Jaeger-LeCoultre continues to celebrate the 90^th anniversary of the Reverso ­ – a true icon of the horology world – and earlier this spring released the most complicated iteration of the collection, and a world first. The Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 took over six years to develop, the result of many elements of savoir-faire, complete with new, innovative astronomical indications, and is the first wristwatch with four functioning display faces, a ground-breaking feat.

Illustrating Jaeger-LeCoultre’s mastery of chiming watches, precision mechanisms, astronomical complications and ultra-compact watchmaking, the timepiece required 12 patents. It features a total of 11 complications, including tourbillon, perpetual calendar, minute repeater, indications of synodic, draconic and anomalistic cycles of the Moon’s journey. This astonishing piece of engineering can predict global astronomical events like eclipses and supermoons with its displays of lunar information.

The wristwatch case measures a wearable 51mm x 31mm x 15mm and the House says if the design had been carried out through conventional mechanical means it would have been more suited to a desk than a wrist. The unique design of the Reverso has allowed Jaeger-LeCoultre to create a double-faced case continuously powered by the in-house Calibre 185, and a double-faced cradle with indications synced and updated by the primary movement every day at midnight by an ingenious mechanical system proprietary to Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Telling the story of both cosmic and terrestrial time, the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 is a masterpiece of research and development, innovation, expertise and aesthetic command, and a towering example of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of horological know-how.

jaeger-lecoultre.com