"Is it fake?"
"Your taste is a bit..."

These are not things people say to someone wearing a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. Interestingly, Those who actually wear the Reverso tend to care less about the opinions of others.

Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon
ⓒhttps://timeandtidewatches.com

Interesting Survey Results

"If the watch you wear was completely invisible to others, Which would you choose?"

Recently, Watch Terminal conducted a survey asking people to choose their favorite watch model based purely on personal preference, Excluding the gaze of others, Among Rolex Submariner, Omega Speedmaster, Cartier Tank, And Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso.

Surprisingly,
Jaeger-LeCoultre's Reverso ranked first

Table 1. SNS survey results of 166 participants
ⓒWatch Terminal

Perhaps it is because of these preferences among watch enthusiasts. Even if not in crowded clubs, You can often spot someone wearing a Reverso at art galleries or cigar lounges where people gather according to their tastes.

Isn't the brain of a Reverso owner, Who can willingly purchase a watch worth tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars without caring about others' opinions, A little special?

Reverso Tribute Chronograph
ⓒhttps://www.hodinkee.com

If you have read this far...
Do you feel a strange attraction to the Reverso?
Or have you always wanted to own one?

If so, You may already be a prospective Reverso collector with a unique mind,
someone whose standards and tastes are not denied by anyone,
but even so, You do not care about such things.

A Watch for Collectors with Intelligence

Why is it rectangular?

Reverso Tribute Duoface Small Seconds
ⓒhttps://www.fratellowatches.com

The Reverso case was designed with a flipping mechanism to protect the crystal. However, It was too difficult to implement this rotating mechanism with the traditional round case structure. Therefore, A rectangular case shape was adopted to stably realize the rotating and sliding structure. In fact, The name 'Reverso' comes from the Latin word meaning 'to turn' or 'to rotate'.

The first Reverso ⓒWatch Terminal

Reverso case design patent application
ⓒWatch Terminal

Of course, Even with such practical design, The Art Deco aesthetic was not abandoned. They could have simply added a metal guard to thick glass, But instead, They realized a thin and sophisticated design, Which was likely intended to match more formal attire such as suits or tuxedos.

The Evolution of the Movement

However, Rectangular cases like the Reverso are somewhat disadvantageous for improving movement performance. This is because the main parts of a watch—barrel, Balance wheel, Gears—are all based on circular motion. Unlike round cases, Rectangular cases provide relatively limited space for these components, Which can be a disadvantage in terms of performance and maintenance.

But who is the maker of the Reverso? Is it not Jaeger-LeCoultre, The brand that supplied movements to Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, And Audemars Piguet? True to its reputation as a leading movement maker, Jaeger-LeCoultre overcomes these limitations with creative and geometric solutions.

Patek Philippe Calatrava manual movement
ⓒRevolution Watch

Cal. 28-255C used in the first Nautilus Ref. 3700
ⓒhttps://watchesbysjx.com

The beginning of this idea can be traced back about 20 years before the launch of the Reverso. In the early 1900s, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced a modular movement called 'DuoPlan', Which was designed to fit into small, Elongated, And flat watches.

DuoPlan advertisement ⓒTime & Watches

Based on this technology and experience, Jaeger-LeCoultre finally created a semi-rectangular tonneau (barrel-shaped) movement that maximized the advantages of round movements.

Jaeger-LeCoultre cal. 411 used in rectangular watches of the 1940s
ⓒhttps://www.proantic.com/

Basic manual movement of the Reverso
ⓒJaeger-LeCoultre

Therefore, The Reverso is not simply a beautiful rectangular watch. I believe it is a watch that is 'sexy from the brain', Designed for functional, Engineering, And aesthetic reasons.

Value Comparison

So how does the smart and attractive Reverso compare to other watches in terms of price and value?

Table 2. Value comparison of products comparable to the Reverso
ⓒWatch Terminal

The Reverso is...
A watch made by the maker who supplies movements to Patek Philippe,
With a history similar to Patek Philippe's Calatrava,
More analog in sentiment than Cartier,
More artisanal and rarer than Rolex,
Less expensive than Datejust,
Slightly more expensive than Cartier Tank,
And beloved by collectors who value self-satisfaction.

Before You Buy a Reverso,
Please Note

Monoface vs Duoface

Originally, The Reverso was single-sided. It was designed as a timepiece to protect the glass during polo matches. If you value tradition and essence, I recommend the Monoface.

Back of the Monoface
ⓒJaeger-LeCoultre

On the other hand, The Duo-face can be described as a watch that gives the feeling of "two watches for the price of one". With the rebirth of the Reverso in the 1990s, Complication versions were released, All of which were implemented as Duoface. Therefore, If you want to experience high-end watchmaking, I recommend the Duoface.

Tribute Duoface Calendar
ⓒhttps://elementintime.com

Tribute vs Classic

The first Reverso, Born in 1931, Featured bar indexes. The Tribute, Released in 2011, Pays homage to the tradition of the early Reverso.

Reverso Tribute
https://wornandwound.com

However, It is difficult to say that a Reverso without bar indexes lacks pedigree. Even after the first model, Dials with numerals like the Classic were present in the 1930s and 1940s, And all complication models in the 1990s used the same numeral dials.

Reverso Classic
ⓒWatch Terminal

In conclusion, If you want a traditional and bold aesthetic, Choose Tribute. If you prefer a softer and more elegant charm, Choose Classic.

The Most Important Point: Sizing

Rectangular watches feel completely different from round ones. If you judge only by the case size of the Reverso, There is a high chance you will make a mistake.

Reverso's 27~28mm large size
ⓒhttps://www.windvintage.com/

This is because the area extends to the corners of the square watch, And for rectangular watches like the Reverso, The relatively long vertical length (lug-to-lug) cannot be explained by case diameter alone. You should always try on any watch before purchasing, But with the Reverso, It is especially important to compare various sizes in person before making a decision.

Conclusion

Do you already own a Rolex, Omega, Or Cartier?

The Reverso adds a completely different touch to your collection. It is like adding bespoke shoes to a shoe rack full of sneakers. Its production volume is closer to Patek Philippe, But its price is more similar to Omega. I believe it is a timepiece that is "a little different yet familiar at the same time", Perfectly balanced at that exquisite boundary.

I believe this unique charm of the Reverso is what captivates collectors. If you have been drawn to the Reverso through this article, Even if you do not yet own one, You are already a collector with intelligence.