Jaeger-LeCoultre

The story of my first Reverso.

Jaeger-LeCoultre has a special place in my passion for watches. I still remember very well that  it was actually a small advertisement on the lower right hand corner of the NZZ, (the leading German language newspaper in Switzerland, ) that intrigued me and set me on the path of collecting watches. The small ad showed a JLC Master compressor automatic, and what intrigued me was the two crowns and the locking mechanism. I must have been in 2004. After learning more about Jaeger-LeCoultre, the Reverso made it quickly on my wish list.

Not the actual ad , but the Master Compressor Automatic from the 2004 JLC catalogue 

I just completed an MBA at one of the world’s top ranked Business Schools and a nice watch to celebrate this achievement was certainly in order. Despite my interest in Jaeger-LeCoultre , my first real watch (putting that Longines Master Quartz from the 90’s aside), was a Cartier Santos 100, a new release at the time. I was immensely fond of it, but over time, it felt just too big for my wrist and I sold it a few years later. Looking back, I should have simply kept it.

 
Cartier Santos 100: not a great picture, but a great watch. Strange enough, I couldn't find a decent wrist shot of the Santos.

My first Jaeger-LeCoultre

In the following years, I started collecting whatever sparked my interest: Panerai, Omega,  Blancpain, GP and  Breguet were among my favourite brands and still are. One or the other vintage watch (the wrong ones, looking back) and many more watches come along, some I still have and others I sold because I simply didn’t wear them.
Jaeger-LeCoultre was always on my mind, but there was always something else coming along. Finally, some 10 years back, I got a Vintage Jaeger-LeCoultre from an auction house, 8 day movement, full calendar, alarm, everything you can wish for, and more. However, it is not what you except, because it has two features, which are not available in wristwatches: a barometer and a thermometer. Correct, it is an Ados, sitting on my book shelf and looking good.

 
Picture JLC Ados

1st attempt: Reverso UT Duoface
A few years back, I spotted a Reverso UT Duoface in Red Gold on ebay. The seller was in the US , a second hand watch dealer, everything looked fine and it was reasonably priced so I bought it. I had it shipped to the GM of our US subsidiary, and they kept the watch for me until I could pick it up personally. One evening when driving home, I received a phone call from the guy. The opening line was: “I have bad news”. The watch was apparently stored in the company at a place, which was considered safe; however it was stolen by a cleaner. The case was reported to the police, the thief was found but my Reverso was gone. I received compensated by the insurance, so no financial loss, but also no Reverso.

 The right watch – in the wrong hands

2nd attempt: Reverso Rouge
On a business trip to Kuwait, I strolled through a mall and noticed this Reverso Rouge in a retailer’s window. This rather surprised me, as it must have been some three years after its introduction back in 2011 and I would have expected all of these limited editions to be sold. But there it was. I was very tempted but finally decided against it, considering that we were in the process of building a new house. I could however not forget about the Reverso Rouge, and a few months later, I asked our manager in Kuwait to call the shop and inquire whether the piece would still be available. It was and the net asking price was reasonable. But our local guy also reported that the shop manager told him of another person who was interested in the piece. I asked him to go and buy the Reverso right away. The very next day when he want back, the Reverso Rouge was sold.

Putting the Reverso Rouge on my wrist. Missed opportunity

My first Reverso: Oversized

I finally got a Reverso, a big one.

OK, it is nice but it is a dealer wall clock. Well, let’s call it a start.

3rd attempt.  Reverso Grande GMT
Next approach: noticed a nice Reverso Grande GMT on eBay with the seller in Italy. Box and papers, the whole lot. However bank transfer only, no paypal.   There was an “eBay guarantee” logo next to the article, and the seller had a few hundred positive feedback so I trusted it and put in a bid. A winning bid to be precise. After making contact with the seller and getting payment instructions, I was about to prepare the transfer on ebanking , when revised payment instructions were sent by the seller. That made me suspicious and I put the payment on hold. Two days later, I receive an message from the seller, saying that his account was stolen by somebody else. All very strange. If the account was hacked, surely they criminals would have changed passwords? Seems rather like someone attempting a fraud and claiming his account stolen.
I called the eBay support, which is a painful experience, reported the fraud attempt and asked what would have happened had I paid, given the eBay guarantee. I got the answer that I bought the article on ebay.de, and not on ebay.com , which meant there was no guarantee by eBay at all. I was not aware of that since I did the final bid on the smartphone and did pay any attention to the country setting. Checking a week later, the seller and the listing was no more to be found. I was lucky and it was a big learning for me. 

It looked pretty good on eBay….and never made on my wrist

A box with something related to Reverso

What it is in there?

Interesting content: samples of engravings. Charming, isn’t it?  Reverso cases in the box, but still no Reverso on my wrist….
 

4th attempt: Grande Reverso UT Duoface
I found another Reverso which I like, the Grande Reverso UT Duoface in Steel. The article was listed on a watchforum by a known and longstanding member. I communicated with the seller and we agreed on the price and payment terms. To be sure, I was checking his reference which took me some three days. By the time the reference check was completed, the watch was sold.

 
Picture credit: Jaeger-LeCoultre

5th and successful attempt: Grande Reverso UT Duoface
This time I found a Reverso UT Duoface on Chrono24, from a private seller in Saudi Arabia. Asked for proof of ownership and references, got additional pictures with the name of the seller on the guarantee papers. I spoke to the person on the phone and he sent his business cards as well.  Turns out, he is construction industry as well – small world. Finally, to be sure, we exchanged passport details. All looked perfect and I decided to go for it. The DHL parcel with the Reverso arrived half an hour before leaving for a 14-day business trip to Asia – I put it on the wrist for half a minute and then back into the box.

Here it is on my wrist– my first Reverso!

You will ask yourself why I did not simply walk into the next JLC dealership and bought a Reverso, given I have been looking for one for so many years. You are right, I should have. However, given that as a collector, I have a long wish list and buying watches from the second hand market makes sometimes sense. Some watches I buy from new the AD’s, some second hand from people I know personally and others over the internet from watch forums and from Chrono24. I seldom buy from eBay these days, but in the early days of collecting watches, I often did.

I had good and bad experiences along the way of acquiring my first Reverso and I learned a lot. Sometimes patience pays out in collecting watches. Certainly, it pays out to do the homework when buying online. Moreover, sometimes it pays out to decide fast when an opportunity is in front of you.

I hope you enjoyed this journey of mine. I did – most of the time.

Best,

Stefan

Finally united: Dealer clock, the box with the engravings and – most importantly – my first Reverso.