This is a familiar feeling: you discover a watch, you fall in love with it, and some months after, the lust has gone.
Each year, when I go to the SIHH, I have my horological " coups de coeur ". Some are here to stay, others go quite fast.
I have a technique about that. I take pictures of the watch in question, I don't class them, and I look at them every day, 5 / 10 times a day.
If at the end of two or three months I don't get rid of it, that is a good sign.
Past year, three or four watches interested me, and among them... The Jaeger Lecoultre Reverso Tribute Duo.
A watch I reviewed here:
www.watchprosite.com
I won't come back to the technical specifications, the link to my review is here for that. No, I will try to explain you why, after 17 months now, I am still under the strong spell of this Reverso.
Stephane Belmont heard my prayers, came with his watch, and during the dinner, invited me to wear it till the end of the day after.
To sum my feelings, I would say that this watch oozes preciosity, in a positive way, and quality, with a pinch of bravery.
The bravery, here, lies in the proportions of the case: When you want to embrace a huge part of the market, you go for watches with bigger dimensions. That is , I think, a marketing rule. Add automatic movements and a date and you are done.
No, no... Jaeger-Lecoultre for a manual winding movement, the Cal 854 A/2, a new case, close to the GT case the Purists were so in love with, a tad bigger ( 42, 8 mm ) narrower and thinner. Well, I will dare say that they sublimated the GT case with the new Reverso Tribute Duo, which is one of the stronger point of this watch.
The dials have been revisited too. The most obvious change are the hands of the recto dial which are shorter, curved, sweet and sensual, maybe more... Sophisticated?
In a very class environment, it is at its place:
Did I say that I also like the navy blue hobnail verso dial a lot?
One point often comes in our discussions about these hands, their size. If you look at the pictures showing the hands at 10 past 10, they look short, indeed. But when the minute hand is at a quarter, three quarter or 12 o clock, then it is not that short. The hour hand is a tad too short, indeed, but that didn't disturb me.
One detail I regret: The blue indices on the recto dial. I would have preferred to see them heated blue like the hands, but it seems it wasn't satisfactory.
Other than that, the recto and the verso dials are just sublime, very much my taste.
One thing which always bugged me on the former Reverso Duo is the pusher which ruins, in my opinion, a bit the purity of the case. The good thing is that it is now replaced by a trigger, located at 12. I played with that trigger, and it is a delight for the sense of touch. Very smooth, efficient, it will certainly thrill you. The minute hand stays where it is, while the hour hand jumps, independently. Friendly for the traveler.
The beauty is like the devil, in the details, and Jaeger-Lecoultre worked the front part of the carriage to give it a soleillé decoration. Only the owner and the admirer of this watch will discover this detail when flipping the case.
On the pictures, or in the flesh, this Reverso Tribute Duo is a very consistent and well made watch, at the exception of the blue painted indices.
Now, that being said, this watch has to stand the wrist test. Will the watch work on my wrist, how will I feel it? Too dressy, too cool, too what or not enough what???
Please note that my wrist has an average size of 17 cm, not too big, nor too small, which may be of some help for you and YOUR wrist.
On my wrist, the watch is not too small nor too big. The presence and the pleasure are here. You feel the quality, immediately, and the care about the details, the proportions... And the charm.
Too small on my wrist? Just perfect! Under certain angles and depending on the light, the blue indices and hands pop out.
I would like to travel with it, and to take some pictures in situ. That will maybe come in a close future.
In the meantime, I was wearing it on my way to the Manufacture, a pleasant way to spend the time.
Would I buy it? I am seriously considering getting it. Once I will solve my Duometre obsession.
I cannot say better. This watch is for me, one of the winners of the 2016 edition, all brands included. For those who wondered which one could be the Reverso 85th Anniversary, for me, this is this one.
Period.
The only issue is the retail: At 11400 Euros, it is quite highly priced.
Looking forward to reading your comments and thoughts,
Best.
Nicolas
