Jaeger-LeCoultre

chmandaue
114

• Show profile
• Show other posts

The first quartz Reversos

…were offered in 1981 by JLC only recently taken over by a Franco-German conglomerate with no deep connection to watchmaking.

The caliber 602 (later possibly caliber 601) reflected state of the art miniaturization and power management. The 601 offered amazing 5 years battery life in a movement smaller than 7 lignes.

As we now know, customers loved the Reverso. Not only those who could afford to buy but also a whole generation who saw the ads and imprinted on JLC as a brand. (I am one of those.)




The macro environment was a world in the worst economic slump since WW2 and only to be equalled by the GFC. Not everybody made it but JLC and its dual barrels (quartz and mechanicals) sure did.

Here’s a write up on those early and very ignored 2-gadroon Reversos. It’s arguable that they and JLC’s other quartz offerings carried the day for JLC during a very difficult time to be in the watch business anywhere in the world.

Here's the link