring a column wheel chronograph with a horizontal clutch (let this sink in) with bridges made from 18K pink gold.
It is an object of beauty. For collectors who love and collect chronographs, get this while you can. We look forward to seeing this beauty in the flesh and do a hands-on review.
Additional Details
Name: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Chronograph
Reference: Q389256J (Boutique Exclusive)
Price: United States Dollars (USD) 66,000 / United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED): 254,000
Limited to 250 pieces.
Warranty: “The Jaeger LeCoultre Care Program will provide you with personalized product information, advice, services and the ability to register for an extension of your International Limited Warranty up to 8 years.”
Please visit the Jaeger-LeCoultre website and Instagram page for more information.
Jaeger-LeCoultre has a boutique at the Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates. All details on the brand’s website.
We recently covered the brand’s new Reverso Tribute models. Please read here.
