Jaeger-LeCoultre

Jerome introduced us to the Grande Reverso, which was presented by JLC during the last SIHH, in January 2009. In May, the first pieces landed, here and there, and I thought it was a nice opportunity to speak, once again, about this piece, the simpler one,...  

The reverso is the icon watch for JLC THanks for your report Nicolas Cheers

As it would mean that the JLC Round watches are not... Which they are, too, actually. Timeless, certainly! Best, Nicolas

I agree and disagree with you at the same time As you know, certain brands are "tied" to a certain model or recognized by a certain model, AP with the royal oak, JLC with the reverso. Of course it does not mean that they do not make other and important wa... 

An Icon can become a very well known watch, but a very well known watch may not become an Icon. I agree that the Memovox is not as known as the Reverso, too. That is a fact, and that's not fair... Best, Nicolas

JLC should advertise its memovox line and alarms more Also a solution is to bring the memovox back :: )) Cheers

Beautiful watches, simple elegant and beautiful, the smaller sizes always looked funny on my wrist but I love them so much that I bought reversos to my wife. Bigger size might fit me better Thanks for the report Nicolas.

A watch to seriously consider, indeed. I must admit that I under rated it a bit, in January, this year... The evidence that a bigger watch can be a great one, which is not always the case... Best, my friend. Nicolas

for producing a nice, simple Reverso in a size that might better fit some wrists. It is good to have a range of sizes to choose from since the rectangular shape does not always sit well or equally well on all wrist sizes and shapes. I love the blued hands... 

I don't know if I would like this idea... I recently saw a gorgeous Vintage Reverso, with a big second. I was almost praying to not see an engraving on the case back, hoping that it was still ...Virgin. And it was! About the movement, in fact I was surpri... 

Very interesting that it resembles the cal. 11. Would love to see a side by side comparison of the two movements. Thanks for the comments, Nicolas. respo

You see that it is aesthetically close to the Cal 11?

...it would be an interesting point to see the connection between the two movements. One of the things I find interesting about JLC and other brands is the extent to whic they incorporate design elements, or the DNA as I think it is sometimes said, into t... 

In the Reverso Family, like the 70eme, The Tourbillon, skeleted or not, not to spea of the Gyro II, of course. And I wouldn't care if JLC would have opted for a solid case back on this one. But I'm not disturbed by this movement. I mean that it doesn't ma... 

I must say that I am strugling myself to see a real connection between the design of the calibre 11 and the one of this new grande Reverso. Of course, the balance is placed at roughly the same place compared to the crown, an so are the main wheel axis, bu...  

To me there is an " air de famille " between these 2, if you compare the architecture of these 2 movements. The 3/4 plate of the 876 is close to the 11, letting a small place to the balance wheel, which is located at the same place. Even the edges are cut... 

... are simply owed to the fact that the position of the balance wheel on both movements is similar, that both feature a subsecond at the 6 and that both are rectangular movements (that's it when it comes to "similarities" effectively). This will determin... 

But it is alwayd good to have such discussions! Best, Nicolas

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Will ask to the Manufacture pics of the original movement, to compare it to this one... Best, and thanks for your input. Nicolas

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a shaped, single-time, HW version of the autotractor - which in my mind bespeaks ruggedness. Truthfully, I would've preferred a flat back because it would give JC Randell a HUGE canvass to work with! -Dean

I get your point, and wonder if a solid case back wouldn't have been better, too. But, on another side, it may also be seen as a reminder of the original Cal 11... An Hommage? Best, Nicolas

as always, a treat for a tired mind. I just can't wait for them to do a re-issue of the early white dialed one.

If I'm lucky enough, I may show you something in the next months... something I'm hunting for a long time, which I may add in my collrection if all turns good... Best, Nicolas

Loved reading your write up. What a timeless classic.

I saw this beauty a month ago at my AD and I must say that it has given me some sleepless nights ever since. I just love the mixed personalities it has, being classy and elegant, but also bold and sexy. Hopefully this will be my 2nd JLC and my 1st Reverso... 

Are difficult to beat! It would be a nice companion for your Polaris! As for the wrist shot, sorry, I didn't have the time to take one, and when I came back to try to do it, the watch was ...sold. Damn! Best, Hermano. Nicolas

the rose gold seems really interesting. I like the slimmer case.

When I heard that JLC released a Reverso wich my be bigger than the XGT, I had some doubts... But I was amazed, while seeing it in the flesh, by the fact that the ratio size / Thickness is excellent. Like if the balance point was reached... I'm wondering ... 

