Overview
The story of the Reverso began in the late 1920s when British officers stationed in India requested a watch that could withstand the rigors of playing polo. In response, the watchmakers at Jaeger-LeCoultre ingeniously created a hinged slide mechanism that flipped the case over to safely protect the watch face during play. While it was built to withstand the rough and tumble of the game, the design of the Reverso remained elegant and simple with decorative lines, streamlined contours, and a minimalist aesthetic.
To celebrate the 85th anniversary of the Reverso in 2016, Jaeger-LeCoultre released a series of Tribute duoface models in stainless steel and 18K pink gold. Each watch came fitted with dauphine hands, dart indices, a beautifully grained silver dial, and a new hidden trigger mechanism to adjust the hour of the reverse dial. Two steel models were given blued steel accents and a blue reverse dial, while two pink gold models were given rose gold accents and an anthracite reverse dial. Notably, one of each metal was produced in the classic medium size of 25.5 mm by 42.9 mm, making them the first and only Tribute models ever produced in these smaller dimensions.
The watch offered here is the steel version of this smaller configuration, which has become increasingly hard to procure given the short production run of the entire 2016 Tribute series. In our eyes, there is no better modern Reverso to collect, especially for those with modestly sized wrists.
Specifications
Brand:
Jaeger-LeCoultre
Model:
Reverso Tribute Duoface
Reference:
Q3908420
Year:
2016
Case Number:
3205604
Case Material:
Stainless steel
Diameter:
25.5 mm
Lug Width:
19 mm
Thickness:
9.2 mm
Lug-to-Lug:
42.9 mm
Dial:
Silver/blue
Lume:
None
Crystal:
Sapphire
Movement:
Hand-wound
Caliber:
JLC 854A/2
Bracelet/Strap:
JLC navy alligator strap with deployant buckle
Max Wrist Size:
Hand model has a wrist size of 6.2 in
Condition
Case: The stainless steel case shows normal signs of wear with light hairlines, micro nicks, and tiny scuffs present. The conical lugs are nice and thick with excellent contouring. There is a faint scratch to the case side where the crown sits, but this is only visible at certain angles. The caseback shows a couple of light scratches, but is overall very clean. The model and serial number engravings remain sharp and legible.
Dial, Hands, & Crystal: The silver and blue dials and polished handsets are in pristine condition with no signs of deterioration. Both sapphire crystals are squeaky clean and scratch-free.
Bracelet/Strap: The JLC alligator strap shows very little wear with only faint creasing and no staining or fraying present. There is some light scuffing on the side of the strap near the lug at 1:30 and a tiny chip on the side of the strap near the lug at 4:30. The deployant buckle is in nice condition and works with no issues. The raised JLC logo remains full and detailed.
Performance
Functions: All functions including the crown winding, time setting, and jumping hour switch are working as expected.
Service History: Unknown.
