"Isn't it fake?"
"That's a bit of a unique taste..."

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

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 participants to choose their favorite watch model based purely on personal preference, Excluding others' opinions, Among the Rolex Submariner, Omega Speedmaster, Cartier Tank, And Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso.

Surprisingly,
Jaeger-LeCoultre's Reverso ranked first

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

Perhaps this is due to the preferences of watch enthusiasts. Even if not in a crowded club, You can often spot someone wearing a Reverso at an art gallery or cigar lounge where people gather based on their tastes.

Isn't the mind of a Reverso owner, Who can willingly purchase a watch worth tens 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 have a special mind,
one that no one can deny your standards and taste,
and perhaps you are a future Reverso collector who does not care about such things at all.

A Watch for Collectors with Intellectual Beauty

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. The name 'Reverso' itself also means 'to turn' or 'to rotate' in Latin.

The first Reverso ⓒWatch Terminal

Reverso case design patent appearance
ⓒWatch Terminal

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

The Evolution of the Movement

However, Rectangular cases like the Reverso have some disadvantages in improving movement performance. This is because the main components of a watch—barrel, Balance wheel, Gears—are all based on circular motion. Unlike round cases, Rectangular cases inevitably provide a relatively narrow space for these components, Which can be disadvantageous 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 unique 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 seen 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 quasi-rectangular tonneau (or barrel-shaped) movement that maximized the advantages of a round movement.

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

Basic manual movement of the Reverso
ⓒJaeger-LeCoultre

Therefore, The Reverso is not just a beautiful rectangular watch. It is a watch that is 'sexy from the brain', Designed for rational reasons in terms of function, Engineering, And aesthetics.

Value Comparison

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

Table 2. Value comparison with comparable products
ⓒWatch Terminal

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

Things to Know Before Buying a Reverso

Monoface vs Duoface

Originally, The Reverso was single-sided. It was designed 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 Duoface 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 implemented as Duoface. If you want to experience the taste of 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, Is an 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 is "not authentic." Even after the first model, Dials with numerals like the Classic dial appeared in the 1930s and 1940s, And all complication models in the 1990s used the same dial numerals.

Reverso Classic
ⓒWatch Terminal

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

The Most Important Point: Sizing

Rectangular watches feel completely different from round ones. If you judge only by the case size numbers 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 the vertical length (lug-to-lug) of a rectangular watch like the Reverso is relatively long, So the feel cannot be explained by case diameter alone. You should always try on a watch before purchasing, But especially for the Reverso, You must 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 vibe 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 the price is more similar to Omega. I believe it is a timepiece that is "a little different yet familiar, " 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 intellectual beauty.