Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso 1930s

$9,900

A Jaeger-LeCoultre classic that has defined the brand for the better part of a century, the 1930s Reverso set the foundation for all subsequent iterations of the brand’s flagship reversible watch.

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This is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. A manufacturer synonymous with its flagship model, the Reverso, JLC is a storied brand with a long and rich history in watchmaking. Colloquially known as “the watchmaker’s watchmaker” for its watchmaking prowess, the brand has almost two centuries of watchmaking history with its most important and recognizable creation being the first reversible wristwatch.

The story of the Reverso began in 1931, where Rene-Alfred Chauvot patented the creation of what would eventually become the brand’s most iconic and associated model. Dating back pre-JLC, the creation of the Reverso was originally meant for British officers based in India to wear during the sport of polo with the reversible case acting as protection for the front.With regards to the Reverso on offer, the watch bears many hallmarks of the period.

As with many early Reversos, the dial is signed LeCoultre and is likely sold out of the US givent hat early Reversos were fitted into American-made cases to avoid the high tariffs. The case is made of Staybrite Steel, an alloy consisting of steel, chromium and nickel which was commonly used for the period due to its hardiness. Staybrite steel would also be used later for the important Corvo Reverso from the 1970s.This vintage Reverso is powered by the Cal. 410, specially designed with the small seconds function as the first movement made by the brand for the Reverso and the serial range dates it to approximately 1938. While early Reversos were produced using Tavannes movements, the brand transitioned into the in-house Calibers 410 and 411 by 1933, marking a defining moment in the watch’s history. Created specifically to fit into the rectangular case, these movements were produced for almost two decades until the Reverso was discontinued in 1948.

While the Reverso has been reproduced in several variations since its introduction, the early Reversos remain among the most important. An early sports watch created specifically as a solution to a problem, Reversos from the 1930s set the foundation for all the variations that came after.