Jaeger-LeCoultre

REVERSO GRANDE DATE



I hope you enjoy reading this fairly short review with some of my own pictures (c).. I stand to be corrected for any errors and omissions, but for technical details I have used the Jaeger-LeCoultre website as source for the movement details.  The aesthetics impressions are my own opinions.

NOTE: This was first published on a more general forum, so we aimed at readers who may not be familier with the brand.




CASE
Here are some vital statistics of this - lozenge oblong cased



FACE, MOVEMENT AND COMPLICATIONS


Dial is silvered guilloché with black transferred numerals and Bâton hands

As can be seen the face has in addition to the hour and minute hand,  patented large date complication with independent numerals, 8 day power reserve (Reserve 8 Jours) supplied by 2 barrels to quote, "guarantee 8 days power reserve and unfailing precision".  Small second hand lower right.


MOVEMENT


Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre: 875
28,800 vph
Jewels: 25
Barrel: 2
Height: 5.30mm
Hand wound 8 day pr

1000h tested and 3bar/atm - and states in the manual, "you can use your watch for short swims and when diving from the poolside but nor from a diving board.  It must not be used either for scuba diving or for sports where there are significant risks of hard knocks, such as windsurfing and waterskiing. Please also note that leather straps are not suitable for aquatic activities."

This movement is really of finest quality and finished to perfection. It can be seen through the reversed cased back in reverse - so can be worn 'movement out' just for your viewing pleasure.  Being manual wind means there is no automatic counter-weight covering up half the movement.  Pure joy.

REVERSO - FUNCTION
First produced in 1931 to produce, "a watch capable of withstanding the hard knocks of a polo game" is the The Reverso Watch.  This case design houses a number of Jaeger-LeCoultre calibres.  It is designed to easily allow the whole case to be flipped over, without the need to remove the watch from the wrist.  With a little practice this becomes easy to do. 

QUALITY - FIT FORM FUNCTION (and COMFORT)
The quality measured in Fit, Form, Function is excellent.  I find the watch sits very comfortably on my wrist.  Looking at various JLC forums I see others have found the relative thickness compared to other dimensions maybe uncomfortable.  I have had no issues at all with this, even though my wrist is 6 3/4" - perhaps it is the flatness of my wrist I find I can wear it all day without issues.





As you can see it appear to me to fit just fine:



On the coldest days I have had to adjust the strap on the deployant by one hole.  I was lucky to have it supplied with 2 straps - brown with white stiching or very dark blue to match the hands.  I've only had a chance to wear on the brown so far.

FINAL NOTES
I bought mine second hand at approximately 50% off MRP (originally bought in 2006).  It came with full boxes and papers and valuation letter from 2009.  I think second hand they are excellent value.   Maybe rather expensive to buy from new, but even then - if you don't plan to sell then I would suggest JLC are excellent to buy.  Properly serviced they will run happily for a lifetime and beyond.  JLC promise to service any of their watches, however old, unlike some well know swiss brands!

I will be wearing mine all the times I need a stylish, reserved, unusual watch but not when swimming or for hard manual labour (just as I wouldn't wear my best leather shoes to dig the garden).

Subjective Scores

Movement 10/10
Finish 10/10
Value 8/10 - initial MRP high (but v good value if bought second hand)
Overall - 9/10

Hope you enjoyed this review.  Here are some final close-ups to finish with








and a final wrist shot



Thanks for looking!!