Review: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute

Jaeger-LeCoulture-Reverso-Tribute-Moon
Movement
JLC-manufactured calibre 179, 847, 853, 853A, 822/2 or 854A/2
Case
Reversible Stainless steel, Platinum or Pink Gold
Strap
Premium alligator leather
Dial
Silvered grey, charcoal grey, sunray-brushed blue or sunray-brushed burgundy
Lens
Sapphire crystal
Water Resistance
< 30 metres
Lume
N/A
Dimensions
45mm, 47mm or 51mm (length)
Crown
Set crown
Warranty
2 years (can be extended to 8 years)
Price
£6,500 - 250,000

Since Jaeger and LeCoultre joined forces in 1931, it has been on the forefront of unique and innovative luxury timepieces. The Reverso watch is such an example. This watch was designed to endure the full-blown polo match played between the British Army officers in India. It became groundbreaking in Europe for its iconic art-deco styling, beautiful, rectangular lines, precise gadroons, and other exciting features of the angular watch. A classic and luxurious brand for elite timepiece connoisseurs. Reverso seized production in the mid-20 century and did not resurface until the 1980s. Since then, the Reverso has been on the list of top must-have luxury watches.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is a timepiece that has been charming admirers with exotic tastes since its inception. Reverso’s allure grew over the years from a functional prospect to one that is now built on affection, if not pure admiration, and the unique story behind a timepiece made out of necessity. By turning its case, the watch opens (on one-sided models). Another model has a watch face similar to a clear page, which responds to the personal touch. This allows the owner to set their imagination loose and write a part of themselves in time.

The virtue of the Reverso Tribute exudes through in every piece of the deep-rooted collection. From the complex Tribute Gyrotourbillon to the exquisite yet simple Tribute Calendar, the unique rectangular case and art-deco design of the collection is truly an exquisite rendition of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s artisan values.

Dial

Its front has a bright and skeleton dial with dauphine hands (the Hublot LeFerrari MP-05 is another watch with a creative open-skeleton dial)., a skeletonised cage for the mainspring barrel with the “JL” logo at its right side. The Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillion also has a day-night signal to the left of the main dial. With its large tourbillon frame, it displays the seconds, with the only visible numerals being 55 to 05, and 25 to 35. The timepiece requires manual-winding and contains three hundred and eighty-five components, fifty-two jewels, two barrels, vibrates twenty-one thousand and six hundred times per hour and has a measured height of 6.85 mm.

Jaeger-LeCoulture Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Blue
Jaeger-LeCoulture Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Blue

Giving a closer look, you will notice the overlapping parts fixed on just one plane consist of several bridges, dials, and indices, all placed on a fraction of a millimetre above or below one another. The “Recto” feature works as a second-time zone window that can be adjusted through a button hidden in the top of the reversible case. It has the time in two time zones, and there is an AM/PM at 11 o’clock.

The Reverso Tribute Tourbillon was released after the successful launch of Gyrotourbillion model. The two watches are almost similar due to common functionalities and features: The Tourbillon model unites the two-dialled face with a complicated movement. It has front and back dauphins with two distinct dials. The front dial is blue and sunray-brushed, with appliqued hour-markers. The back dial is silver, grained, and has appliqued hour-markers also. The silvered dauphine hands stand out beautifully on the blue dial, while the flying tourbillon shows a hypnotising display that continues on the reverse at 6 o’clock. The second time zone has the AM/PM indicator at 2 o’clock. 

Jaeger-LeCoulture Reverso Tribute Tourbillon
Jaeger-LeCoulture Reverso Tribute Tourbillon

Reverso Tribute watches are only available in a manual-winding format to the joy of some and possible annoyance of others. Each watch has components ranging from 108 (Reverso Tribute Small Seconds) to 385 (Reverso Tribute GyroTourbillon) all with 21,600 vibrations per hour. Upon closer inspection, the Reverso Tribute Tourbillon has a Recto face which is the regular side of the watch with the crown fixed to the right-hand side of the case, shows a tourbillon that seems to look like the ones in Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillion and Hybris Mechanica 11.

