Jaeger-LeCoultre

amanico
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A Quick View on some Vintage Reverso.

You know the story behind the Reverso, so I will make it short:

A French Business Man, Cesar De Trey had the idea, while attending a Polo Match, to make a watch which would be more resistant to shocks, Lecoultre worked on it, and René Alfred Chauvot invented and patented the Reverso Case on March 4, 1931.



An Icon was born, and appreciated, celebrated all around the world.

It took time for me to go on Vintage Reverso.

There were several issues to solve:

- I needed time to find a full authentic one, with a non restored dial, in good condition.

- Then, I had to be sure that I would wear it, not in a few occasions, but as often as I want, like I do with all my other watches.

Here, I had to check that the size of the original model ( 23 x 38mm ) wouldn't be too small for me.

- Which one to choose?

There were several Reverso made from the first model:

THE very first one, without second hand, but a powerful, breathtaking beauty?



Or another one, but with the small seconds at 6?



Are you more attracted by the Central Second Reverso than by the " Base " Reverso?



Black on white or All Black?

Black or White?







You got it, I found 2 Central Seconds Reverso, and I had hard time choosing only one of them...

The white dial is really awesome, very elegant, and it looks, in this color, a bit bigger than it is in real, as if the dial was more " open ".









Exactly the same than on this ad..." Do you need a watch? " ( Credit pic: Marv )



The radium indexes, which faded in a amber color, make a superb contrast with this white dial, and the heated blue hands are just the cherry on the cake, don't you think?

Finally, I decided to go on the Black Dialed Reverso " Seconde Centrale "...

The dial looks a bit smaller than on the white version, but what you loose in aperture, and maybe in elegance, too, you gain in strength.

They both are equally beautiful, but the amber radium indexes are contrasting with more strength with the black dial...



Therefore, the inner white minute circle drives me totally crazy, nicer than on the white version, to me.

Here is the Beauty:





There is something magic, with the Vintage Reverso.

Whatever the model, Small or Central Seconds, or without seconds, the feeling is the same: a Timeless watch, an Icon which travelled through Time without damages ( It has been discontinued for around 20 years, but its re birth may be a sign of the strength of this model, don't you think? ) .







The magic of this watch may be explained by its overall perfect proportions, indeed, by the simplicity of its design, by its natural elegance.

Nothing more to add, nor to take off...All is here.

Here, a pic on one of the Reverso Caliber:



There, on a Vintage ad:



Elegance is indeed not a matter of size, and The Reverso demonstrates it with brio.

Take it in your hands, and the charm will operate.

Admire it under different angles, play with the case, reverse it, then put it again on the Recto side, you will succomb to this very special watch.

Then, try the ultimate test, the wrist shot, and you will understand...

While the size is not anymore conform to our current standarts, you wil adopt it for what it is...A Dressy watch, a piece of Horology belonging to the History.



Here, a few comparison pictures with a Vintage and a modern Reverso in a GT case ( 46 X 29mm ) :





Here, you can see the different thickness of these 2 models:



And here, the Reverso Vintage with another Iconic model, the Memovox...



Hope you will enjoy this quick view on this marvel...



Best,

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-11-20 22:16:30 This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-11-23 03:36:31

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