The New Reverso Tribute Enamel Tiger

February 08, 2022

Nicknamed the Grande Maison, Jaeger-LeCoultre is housed within a sprawling manufacture that grew around the original farmhouse workshop, expanding to meet the skills the company added its roster. Today, Jaeger is viewed as a brand blending tremendous manufacturing capabilities and nerdy niche watchmaking appeal, but going back several decades it was an important Jura-based supplier for the heavy-hitting Geneva-based names of the 20th century. In recognition of the Lunar New Year and the opening of a new boutique in Shanghai, China, Jaeger-LeCoultre has made its latest Reverso Tribute with an enamel dial and caseback featuring grande feu enamel and hand engraving with the image of a tiger on the back. It appears to be leaping off of the watch in a dramatic fashion. JLC has made watches paying tribute to the Chinese New Year in the past. In crafting the Reverso Tribute Enamel "Tiger," the engraver's work was made all the more challenging by the fact that they had to work with a caseback that already had a layer of enamel on it, an errant scrape of the sleek black surface could render the enameler's previous work null. The image of the leaping tiger on?the caseback was made using a technique called modeled engraving, in which different-sized chisels are used to remove material, step by step. The engraving alone took 55 hours, and that's after 20 hours spent applying and firing the enamel, layer by layer. What We Think The Reverso is Jaeger-LeCoultre's iconic dress watch, the one that people recognize from across a room. Its distinctive case swivels within itself to reveal a wide expanse of inner caseback (caseback within a caseback). Originally developed to protect watch crystals on the polo fields of colonial India, today it's a canvas practically begging for engraving, enameling, and other personalization, which can be appreciated without removing the watch from the wrist. I know a few people who have bought Reverso watches to commemorate important life events, including weddings, and I can't really think of a better watch to call upon for this kind of personalization. Jaeger practices a number of metiers within the manufacture, and enameling and engraving are two of them. The combination of the two techniques within this piece is stunning, and it is reflective of the kind of work JLC does for its most famous watch. But even if the back had been left plain gold, this Reverso Tribute with enamel dial and beautiful gold dauphine hands would have my attention. The combination of enamel and engraving work on the back sends it to another level.? The Reverso Tribute Enamel Tiger is made to order, and as such, can be had with other enamel colors, though the black enamel on pink gold looks pretty dramatic. The Basics Brand: Jaeger-LeCoultreModel: Reverso Tribute Enamel "Tiger"Reference Number: Q39324K1Diameter: 45.5mm x 27.4mmThickness: 9.73mmCase Material: Pink goldDial Color: Black Indexes: AppliedLume: NoWater Resistance: 3 barStrap/Bracelet: Black alligator The Movement Caliber: Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822A/2Functions: Hours, minutesDiameter: 20.20mmPower Reserve: 42 hoursWinding: Manually woundFrequency: 21,600 mphJewels: 19 Pricing & Availability Price: 90,000 eurosAvailability: Made to order Shop this story For more information on this watch, visit Jaeger-LeCoultre. The HODINKEE Shop has a wide selection of pre-owned Jaeger-LeCoultre Reversos available.