Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Chronograph Rose Gold mechanical gold-tone dial leather strap 49.4 × 29.9 mm

Introduction

Since its creation in 1931, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso has established itself as a true icon of 20th-century design. Originally conceived to withstand the violent shocks of polo matches thanks to its ingenious swiveling case, it quickly transcended its purely sporting vocation to captivate with its elegant Art Deco aesthetic and timeless rectangular lines. Over more than 90 years of history, this legendary timepiece has continually reinvented itself, occasionally swapping steel for precious metals and dressing its reverse side with engravings, enamel, or horological complications, all while remaining faithful to its original identity.

The evolution of the Reverso is marked by constant technical inventiveness, particularly noticeable in the 1990s. In 1996, the Manufacture made its mark with the Reverso Chronograph Retrograde, one of six special Reversos developed over a decade. This revolutionary model introduced an unprecedented architecture for an integrated, manually-wound chronograph within a rectangular case, a rare feat in the post-quartz era. This approach confirmed the philosophy of the Grande Maison: designing shaped movements that perfectly fit the case that houses them.

Today, Jaeger-LeCoultre pays tribute to this heritage with the new Reverso Tribute Chronograph, a bold reinterpretation of this quintessential sports complication. Powered by the new Calibre 860, this limited edition of 250 pieces pushes refinement to its peak by being fully adorned in 750/1000 pink gold. It embodies the perfect fusion between the aesthetic tradition of the Tribute line and modern mechanical sophistication, offering collectors a piece where the beauty of watchmaking craftsmanship is revealed on both the front and the reverse.

Pink Gold in Majesty

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Chronograph (Ref. Q389256J) pushes refinement to its maximum in this limited edition of 250 pieces. Unlike previous versions, this daring iteration adopts a "Full Gold" aesthetic where 750/1000 pink gold not only covers the case, but extends to the dial, the movement bridges, the applied indices, and the strap’s pin buckle. This material unity lends the watch a sculptural and precious presence, while maintaining the elegant dimensions of 49.4 x 29.9 mm.

The front dial (recto) introduces a decorative finish unprecedented within the Tribute line: the solid pink gold surface is textured with fine horizontal lines laser-engraved across its entire width. This refined and contemporary aesthetic reinforces the rectangular Art Deco geometry of the case and subtly recalls the emblematic gadroons of the Reverso. Standing out against this golden backdrop are the visual signatures of the collection: applied trapezoid indices, Dauphine hands, and a railway minute track underlined in black, creating a striking contrast that ensures perfect legibility.

On the reverse side (verso), the spectacle changes radically to reveal the technical prowess of the Grande Maison. The openworked dial exposes the complexity of the mechanism, whose pink gold bridges have been hand-beveled and decorated with vertical *Côtes de Genève* within the Manufacture. Polished pink gold indices appear to float above the movement, invisibly fixed to the minute track. To ensure optimal readability of the chronograph function, the counters and minute track are enhanced with black, while the blued chronograph hands and blued screws add a touch of colour, animating this sophisticated mechanical display.

To vary the style while reconnecting with the model's sporting roots, this exceptional piece is accompanied by two interchangeable straps featuring the Presto system. The first, a brown calf leather strap designed by the famous Argentinian bootmaker Casa Fagliano, adds a note of character and casual sophistication, while the second, in black alligator, offers a more classic and formal look.

Calibre 860: The Rectangular Retrograde Chronograph

The heart of the Reverso Tribute Chronograph beats to the rhythm of the Calibre Jaeger-LeCoultre 860, a fully integrated, manually-wound mechanical movement. It follows directly in the footsteps of the revolutionary Calibre 829 that powered the 1996 Reverso Chronograph Retrograde. True to the Manufacture’s philosophy, Calibre 860 was designed specifically in a rectangular format to perfectly fit the contours of the Reverso case.

This movement packs great complexity into a controlled volume, contributing to the case's elegant thickness of just 11.14 mm. It integrates a column-wheel chronograph with a horizontal clutch, the latter having been preferred over the more common vertical clutch in order to reduce the overall thickness of the movement.

Calibre 860 offers two time indications (front and reverse), and features the following complications visible on the reverse side:

• Central chronograph seconds.
• 30-minute retrograde counter.

To manage the time display on both dials, the movement drives two sets of hands that must move in opposite directions to ensure that the time is displayed in the correct clockwise direction on both faces. Despite the density of its 300 components and the high energy requirement of the retrograde chronograph, Calibre 860 guarantees a robust 52-hour power reserve.

The result is a beautifully balanced and distinctive dial layout: the large chronograph seconds display is positioned in the upper part, and the 30-minute counter is housed on an arc at the base of the dial. Entirely designed, produced, assembled, and decorated within the Manufacture, this movement illustrates Jaeger-LeCoultre's constant technical virtuosity.