Manufacturer: Jaeger-LeCoultre Year: 2012 Reference No: Q278856J Case No: 2'810'097 Model Name: Grande Reverso Ultra thin 1931 Special Edition Rouge Material: Stainless steel Calibre: Manual, 822 Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile strap Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel buckle, signed Jaeger-LeCoultre Dimensions: 46mm. Length Signed:Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Guarantee Certificate dated 28th June 2012, product literature, fitted presentation box and outer packaging
Catalogue Essay
Shortly after its launch in 1931, the already popular Reverso made some interesting changes to its appearance, releasing quite daring colours for the dials. Bright blue matt finish dials and bright red lacquer dials were introduced and very popular with the exuberant public, eager to enjoy every aspect of the 'Annees Folles' or 'crazy years' in Paris following the economic boom after the First World War. In 2012 and in tribute to this design, Jaeger-LeCoultre released the 'Grande Reverso 1931 Rouge.' JLC remained fairly faithful to the design and continued to use the red dial, but experimented with a deeper shade of red and added the 'Reverso' text. The size also changed to a larger and slimmer version to accommodate the manually wound calibre 822.
Not all companies in the watchmaking field have been able to stand the test of time quite like Jaeger LeCoultre, also known as the "watchmaker's watchmaker." Founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre and originally named LeCoutre, the firm provided watchmaking's top brands, such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet, the high-grade, unfinished mechanical movements with which they completed their watches.
In the early 1900s, Cartier's watch supplier Edmond Jaeger sought out LeCoultre's help in creating the world's thinnest watches. The collaboration resulted in the creation of Cartier's earliest Tank and Santos watches, all housed with LeCoultre movements. The duo decided to merge in 1937, and the firm officially became the Jaeger-LeCoultre brand by which collectors know and adore it today. Some of the firm's most significant and important timepieces include the Reverso, the Memovox, the Atmos clock and, among modern watches, their Master Complications.