Jaeger-LeCoultre presents Katsushika Hokusai's "Kirifuri Falls at Mount Kurokami in Shimotsuke" as a miniature enamel painting

To mark the 90th anniversary of the Reverso, Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrates the long-standing cultural exchange between East and West by releasing the Reverso Tribute Enamel, featuring an exquisite cloisonné miniature painting of Katsushika Hokusai's "Kirifuri Falls, Mount Kurokami, Shimotsuke."

Kirifuri Falls, Mount Kurokami, Shimotsuke

　Combining European craftsmanship with Japanese techniques, the case back features a faithful enamel miniature reproduction of Katsushika Hokusai's woodblock print "Kirifuri Falls, Mount Kurokami, Shimotsuke," created in the early 1830s. "Kirifuri Falls, Mount Kurokami, Shimotsuke" is one of eight woodblock prints in the "Visiting Waterfalls in Various Provinces" series, depicting famous waterfalls that Hokusai painted during his visits to various parts of Honshu, Japan, between 1831 and 1833.

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Grand Feu enamel dial with wave-patterned guilloché

　Echoing the artistry of the miniature painting on the caseback, the front dial features an unusual wave guilloché pattern chosen to represent the effect of flowing water. Crafted by hand using a century-old lathe fitted with special cams to create the specific pattern, this wavy visual effect is enhanced by multiple layers of transparent grand feu enamel in a soft green hue that matches the detail of the miniature painting on the reverse.

It takes more than 70 hours just to paint a miniature painting

　As with all enameling, the firing process can result in unexpected discoloration. Therefore, it takes considerable time to perfectly match the color of the Reverso Tribute Enamel dial with the painting on the back, faithfully recreating the painting in Hokusai's original colors. In addition to these hours, almost five hours of work is required for the guilloché alone, followed by an additional eight hours to apply the transparent green enamel layer. This means that it takes more than 70 hours of work just to paint the miniature on the caseback.