Double Act: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Fagliano

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s latest Reverso pays fitting tribute to the sporting origins of this iconic timepiece

Watches & Jewellery 18 Dec 2020

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Fagliano

When a watch created almost 90 years ago still looks fresh and relevant, that is not only a triumph, it also deserves – correctly and appropriately – the description of true ‘icon’. There have been reinterpretations down the decades, of course, but Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso, developed to meet the demands of the polo-playing ‘sporting gentlemen’ of the early 1930s, quickly became and has remained one of the most recognisable and admired watches in the world.

With its Art Deco inspiration depicting the best of balanced form and function with streamlined symmetry and pleasingly agile flip case, the Reverso was taken up by tastemakers from all walks of life. New variations have appeared regularly, and coloured dials, adding exuberance to the clean lines, were introduced before the Reverso’s first birthday. The latest iteration, the limited edition Reverso Tribute Duoface Fagliano, celebrates the nonagenarian’s anniversary with reference to the early use of rich colours.

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s craftsmen have paired the dual-time zone complication of the Duoface range with the pure aesthetic of the Tribute collection, and the new watch is complemented by an original strap, specially designed and hand-crafted by Casa Fagliano, the famous Argentinian maker of polo and riding boots.

The Duoface, first launched in 1994, features contrasting dials on each side of the case, each displaying a different time zone, powered by the hand-wound Calibre 854A/2. The integrity of the case design has been preserved with the second time zone’s adjuster, a small slider, set into the top case-band, and completely invisible except when the case is released from the carriage to be flipped over. And with a touch of haute couture, there’s a deeply etched sunray pattern on the carriage’s inner surface to add visual pleasure to the satisfying turning action.

In keeping with the Reverso’s original design, the front face has hour markers of straight indexes, adding depth to the rich burgundy lacquered dial. Playing with the linear geometry of the dial and case, the seconds display at six o’clock has a circular track. The design on the reverse also plays with the tension between circles and straight lines, and features Clous de Paris guilloché. The treatments on both dials are warmed by the pink gold case and enhanced by Casa Fagliano’s two-tone strap, inspired by the canvas and leather boots made for summer polo play.

Exclusive to Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques, the Reverso Tribute Duoface Fagliano is a limited edition of 190 pieces – a real collector’s item.

£21,100; jaeger-lecoultre.com