Small Talk

LIONEL FAVRE Meet the product design director behind Jaeger-lecoultre’s latest Reverso watches, as the brand celebrates the 90th anniversary of this collection

Tell us about the history of the Reverso.

Let’s take a step back in time and go back to 1931, when the Reverso was created. At that time, it was a challenge given to César de Trey, a Swiss businessman who was travelling in India.

What was asked of

César de Trey?

The challenge was to protect a timepiece during polo games. César de Trey flew back to Switzerland and met René-alfred Chauvot, an engineer, and his friend Jacques-david Lecoultre, and together they thought about the swivelling case concept. On March 4, 1931, the patent for a swivelling case was registered. The Reverso was born and the rest is history.

What made the Reverso special?

The piece was a success right away and not only with men and polo players. It became a style icon thanks to its coloured dials and adaptions for ladies, which were thinner to better adorn the wrists of women.

Why has the Reverso remained popular?

It’s the synthesis of form and function. The design is based on one fundamental idea: that it’s reversible. This makes the Reverso one of the most inventive wristwatches in history. Born at the end of the art deco period, the Reverso’s artistic movement favours simple volumes, straight lines and geometric shapes.

The case is particularly beautiful.

It’s a rectangular case that’s rounded and without any sharp angles. The sapphire crystal that protects the dial is slightly domed in the three to nine o’clock direction and, thanks to these curves, the light is reflected off the case, which creates a beautiful visual balance.