Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Grande Date, late 2000s

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

The Reverso is, in essence, one of the very first sports wristwatches. Despite its refined and elegant appearance, it combined utility with a sleek Art Deco exterior that has become an icon of horological design. But in the case of the Reverso, looks deceive. Though the model appears at first glance a dress watch, it owes its existence to the gentlemanly sport of polo. While touring India in the early 1930s, Swiss businessman César de Trey met a British polo player who'd just cracked the crystal of his watch on the field. De Trey returned to Switzerland with an idea already taken root in his head, which he then discussed with Jacques-David LeCoultre: What if a watch could be made with a case that could reverse? The reversible case, masterminded by designer Alfred Chauvot, was Jaeger-LeCoultre's solution to the problems polo players faced on the field. Once reversed, the delicate components of the case were protected from the shocks sustained while on horseback. No more would polo players crack the crystals or damage the dials of their watches. Chauvot took out a patent for the Reverso in March 1931. Produced chiefly in steel, Jaeger-LeCoultre also released the Reverso in gold, and decorated the case back with engravings or even miniature portraits. The Reverso we have here, a 'Grande Date' model, highlights JLC's manual winding Calibre 875 movement with a massive 8-day power reserve — visible via a sapphire exhibition caseback on the reverse side of the case. It's 29mm x 46mm rose gold case features sapphire crystals, a signed crown, a silver guilloché dial with black painted Arabic numerals, a power reserve indicator at the 10:30 position, a running seconds register at 4:30, a 'grande date' at 6:30, and a matching blued-steel sword handset. It comes fitted to a signed brown alligator strap with a signed rose gold deployant clasp. This piece from the late 2000s is not only one of the more unique executions of the famed Reverso that we've seen, but a stunning one to boot!