Patek Philippe Reverso 106 Vintage Overview

quattro · 2025-05-16T15:58:10Z

Explore the ultra-rare Patek Philippe Reverso ref. 106. Discover its history, unique case numbers, and the five known examples, including those in the Patek Philippe Museum.

quattro

WPS member · Patek Philippe forum

39 replies4019 views30 photos

Emmanuel (quattro) presents a meticulously researched overview of the exceedingly rare Patek Philippe Reverso ref. 106. His detailed post, complete with case numbers and high-resolution images, sheds light on a little-known chapter in Patek Philippe's history, highlighting the brand's early association with the iconic reversible case design. This article serves as an essential reference for collectors seeking to understand the origins and provenance of these historically significant timepieces.

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Between December 1931 and April 1932, eight Reverso cases, manufactured by Wenger, were sold to Patek Philippe with the authorisation of César de Trey, who had registered the brand name Reverso, and Jacques-David LeCoultre, who was one of the administrators of Patek Philippe at the time.

According to the registers, four of the cases were made in white gold, and the remaining four in a mix of white and yellow gold.

The watches were given the ref. number 106 and all eight watches were powered by movements based on LeCoultre ébauches and had different dial colors and layouts.

Only five of the eight watches are known, among which three belong to the Patek Philippe Museum.

Best, Emmanuel

A/ THE TWO PRIVATE COLLECTOR EXAMPLES

1/ Case number 609.481 sold by Gübelin, initials "D.B." engraved on the back - White Gold - property of a private collector

credit: le monde Edmond

2/ Case 609.483 sold by Gübelin, initials "A.B." engraved on the back - White & Yellow Gold - property of a private collector (the present example featuring the initials "A.B." and the example above featuring the initials "D.B.", it is believed that these watches could have belonged to two relatives with the family name starting with the letter "B")

credit: antiquorum

B/ THE THREE EXAMPLES OF THE PATEK PHILIPPE MUSEUM

1/ Case number 609.482 - White & Yellow Gold (this example has been highlighted here by FanFrancisco)

credit: Bruno Vazquez on flickr (1), @vintagewatchesarchive (2), webchronos (3) & Treasures from the Patek Philippe Museum (4)

2/ Case 609.429 - White & Yellow Gold

credit: Bruno Vazquez on flickr (1), @benswatches (2), hodinkee (3), diveintowatches (4) & @watchfav_penmagazine (6)

3/ Case 609.431 - White Gold (note that this example is the only one to have a shaped caliber; the other ones have a round one)

credit: Bruno Vazquez on flickr (1), unpolishedwatches(2), diveintowatches (3) & DCC here on WPS (4)

C/ The three "Museum" models with revealed caliber or case back, listing of the Patek Philippe Reversos & technical sheet of the case designed by René Alfred Chauvot

The watches with case n° 609.430 & 609.480 (white gold) and n° 609.472 (white & yellow gold) have never appeared in public.

credit: @vintagewatchesarchive (3), Watch Collecting Lifestyle (2) & uhrenkosmos (1 & 4)

Key Points from the Discussion

The Patek Philippe Reverso ref. 106 watches were produced with the authorization of Jacques-David LeCoultre, who was a board member of Patek Philippe at the time, underscoring the intertwined history of the two manufactures.
Despite Patek Philippe's historical production of Reverso-cased watches, current Patek Philippe President Thierry Stern has indicated that the brand would not produce modern Reverso-style watches, out of respect for Jaeger-LeCoultre's identity with the design.
While Patek Philippe did utilize Reverso cases, the patent for the Reverso mechanism has always belonged to Jaeger-LeCoultre, which also punctually sold cases to other brands like Cartier.
One collector recalls a Patek Philippe Reverso ref. 106 appearing at auction 15-20 years ago, noting that its value at the time was significantly less than many modern Patek Philippe references today.
The Patek Philippe Museum houses three of the five known Reverso ref. 106 examples, making it a crucial destination for enthusiasts interested in viewing these rare pieces.

The Discussion

GWIS

May 16, 2025

Thanks for the very interesting post.

I knew that there were some Patek Reversos but I don’t think I’ve ever seen pictures before. I’m sure I read an article in which Thierry Stern said that Patek could make modern reverso cased watches but it wouldn’t be appropriate. I guess they don’t need to tread on JLC’s toes and many people would think they were copying JLC, without knowledge of the history you have highlighted. All the best, Jon

quattro

May 16, 2025

Thank you, Jon.

I'm glad you found interest in this post and I agree with what you say. Enjoy your upcoming weekend. Best, Emmanuel

j.jota

May 16, 2025

I wonder if JLC now owns the exclusive patent to that case configuration?

quattro

May 16, 2025

As far as I’ve understood,

they’ve always owned it. They just punctually sold some cases to Patek (and I think also Cartier) and allowed them to use the name (which Patek decided not to use). But the patent belongs to JLC since the beginning. At least that’s what I’ve understood. Best, Emmanuel

GWIS

May 16, 2025

If the original design dates back to 1931 I suspect there is not much in the way of protected intellectual property rights still remaining. Patents typically have a 20 lifespan.

Maybe JLC has patents or other intellectual property in elements of the modern cases but I imagine that Patek or any of the other watchmakers could produce something similar to a Reverso without too much trouble if they wanted to.

quattro

May 17, 2025

You may be completely right.

But then, making a Reverso would be such a nonsensical idea for any brand other than JLC, wouldn't it? Best, Emmanuel

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