Watches & Wonders 2021: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds in Green

Originally introduced in 1931 for the British polo players in India, the Reverso has been reinterpreted with a variety of dials and case sizes without ever compromising the integrity of its original design. At a time when brands were being a tad bit conservative with their design codes, Jaeger-LeCoultre was already experimenting with colours - chocolate brown, red, blue lacquered dials and contrasting metal cases. Adding to the series of its Tribute models, the Maison has introduced the Reverso Tribute Small Seconds in Green at Watches & Wonders 2021. Green really seems to be the colour of the year for fine watchmaking.

Now since Jaeger-LeCoultre is celebrating 90 years of this iconic watch this year, let me give you a brief insight into the Reverso. Around 1930-31, a renowned watch collector , Cesar de Trey approached Jacques-David LeCoultre, the then owner of LeCoultre Manufacture to create a timepiece that could resist the brutal strikes of a polo match. Jacques-David LeCoultre along with French designer, Rene-Alfred Chauvot, the original inventor of the flip mechanism took up the challenge and Voila! A watch that was shock resistant that you could flip over to protect to dial and also use as a canvas to personalise your watch. 

However, until 1934 the watch displayed just the hours and the minutes and the word “Reverso” on the dial. It was in 1935 that the LeCoultre Masion introduced a chocolate-brown dial Reverso with a small seconds sub dial. Jaeger S.A. and LeCoultre officially merged in 1937 to become what we now know as Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Now let’s get back to that gorgeous royal deep green Reverso Tribute Small Seconds. My opinion? A deep green lacquered dial with a brushed sunray pattern on a matching green Casa Fagliano leather strap. It is gorgeous! Featuring all of the signature design elements of the Reverso Tribute - applied indexes, polished dauphine hands and the the small seconds display at 6’o’clock that beautifully balances the geometry of the dial and case, this mechanical beauty houses the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822/2; a rectangular shaped movement with small seconds designed expressly for the Reverso. 

Now although most prefer the duo-faced Reverso’s, in my opinion these Tribute watches are extra special. Once you slide, flip and reverse, the other face of the watch echoes the sunray brushing of the dial which can then be custom engraved with words or a motif that is special to you. So kind of like your own personalised Reverso!

The elegant steel case has the perfect dimensions for a slender wrist too, 45.6 x 27.4 mm and 8.5mm thick. India is often fondly remembered as a country of symbolic colours and green is an important colour across the nation. In an agricultural country like India where the colour green is synonymous with life and growth, I see the new Reverso Tribute Small Seconds being welcomed with open arms.