Everything has a name, and each name has a meaning and a reason for being named. So, what is the origin of the name of that famous watch? In this column, we will explore the secrets behind the names of watches and introduce them along with their anecdotes.
This time, we will explore the origin of the name of the Reverso, a masterpiece watch that is an iconic symbol of Jaeger-LeCoultre.
(Article published on October 9, 2021)
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso
2021 marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. The Reverso is a timepiece that is universally recognized as a historic masterpiece and Jaeger-LeCoultre's most representative work.
The biggest reason why the Reverso is considered a historic masterpiece is, of course, its innovative reversible case mechanism. Another major feature is the golden ratio of the length and width of the case, which has remained unchanged since its creation. Another attractive feature is the Art Deco design, which has also remained unchanged since its creation.
However, while the Reverso is known by all watch enthusiasts, there are actually many things that are unknown about it.
The original Reverso model was born in 1931. This masterpiece watch embodied the revolutionary idea of reversing the case itself to conceal the crystal and protect it from damage caused by impacts during intense polo games. The initial movement used was the Cal. 064 made by Taban. The STAYBRITE (a type of stainless steel) case was manufactured by A&E Wenger in Geneva. Manually wound. Not waterproof. Owned by Jaeger-LeCoultre.
The Reverso was created in response to a request from a British military officer stationed in India who wanted a watch that could withstand polo games. The person who received this request was a man named César de Trey.
De Trey was a Swiss businessman who had achieved success in the British dental care industry, and began to be involved in the export and sale of Swiss watches in the mid-1920s. He built a close relationship with Jaeger and LeCoultre early on (Jaeger and LeCoultre merged in 1917; the company name became Jaeger-LeCoultre in 1937), selling the first watches bearing their respective company names, and he played a major role in the global success of the Duoplan in particular.
The origins of the watch are said to date back to 1930, when de Trey was on a business trip to India and attended a polo match. At a party after the match, a British officer, one of the players, showed him a watch whose crystal had broken during the match, and asked if it was possible to make a watch that could withstand the shocks that occur during a match. Another theory is that the inspiration for the watch came from de Trey having happened to see the broken watch after a match.
(Right) An early advertisement for the Reverso, clearly showing how the case of the watch can be flipped over onto the carrier plate while still being worn.
In any case, it seems that the idea of rotating the case to the back to protect the crystal was de Trey's idea. Based on this idea, he asked French engineer René-Alfred Chauveau to design the case, and Jacques-David LeCoultre of LeCoultre to develop the movement.
Another source states that upon returning to Europe, de Trey first brought his idea to Jaeger and LeCoultre. This seems more logical, considering the aforementioned "Duoplan" was a successful example in which Jaeger manufactured the case and LeCoultre the movement. However, in both cases, it seems that Chauveau was chosen as the designer of the unique case.
