Dr_Nav
46
A Reverso Timeline
Hi all,
1930s – World War II
- 1933 – prepared it’s first set of movements for the model, one of which was the caliber 410. These watch movements were considered as the JLC’s own in-house movements.
- 1937 – 1938 are viewed as the original Reverso
- World war II from 1939 - 1945 – production remained low, and in subsequent decades, the watch briefly fell out of production
1950s – 1970s
- Widely considered as a ‘limbo’ period’ (1950s, 1960s, and 1970s). JLC used old stocks of material to produce the Reverso, however it was omitted from advertising at the time
- During this period the Reverso was considered as an anachronism (old-fashioned)
- Early 1970’s – according to myth, Giorgio Corvo Italian JLC distributor and watch collector discovered a small number of Reverso cases during a visit to the JLC workshop in Switzerland. These cases were fitted with movements, and sold in Italy, which led to it’s immediate success.
1980s – 1990s
- This led to the wider relaunch of the Reverso in 1983 in time for the 50th anniversary.
- 1984 – first water resistant Reverso
- in this period suffered an identity crisis, Reverso designed and tweaks the original case size, offering various rectangular shaped Reverso, and altered to the face and added Roman numeral dials.
Getting Complicated: 1991 – 2000s
- 1991 - 60th anniversary - Limited edition of 500 pieces – considered as a new dynamic to the Reverso collection. It was the first Reverso equipped with a complication, it was also the first that revealed its movement, the JLC calibre 824, made of gold.
- During this era: JLC began shifted from a simple Reverso, to incorporating updates and adding watch complications. It incorporated better water resistance and mechanical performance, for example the current case has 50+ components vs. the original’s fewer than 30).
- 1993 – Introduction of the limited edition, tourbillon movement in a rose gold case.
- 1994 - Reverso Duoface that came with two dials (one on each side) with the use of a movement, the Calibre 854/1.
- 1996 – Introduction of the enamel workshop dedicated to the enamelling the second face.
- 1998 – Introduction of the Reverso pocket watch then discontinued in 2002.
- 2001 – 70th anniversary: Reverso Septantième', limited to 500 pieces, made of platinum.
- 2002 – Reverso’s of the 2000s were known for being ‘oversized’ with ‘immense proportions’. In 2002 saw the introduction of the XGT case.
- 2006 – 75th anniversary: Reverso Squadra, a square face, thicker in depth and incorporated watch complications. Advertised as ‘sporty’, emphasised placed on it’s Polo roots. This lead to the start of a series of square faced Reverso’s.
- 2006 - JLC released a limited edition, the Grande Complication à Triptyque, which had three dials — all powered by a single movement, with 18 watch complications and branded as the most complicated Reverso ever built.
- 2006 onwards – brass variants introduced.
Maintaining Brand Authenticity, 2009 to present day
- 2009 – the launch of the time-only Reverso 976 and dual-time Reverso 986 (dual-faced).
- 2011 – 80th anniversary – referred to as the ‘Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute to 1931’. This was scaled down and refined to reflect the original, unlike the 60th and 70th anniversary Reversos.
- 2011 – saw the entire Reverso collection turn towards a neo-classical design, launch of the Grande Reverso 1931 Rouge, the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Duoface Bleu, the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1948, and 2015’s Grande Reverso 1931 Seconde Central.
- 2016 – 85th anniversary – saw the launch of three Reversos: Tribute Duo (two faces), Reverso Tribute Calendar (two faces with a calendar function) and the Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon.
A Reverso Timeline
Slight corrrection, if memory serves...
I would add the following ones...
Thanks!
In term of movement...
Naah, the first automatic movement was introduced with the Reverso Gran Sport Automatique
Thank you.