Revival of Time: Jaeger-LeCoultre Unveils Eight Exceptional Vintage Reverso Timepieces from 1931 to 1937

Enduring over nine decades, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso boasts an unmistakable design that has remained true to its initial identity. As part of its ongoing Collectibles program, Jaeger-LeCoultre journeyed back to the earliest years of the Reverso legacy, selecting eight spectacular vintage watches from the 1931 to 1937 range for reinvigoration. The fifth capsule, titled ‘Jaeger-LeCoultre The Collectibles — Fifth Capsule: Reverso’, concentrates primarily on the initial decade of Reverso’s production, a pivotal era that encapsulated the watch’s emerging Art Deco dimensions, multifaceted case arrangements, and its dual identity as a practical sports watch and design symbol. These pieces were unveiled at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s New York City flagship outlet on Madison Avenue on February 5. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Collectibles program signifies the brand’s dedication to unearthing, restoring and showcasing museum-worthy timepieces from a golden epoch of watchmaking that roughly spanned from the mid-1920s to the early 1970s. The brand meticulously curates each capsule within its internal facilities, selecting watches based on condition, originality, and historical importance before rejuvenating them at its dedicated restoration workshop in the Vallée de Joux. The Reverso was initially crafted to endure the high-intensity rigors of polo, a specific requirement put forth by British military officers stationed in India. The square case design was conceived to slide and swivel within its cradle, safeguarding the dial during gameplay. Yet, the Reverso surpassed its initial sports-centric functionality soon after. With its clean lines, stepped case arrangement, and symmetric proportions, the Reverso launched into the era’s burgeoning Art Deco movement, swiftly ascending from tool watch to stylish timepiece, gaining a foothold in fashionable circles far beyond polo fields.