Posted by Soon the digital gates to the Watches and Wonders Geneva 2021 will open… Soon we will know what Jaeger-LeCoultre have prepared for us this year…
We will finally know how the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso 90eme will look and what type of Reverso it will be! Complicated like the 60eme…? Or plain like the 80eme? …soon!
We all know the very first Reverso introduced in 1931:
The development during the first decade was rather modest – an addition of sub seconds and another with a central seconds…
Through the 1930’s, 1940’s and into to the beginning of the 1950’s – the Reverso stayed in the Jager-LeCoultre catalogue. But after that the Reverso vanished…
In 1972 the Reverso was resurrected with help of Giorgio Corvo, the Italian Jaeger-LeCoultre distributor and watch collector who loved the Reverso – but, this was a one shot deal.
It was not until the 1980’s, the Reverso was re-introduced into the Jaeger-LeCoultre catalogue for real.
If my understanding is correct – the return happened in 1982/1983, aligning with the Jaeger-LeCoultre 150 years anniversary!
During the 1980’s there were several classic versions of the Reverso – both mechanical and Quartz. Easy recognizable by the T.W.O “godroon” lines, instead of the usual three lines.
In 1991, Jaeger-LeCoultre released the first anniversary version of the Reverso – the 60eme – in a new size, the Grande Taille case:
This was the start of a series of Limited Edition Reverso with complications in Pink Gold.
1991: The 60eme, Calendar and Power reserve
1993: Reverso Tourbillon
1994: Reverso Minute Repeater
1996: Reverso Chronograph Retrograde
1998: Reverso Geographic
2000: Reverso Perpetual Calendar
And then, in 2001, the second anniversary version of the Reverso – the 70eme – again in a new size, the Extra Grande Taille:
This time Jaeger-LeCoultre offered T.W.O versions – one in Platinum and one in Pink Gold: Power reserve, Day & Night indicator, sub-seconds and Large Date.
During the next decade we saw a lot of developments within the Reverso line, T.W.O of the more notable additions was the Reverso Gran Sport line and the Reverso Squadra line! Both with new case shapes and sizes, both with several different complications.
The Reverso Gran Sport:
The Reverso Squadra:
During this period I think it was rather confusing and hard for Jaeger-LeCoultre to project the true spirit of the Reverso for the larger crowd as there were so many different models and sizes within the Reverso line…
Then, in 2011 the 80eme was released – the Tribute To 1931!
After a decade with focus on complications and different case shapes – Jaeger-LeCoultre makes a “reset” of the Reverso.
Brings it back to it’s original shape and propositions. Still larger in size than the original Reverso, but the Art Deco lines are back and in my opinion, so is the spirit of the Reverso:
This last decade have been more focused on the core of the Reverso – a reversible case – than the movement complications – something I personally appreciate!
After pieces like the Reverso Rideau Minute Repeater and the Reverso Triptyque I think Jaeger-LeCoultre have proven their skills in making Grande Complications in the Reverso case…
Looking at the 60eme and the 70eme which were limited editions in precious metals with complications – compared to the 80eme, the reach and popularity of the 80eme is far larger than the previous T.W.O combined.
Shifting their focus to more accessible versions for a larger crowd has been a good move in terms of popularity and brand awareness.
Now the question is what will be the next anniversary version of the Reverso – the 90eme?!
Stay tuned for more –
The Blomman Watch Report 