“THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PIECE FROM CONCEPTION TO CREATION TAKES ABOUT 18 MONTHS.”
The Jacques-David Le Coultre 2021 Reverso One Cordonnet Duetto Jewellery is unapologetically opulent and desirably feminine
In the 1930s, as even now, a watch was one’s perpetual outdoor companion. There were instances, however, when people would have to shed this second skin, largely because the situations were perilous to these delicate glass-encased marvels. Around this time, a Swiss businessman César de Trey was approached by members of the British Army during his visit to India and was requested to create a watch that could withstand the bumps and beatings of an intense polo match. On returning to Paris, de Trey partnered with Jacques-David LeCoultre and that led to the creation of the brand’s most phenomenal line of watches—the Reverso.
Flip Squad
At its time of conception, the JLC Reverso was almost magical, with a case that could flip by manoeuvering over tracks like the pages of a book. Soon, the Reverso found itself going from the weather-bitten wrists of polo players to adorning the wrists of Amelia Earheart and King Edward VIII, because the back of the case, once flipped, could bear bespoke engraving and be worn as a badge of honour. Since then, the Reverso has traversed boundaries of gender and geographies to symbolise durability, style, and unapologetic luxury. The Art Deco style of the JLC Reverso is easily distinguishable in a crowd today, with elegant rectangular lines and clear-cut gadroons adorning the case. The 2021 Reverso One Cordonnet Duetto Jewellery adds the magic of intricate gem-setting to the rich history of the Reverso. The front dial is constructed with concentric rectangles that appear as layers within layers, each studded with jewels. The dial has fine Arabic numerals that are applied on the white mother-of-pearl base, which is framed by the inner rectangles. In the centre of the ensemble sits the geometric cut-out, which is framed with gold and offers a glance into the pave-set diamond field. It’s only natural to be curious about what the reverse of this case could behold, and it doesn’t disappoint. The back shows off a contrasting dial in black lacquer with diamond-set gold ‘sunbeams’ that radiate out from the centre, creating distinctly identifiable hour markers.
Diamonds are Forever
The Reverso One CordonnetDuetto Jewellery is decked with 1,104 diamonds that are studded across the case and even the bracelet attachment. The bracelet seems to bear a unique sheen as the stones glisten in the sun and spotlight alike. Donning this watch could be an occasion in itself, with the excess that is as justifiable as it is sublime. The gem-setting process of this timepiece is magnificent. JLC employs the fascinating grain-setting technique to hold the diamonds in place, through which the diamonds are held in place by beads of gold, making them almost invisible. This also ensures that the stones are very close to one another, giving the illusion of a seamless layer of diamonds occupying the surface. “Setting gems on the bracelet alone takes up to 71 hours and for the case another 50 hours,” said Catherine Rénier, CEO of Jacques-David LeCoultre. “The development of the piece (design, conception, creation of the prototype and final piece) takes about 18 months.” This phenomenal feat is made possible by the master jewellery skills of La Grande Maison. This special JLC Reverso is an ode to the women of 2021, who the brand hails as its everyday inspiration. It employs the Jacques-David LeCoultre Calibre 844 movement and comes with a manually-wound 38-hour power reserve. The pink gold and diamond-set case measures 36.3 x 18mm, which is well purposed for feminine wrists. This celebrated watch bears vivid testimony to Reverso’s nine-decade long history, which is rife with surprises, innovative turns, and quite often, an opulent overture. What started of as an attempt to brave the elements has grown into an opportunity to sport two dials on a single watch. What remains the same is the allure of the fine horological excellence that nearly always brings with it the mark of history and superlative watch-making.