Other models have a similar build except for differences in the watch face and some functionality. For example, the Reverso Tribute Moon has a visual moon phase and date indication. The Tribute Calendar model, on the other hand, comes with two faces that display two time zones and a complete calendar (Calendar model). Jaeger-LeCoultre provide a variety of calibres depending on the watch model:

  • Reverso Tribute Small seconds – Calibre 822/2
  • Reverso TributeDuo Face Fagliano – Calibre 854A/2
  • Reverso Tribute Tourbillon – Calibre 847
  • Reverso Tribute GyroTourbillon – Calibre 179
  • Reverso Tribute Calendar – Calibre 853
  • Reverso Tribute Moon – Calibre 853A

As standard, all Reverso Tribute watches also come with 3 bar water resistance (30 meters). 

Jaeger-LeCoulture Reverso Tribute Calendar Pink Gold Night Face
Jaeger-LeCoulture Reverso Tribute Calendar Pink Gold Night Face

Case

This collection contains rectangle-shaped watches and as such sit long on the wrist, the average length is between 45mm to 50mm. The watches are however conveniently slim with a width of between 27mm to 29mm. The biggest in class would be the Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillion which 51.3mm by 31mm.

Even at this size, it is a very comfortable watch to wear, the use of the sapphire crystal glass helps to prevent friction. It carries the family’s signature reversible case; the part of the case carrier at the back of the tourbillon cage has a mirror polish to feature the cage itself. Its back is very smooth and shiny, making it hard to miss when light reflects on it. The case is available in platinum and red-gold.

Jaeger-LeCoulture Reverso Tribute DuoFace Fagliano Limited side view
Jaeger-LeCoulture Reverso Tribute DuoFace Fagliano Limited (side view)

The Reverso Tribute Tourbillon has a sapphire crystal front and back glass. Despite some similarities between the watches’ functionalities, it is not so hard to see that the bodies are not quite the same. The case is a 950 platinum case with 45.5mm by 27.4mm dimensions. Sliding the upper case section sideways (as opposed to flipping it) shows the internal area of the case back. It is marked with a circle, enclosed with radiating lines.

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Wearability

The Reverso Tribute watches are slimmer than most manual-winding watches. They are accompanied by leather straps which are held in place by JL’s adjustable buckle deployment. The flat case-back has only the short lugs a bit exposed at a hollow edge, to help improve wearability. It is available in colours and straps such as black alligator leather, red alligator and green alligators leathers, brown leather, etc. but they can only be found and ordered by your engraved reference number.

Jaeger-LeCoulture Reverso Tribute GyroTourbillon
Jaeger-LeCoulture Reverso Tribute GyroTourbillon

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Tourbillon is worn on a blue scaled alligator leather strap with matching coloured stitches to conjure its fascinating and deluxe aesthetics additionally. Also, it features an 18kt white gold buckle. Unlike a lot of complex watches, it does not consider large size or walk with an awkward bearing. This is an elegant timepiece, despite its technical complication.

A timepiece like no other, first of its kind, celebrating a new blend between technical refinement and aesthetic allure; this excellent product is, however, ready to use, posing complexity and grandeur with a flick of excellence. Reverso is a brand popular with both male and female aficionados around the world.

Price

JLC Reverso Tribute collection is truly an exceptional demonstration of the brand’s focus on intricate watch design and functionality. The range starts from around £6,500 ($8,100) for the Tribute Small seconds model. The Tribute Moon and Tribute Calendar are around £11,600 ($14,600) and £19,000 ($23,900) respectively.  

Jaeger-LeCoulture Reverso Tribute GyroTourbillon second face
Jaeger-LeCoulture Reverso Tribute GyroTourbillon (Second face)

The Reverso Tribute Tourbillon and GyroTourbillon models are limited edition pieces and are therefore priced on-demand. Prior sales have however shown prices to begin at around £90,000 ($120,000) and can be as high as £250,000 ($315,000).

Review: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute
Final Thoughts
The Jaeger-LeCoulture Reverso Tribute collection truly captures the masterpiece of watchmaking expertise. Although there are limitations in it being available as a manual-winding timepiece with limited strap options, this cannot detract from the complex creations and features still shining through the decades.
Dial
Case
Wearability
Price
Positives
Brilliant dial designs and craftmanship
Great reliability and accuracy
Reversible faces
Generous warranty (up to 8 years)
Negatives
Only leather strap option available
Manual winding only
4.3
Editor's Score
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