Great review as we have come to expect, Nicolas. Any wrist shots? I like the proportions of the watch itself, but it all comes down to how it looks and feels on the wrist. Personally I wouldn’t want anything larger than the XGT case on my average-sized wr... 

But you can't compare it to a more sophisiticated 875, IMO. The reasonnable thickness is really impressive on this new Reverso, a strong point! Thanks for your valuable input, my friend. Best, nicolas

again... i dont have the scan...maybe others out here and take a look.... Ahhhhhhhhh.... I think I need a 976 as my daily beater The Flipper

Each time you tell us that you saw on here and there, you don't have a ascan to share with us... You already have a nice Reverso, my friend. Is it worth it getting a 3rd one ( if I include your wife's Reverso? ). Best, Nicolas

it looks great on my arm...  

I love this new model. It is everything that a Reverso should be in my eyes - classical and elegant and yet masculine and contemporary. Cheers David

Hi, I really liked it when I saw it in January and can't wait to see it again on my wrist. I'm not too fan of small seconds, except on form watches like the Reverso, so it is close to my favourite kind of watches: manual wind, large balance wheel, free-sp... 

It is not the most expensive watch, by far... so we don't have to wait the ultimate finish on the movement, IMO. A very honest offer, to me, and more, a very pleasant one! Best, Nicolas

Very nice pics! Thanks for sharing them with us. Best, Nicolas

Thanks Nicolas for this wonderful post. the Gold Reverso is very attractive ! See you soon ! Fabrice

That's funny that you said that in Gold it is beautiful... I thought exactly the same, while I'm not a colored gold guy... But in this case, I would have preferred a solid gold case back, because of the contrast with the SS movement. Best, Nicolas

...with this model, and that is the lack of sapphire caseback. Nine times out of ten, a solid caseback is not my cup of tea, but in the case of this Reverso I'd have preferred a solid back as opposed to the beautiful, but ultimately stagnant 3/4 plate des... 

What I meant to state above, but botched, is that I would've preferred this model with a solid caseback instead of the display back that it currently has. Apologies for the poorly written response, Nicolas! Multi-tasking, and my carelessness is to blame. ... 

...a solid case back on this model since what can be seen of the movement is not that interesting IMO. N

What would people have said if JLC has offered a solid case back? Best, Nicolas

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if you're not right... In fact, I wasn't shocked at all by the sapphire case back. The finish on this movement is not exceptional, but the range of price is really honest. So, I wasn't shocked, but if you lin i... 

I had the opportunity of wearing both the Grande Date and the Classique last November in Montreal. The Grande Date is one of the watches I loved most, but after taking it off and putting the Classique on my wrist I think I’ve found a new and stronger love... 

Gianormous, does not sit well on the wrist., even for a fat wrist like mine A la ROO, with the lugs/starp form a big gapping hole. Grande gone wild.

I under rated a bit this piece when I first saw it in Geneva... I learnt to appreciate it more and more with Time. Now, you're absolutely right, the wrist test is the ultimate test, and it won't og on everyone's wrist. The same for the 8 Days XGT Reversos... 

I completely agree with you on the 8 Days movement relation to the watch thickness – all this energy needs to be stored somewhere Have a nice Sunday, my friend! Marcelo

. . . such an appealing design, Nicolas, as it's golden ratio proportions allow the basic design to retain it's ineffable character with alterations to size. In my experience, most other case shapes don't exhibit this quality . . . cordially, Art

When an origina design is getting bigger, it is very often becoming disgracious. With this one, the miracle is here, and the spirit is well kept, at least to me. Best, my friend. Nicolas. I admire your perfect English, my friend.

. . . to your charming "Franglish", Nico . . . warmest regards, Art

Thank you for yet another a fantastic feature post! Though I am a firm advocate of the new slim sized version of the Reverso, I am concerned by the escalation that JLC has taken to size. The Grande Reverso line, I would argue, is as large as one would wis... 

Well, as I previously said, I don't see this Caliber as a Champion of elegance, I rather see it as a honest one, correctly finished, IF you still have in mind the price of the watch. A Solid case back would have been a better, easier solution or compromis... 

I agree, the price is an obvious reflection on a very modest, basic, yet acceptably pleasing to the eye (without the grandeur of course!) watch. A solid back would have, as you rightly said, been the key solution to the 'back' problem. Still, I am a big f...