Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931 Chocolat

JAEGER-LECOULTRE GRANDE REVERSO ULTRA THIN 1931
Pink gold | Chocolate dial 

Origin

Jaeger-LeCoultre is one of the oldest – and as some say truest – watchmaking maisons in the Vallée de Joux, in the Swiss Jura mountains, producing in-house movements since 1833. Since its beginning, the brand has filed more than 400 patents and produced over 1200 calibers, also highly valued and used by other fine watchmaking brands such as Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin.

The brand was founded by self-taught watchmaker Antoine LeCoultre. His original workshop where he embarked on his journey over 180 years ago, is still to be visited as part of the manufacture in Le Sentier. By 1888, the manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre already employed 500 people and was referred to as the ‘Grande Maison of the Vallée de Joux.

Some years later, in 1903, a rumour in the Swiss watch industry began circulating: the Paris-based watchmaker to the French Navy, Edmond Jaeger, was challenging Swiss manufacturers to develop and produce the ultra-thin movements that he had invented. Jacques-David LeCoultre, the founder’s grandson, accepted his challenge after having walked for hours to the nearest telephone booth in the Jura mountains to make his call to Paris. It turned out to be a right call: the collaboration led to the thinnest watch collection in the world (equipped with LeCoultre caliber 145 that was only 1.38mm thick) and the birth of Jaeger-LeCoultre.

A key date in the brand’s history, 1931 marked the birth of the iconic Reverso watch, in response to a request from British colonial officers in India who were tired of damaging their timepieces during polo matches. A simple gesture swivels the case in its carrier to protect the watch glass. Featuring a blend of elegance and sportiness, the Reverso became a cult object, classic of the Art Deco movement.

On the occasion of the 80^th anniversary of this timepiece, Jaeger-LeCoultre created the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute to 1931, inspired by the aesthetic codes of the historical model, yet with contemporary dimensions. Three vintage editions have been made: the Grande Reverso Rouge with a deep red dial (2012), the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Duoface Blue (2013) and the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931 with a chocolate-toned dial (2014).

The Watch

The Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931 is characterized by its slender 7.3mm thick case and traditional gadroons framing the dial in pink gold, harmoniously contrasting with the glowing chocolate shade of the watch face. The soft pink gold case measures up to the size of the Grande Reverso, being bold on the wrist despite its slenderness with dimensions of 46.8mm by 27.4mm.

Apart from the 12 o’clock numeral, the hours are shown by baton-shaped hour-markers (both luminous), while the hour and minute hands feature a dagger-type profile, plated with pink gold. The small seconds at 6 o’clock perform a once a minute rotation on the dedicated rectangular subdial. The ‘REVERSO’ inscription above it is a reproduction of the early inscriptions on the vintage model.

Referring to the historical relationship with polo, Jaeger-LeCoultre asked Argentinian polo bootmaker Casa Fagliano (established in 1892 in Buenos Aires, the worldwide polo capital), to create a matching strap. The hand-crafted cordovan leather strap comes with a pink gold pin buckle.

The Movement

The in-house caliber 822/2 measures just 2.95mm thin, is beating at 3 Hz and has a 45-hour power reserve. The movement has 19 jewels and is manually wound.

Condition

The watch is in new condition and has perfect mechanical functionality. It has never been worn and has not been personalized on its case-back. It comes with the original hand-crafted cordovan leather strap, made by Casa Fagliano in Argentina. The watch further comes with original movement and is accompanied by all the original documents, including Jaeger-LeCoultre box and manual.

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