The Two-faced Reverso: A Living Legend

Next year, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso watch will celebrate its 90th anniversary.

The manufacture decided not to wait until 2021 to reveal its new version of the legendary model. It's hard yet at the same time easy to imagine how this iconic watch was originally conceived as a tool with completely practical functions and none of the romantic flair it has since acquired! The model's dualistic spirit must be what's behind this.

On the one hand, everyone knows that the Reverso was born to withstand polo matches played by British Army officers stationed in India. They complained to businessman César de Trey that no watch was a strong enough match for their favorite leisure activity, who then told Jacques-David LeCoultre about this serious problem.

LeCoultre managed to come up with a masterly solution. On the other hand, the Reverso has been through a lot of changes since it was first conceived.

The reversible case has become a canvas for exquisite paintings, the watch has became a receptacle for serious complications (tourbillons, chronographs, date apertures and moon-phase displays), while the sports model has been transformed into a prestigious award for winners of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.

That's not something you'd expect from a watch that's just a practical accessory! The preview anniversary version of the Reverso has been given a burgundy dial and a pink-gold case. Yet this burgundy lacquer dial is just one of the two anniversary dials.

The Reverso Tribute Duoface Fagliano continues the tradition that began in 1994 for making watches with two dials that are each responsible for a different time zone (Duoface).

The time display on the second reverse-side silver-gray dial is supplemented by a 24-hour day/night indicator. Timekeeping for both time zones is ensured by the hand-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 854A/2. The strap adds to the watch's spectacular appearance, which combines cordovan leather and canvas.

It was made by the masters at Casa Fagliano, who are longtime partners with Jaeger-LeCoultre. The source of inspiration for the tanners were the canvas-and-leather boots worn for summer polo.