Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds manual winding gold dial rose gold Milanese mesh bracelet 45.6 x 27.4 mm

Reverso Tribute: the Art Deco icon in constant evolution

Created in 1931, the Reverso was born from a very concrete challenge: to design a watch able to withstand the shocks of polo matches played by British officers in India. Jaeger-LeCoultre answered with an ingenious case that can pivot to protect the crystal and dial, while preserving lines of striking purity. This reversible case, which became a historic patent, would forever define the Reverso’s identity and one of the most recognizable gestures in watchmaking.

Very quickly, the watch left the polo fields to appeal to a much broader audience. Personalities from every background adopted this rectangular silhouette with its distinctive gadroons, whose aesthetic fully belongs to the Art Deco movement: balanced proportions, crisp angles, and minimalist decoration. Over the decades, the Reverso has never stopped evolving, multiplying complications, sizes, and interpretations, while retaining a unique design that remains instantly identifiable.

With the Reverso Tribute line, Jaeger-LeCoultre returns precisely to this original essence. The models reprise the 1931 codes — an elongated case, pared-back dials, fine indexes — reinterpreted through contemporary finishes and confident material choices. More than 90 years after its creation, the Reverso remains an icon because it knows how to play with contrasts: sporty by origin, dressy by style, classic in design yet always current on the wrist.

The Q713216J model: pink-gold monochrome and a grained dial

In this Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds Q713216J, Jaeger-LeCoultre brings the concept of a dress Reverso to its pinnacle with an all-pink-gold 750/1000 interpretation. The reversible rectangular case, made of 50 components, displays perfectly balanced proportions — 45.6 mm long, 27.4 mm wide, and just 7.56 mm thick — giving it a strong wrist presence while remaining beautifully slim beneath a shirt cuff. The lateral gadroons, polished edges, and taut surfaces underline the Reverso’s Art Deco DNA, while the plain reverse side is ready to be engraved or personalized.

On the front, the watch stands out with a finely grained matte-gold-colored dial, obtained through successive stamping operations. This subtle texture adds an almost velvety depth and creates a delicate contrast with the mirror polish of the case and bracelet. The elongated applied indexes and faceted Dauphine hands — also in pink gold — catch the light with every movement, adding relief without compromising legibility.

The “Small Seconds” designation takes on its full meaning here: at 6 o’clock, a circular sub-dial cuts into the dial and introduces a welcome touch of roundness in a world of straight lines. This small-seconds display brings rhythm and animation while recalling the historic Reverso models whose spirit it extends. The result is a watch with a bold aesthetic stance — a true pink-gold monochrome — yet perfectly mastered, where every detail plays on nuance rather than overt effect.

Pink-gold Milanese bracelet: vintage chic reinvented

A true signature of this reference, the Milanese bracelet is entirely crafted in pink gold 750/1000 and gives the Reverso a very distinctive personality. Inherited from a technique born in Milan in the 13th century, this mesh is made of interlaced metal coils forming a dense, flat, and regular knit. Making a single bracelet requires no less than 16 meters of pink-gold thread, woven continuously to guarantee maximum flexibility. This fluid structure, known as pezza, is then precisely tightened before each edge is hand-soldered link by link to ensure a perfectly uniform finish.

Smooth, supple, and free of visible pins, the bracelet sits on the wrist like a precious textile, offering remarkable comfort and a pleasant sense of lightness despite the weight of gold. Jaeger-LeCoultre also revised the attachment at the lugs so that the mesh appears to melt into the case, reinforcing the impression of an integrated bracelet. It is completed by an integrated sliding clasp, allowing the length to be adjusted in a single gesture, with no sizing or adding/removing links — a detail that is both practical and highly jewelry-like. In its look, this Milanese mesh echoes the bracelets that defined the 1970s, while fitting perfectly into a contemporary aesthetic halfway between a dress watch and an exceptional piece of jewelry.

Manufacture Calibre 822: Reverso mechanical purity

At the heart of this Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds beats manufacture Calibre 822, a hand-wound mechanical movement entirely designed, produced, and assembled by Jaeger-LeCoultre in the Vallée de Joux. Specifically conceived for the Reverso, it adopts a rectangular shape that perfectly follows the geometry of the case, perpetuating the tradition of “shaped” calibres dear to the Grande Maison. Finely engineered, it measures only 2.93 mm thick and is composed of 108 parts, carefully arranged to drive the essential indications: hours, minutes, and small seconds at 6 o’clock.

This calibre offers a 42-hour power reserve, ample for switching effortlessly between wear and rest while enjoying the ritual of manual winding — a gesture closely tied to the pleasure of owning a high-quality mechanical watch. Protected by a case rated to 3 bar of water-resistance, it helps keep the Reverso’s silhouette to just 7.56 mm thick, ensuring exemplary everyday comfort. True to the Reverso spirit since its origins, Calibre 822 emphasizes reliability, elegant construction, and a perfect match between movement and case design.