Today’s list of classic watches is a long one. Generally speaking, classics are timepieces that represent a whole genre of watches or that serve as the face of a particular brand. The Reverso is both; plus, it boasts unique technology and design elements. The flipping mechanism allows the wearer to turn the dial, essentially giving the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso two faces. Today, the watch is considered a stylish dress watch; however, it was originally developed for polo players in 1931, making it a sports watch by nature. Of course, in the 1930s, the Reverso wasn’t competing with the smartwatches of today but rather with pocket watches. At the time, durability and reliability were essential to getting the sports wristwatch recognized in the industry. Watch manufacturers had to prove that wristwatches, with their easy-to-view dials, were desirable alternatives to pocket watches – even in extreme situations like the polo field, a dangerous environment for a watch.
Swiss designer César de Trey was the mastermind behind the flipping mechanism that would allow wearers to turn the watch dial over on its band, protecting it against strikes during a match. As if the rectangular case wasn’t unique enough, Jaeger-LeCoultre also made it easy to customize the case back with engravings or gemstones. Of course, that’s wasn’t an option with the dual-dial version called the Duo-Face. The characteristic flipping feature sets the JLC Reverso apart from many other watches and its elegant, angular shape makes it the ideal choice for a tux, along with the Patek Philippe Calatrava. In our latest Zoom video, we’ll take a closer look at the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso! What do you think of this rectangular timepiece? Are you a fan? Let us know in the YouTube comments.
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