Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Roaring Tribute To The Chinese New Year : The Reverso Tribute Enamel “Tiger”
4 min read
To coincide with Chinese New Year and the opening of Jaeger-LeCoultre's new flagship boutique in Shanghai, the Manufacture has introduced another remarkable expression of the Manufacture’s craftsmanship and creativity - The Reverso Tribute Enamel “Tiger”.
Nine decades later, this Tribute Enamel “Tiger” is one more episode to the legacy of the Reverso. Flip the watch case to its reverse side and witness the magnificence of a roaring tiger. Engraved into the pink gold case metal, it seems to leap out from its background of black opaque Grand Feu enamel, the polished surface of the tiger’s coat and the contrasting rhodium-brushed texture of its stripes catching and refracting the light to create the illusion of movement and power.
To maximise the sense of volume and bring depth to the engraving, the artisan engraver used a technique called modelled engraving, using differently sized chisels to sculpt the metal step by step – a precise and exacting task that requires absolute focus and remarkable dexterity. Another challenge here was the absence of a bare metal surface, which would have been easier to work with. In fact, the engraver had to work with a surface that already had its coat of Grand Feu enamel. An unprecedented accuracy of gesture is necessary in order to avoid all risk of damage to the pristine enamel, and the engraver devoted 55 working hours to the creation of this masterpiece.
The opaque black Grand Feu enamel dial of the Reverso Tribute Enamel is further enhanced with faceted appliqué hour-markers, a chemin de fer minutes track, and Dauphine hands – in this case, perfectly matched to the pink gold of the case – places full value on the subtle beauty of the glowing black background.
The apparent simplicity of the pure black enamel is deceptive because in Grand Feu enamelling, the outcome of the firing process is never entirely predictable. Building up the enamel layers to create a black of such depth and richness, with each new layer followed by firing, the enamelling of the two surfaces of the Reverso Tribute Enamel “Tiger” required no less than 20 working hours. That they are perfectly matched in colour and purity is testament to exceptional skills that can be acquired only through many years of experience. Jaeger-LeCoultre remains one of very few watch Manufactures to have its own in-house enamelling atelier, safeguarding and advancing this ancient craft.
And that's not all, these new-made only to order Tribute Enamel “Tiger” Reverso’s are an ideal canvas for artistic expressions and can be personalised with your choice of enamel colours.
Indeed a testament to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s vision of culture and creativity, where the artistic crafts live in perfect harmony with the technical expertise of the Manufacture’s watchmakers.
