In the world of timepieces with a story, the Reverso holds its own alongside the greatest watches in the industry.In the early 1930s, César de Trey, a Swiss entrepreneur and watch enthusiast, attended a polo match between British soldiers in India. According to horological lore, after one of the soldiers broke the crystal of his wristwatch, de Trey was challenged to come up with an invention that would prevent such damage from occurring. De Trey took the casual challenge seriously and reached out to Jacques-David LeCoultre, who managed LeCoultre at the time.

LeCoultre then turned to French designer Réne-Alfred Chauvot to design a reversible-case watch that would flip over, exposing a caseback and protecting the crystal. In 1931, Chauvot patented this system, which was dubbed “Reverso.” César de Trey then purchased the patent from Chauvot, establishing Spécialités Horlogères S.A. with LeCoultre in the process in order to distribute designs produced by LeCoultre and Jaeger S.A, a Parisian firm founded by Edmun Jaeger. By 1937, LeCoultre and Jaeger S.A. merged, and was born.

Thus, the Reverso is significant not only in its captivating flipping case, but also its instrumental role in the history of JLC. Today, the Reverso is one of the most celebrated and beloved watches on the market.

The Reverso is riddled with Art Deco influences, from the case’s horizontal grooving, to the lug profile and rounded flanks of the case.

This particular Reverso, a Reference 273.8.85, is the modern extension of JLC’s original blueprints for the Reverso, made with a second face on the reverse side of the case in place of the blank caseback seen on earlier variants. Housed in a 30mm 'carriage' case, this piece offers a larger presence on the wrist compared to earlier Reversos.

Fashioned from stainless steel, completed with sapphire crystals and a stainless steel deployant clasp, this watch is the combination of both heritage and contemporary finishing details.

The front facing dial of this Reverso features the primary time display with subsidiary seconds, and a unique complication, an exposed date wheel at 12 o’clock. The dial is completed with Arabic numerals and a guilloché dial center. The reverse side is made in a contrasting black color, with a 24 hour indication in case the dial is set to an alternative time zone. Featuring a round motif instead of the rectangular front, the two faces have two distinct identities.

This piece is a beautiful mix of details, interesting on both the complication side and the design side. The ultimate conversation starter, this piece will turn heads without being gaudy or flashy!