Introducing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Nonantième

The Low-Down

One of the most underrated horological complications from the 19th century is the jump-hour display. The captivating display of time in little windows on closed metal fronts of watches might look deceptively simple but its execution is challenging even for the most seasoned watchmakers. The construction involves two large numeral discs, which need a lot of force to move from one level to the next. This demands a tricky control of energy as well as the right amount of friction to ensure a smooth mechanism.

Although this captivating showcase of time gained popularity at the peak of the Art Deco movement with brands like Cartier, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe experimenting with alternative display of hours and minutes on their watches, the concept couldn’t withstand the rise of dive watches and chronographs in the mid-20th century.

Mostly sold to sportsmen, these “no hands, no glass” watches with jump-hour displays were fitted with the best movements and were highly favoured by aviators. In the 1930s, Jaeger-LeCoultre was manufacturing digital displays for wristwatches but surprisingly it never made a jump-hour complication for a Reverso.

This year, to mark the 90th anniversary of the Reverso, which seems like the most interesting fit for a jump-hour display given its robust swivelling case, Jaeger-LeCoultre has introduced the Reverso Tribute Nonantième.

The exquisite display of the night sky sprinkled with golden stars on a vivid blue three-quarter lacquered plate was created by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Atelier des Métiers Rares.
The exquisite display of the night sky sprinkled with golden stars on a vivid blue three-quarter lacquered plate was created by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Atelier des Métiers Rares.

IMHO

Crafted out of pink gold, the Nonantième takes the Reverso’s elegant profile a notch up with a stunning caseback that showcases a semi-jumping digital hour indication.

Framed in figure-eight and encircled by rectilinear gadroons also seen on the upper and lower edges of the case, while the jumping hours are displayed in a small round aperture, the minutes are shown on a bigger rotating disc that is partially concealed by a gorgeous three-quarter plate lacquered in blue.

Made at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Atelier des Métiers Rares, this exquisite display of the night sky sprinkled with golden stars and the day/night indication brought out by the applied golden sun and moon,is a visual treat of sorts.

As compared to the striking caseback, the front of the dial is rather subdued – a silvered, sunray-brushed face with applied golden indexes and dauphine hands. It hardly reveals the big surprise on the caseback and presents a tastefully displayed moon phase at 6 o’clock. Just beneath 12 o’clock is a large date display, framed by an applied filet of pink gold that echoes the rectangular shape of the dial and case.

The Reverso Tribute Nonantième is powered by an entirely new manually wound movement Calibre 826
The Reverso Tribute Nonantième is powered by an entirely new manually wound movement Calibre 826

Keeping up with the tradition of having exclusive movements for its complicated Reverso models, Jaeger-LeCoultre has equipped the Nonantième with an entirely new manually wound movement, Calibre 826. Comprising 230 components, it offers a power reserve of 42 hours.

The Reverso Tribute Nonantième is limited to 190 pieces and is available exclusively at Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques.

Tech Specs

Reverso Tribute Nonantième
Reverso Tribute Nonantième

Movement: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 826; 42 hours of power reserve.
Case: Pink gold 49.4 x 29.9 mm; 11.72 mm thick; water resistant up to 30 metres.
Functions: Front display: Hours, minutes, small seconds; grande date; moon phases
Back display: Digital semi-jumping hour and minutes on a disc; night-day indication
Strap: Black alligator
Availability and Price: USD 41,600; limited to 190 pieces

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