Jaeger Lecoultre Watches and Wonders 2021 collection: Reverso Hybris Mechanica Cal 185, Tribute Small Seconds Green and Reverso One Precious Flowers.

Apr 06, 2021,23:04 PM
 

This year, again Covid Oblige, we'll only have a virtual presentation of the novelties. 


Allow me to say that it is a real problem, as we cannot feel the watches in real life, and we cannot meet all the watchmakers, designers and people involved in these new creations to talk with them, ask them all the questions we have in mind, explanations and everything... THAT will come later, with some in depth reports and articles, no worries about that, but for the moment, we just have to " champ at the bit ". 

So, what do we have this year? 

Jaeger Lecoultre opted for the introduction of three different Reversos, one for Ladies, the Reverso One " Precious Flowers " in white gold and pink gold, and two for Men, an exceptional creation, the Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 ( which you will allow me to call HM Cal 185 ), also ( and rightly ) called Reverso Quadriptyque, and a cool variation of the Tribute Small Seconds, with a green dial

Before you ask or think, this is not all, something else will soon come, in the Reverso line, and I am pretty sure we'll have some other novelties unveiled all along the rest of the year. 

So, let's have a quick look at these three novelties, and let's start with the most spectacular of them, the HM Cal 185

As its name suggests, you have another horological masterpiece from the Grande Maison, gathering some " premières " such as the first watch with four sides ( yes you read well ) and the first moon phase with three ways to depict it. 


It also " offers " you a complete perpetual calendar, a flying tourbillon and a minute repeater. 

The perpetual calendar informations instantaneously change at midnight, which is a very nice detail. 



The Minute Repeater has all the sophistications and innovations from Jaeger Lecoultre, such as the Trebuchet Hammers and the welded gongs. Moreover, La Grande Maison achieved to eliminate the silent gaps between the hours, the quarters and the minutes, which is another impressive technical detail. 



But what impressed me the most is the astronomical part of this watch, displayed on the two sides of the cradle: 

- On the recto side of the cradle, you have the moon as you can see it from the Northern Hemisphere, depicted in three different ways: The Synodic, the Draconic and the anomalistic cycles, allowing you to know the age of the moon in a precision of one day each 1,111 years, the moment when the moon intersects with the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, and the varying distance between the Earth and the Moon ( Credit Jaeger Lecoultre for these explanations ). 



- On the verso of the cradle, you have the moon phase from the Southern Hemisphere. 



The level of finishings of this marvel seems consistent, to be judged in the real... And you have all that in some reasonable dimensions: Indeed, the case is " only " 51, 2 mm big, 31 mm large and 15, 15 mm high, which is very close to the case of the Tribute Gyrotourbillon ( at the exception of the height, 2, 7 mm thinner ).

The case is in white gold, water resistant to 30 meters, and the Cal 185 has a powr reserve of 50 hours. 

There is one remaining question: How to set all the astronomical informations? It seems that the box issued with the watch allows an easy setting of these datas. to be confirmed and explained. 

The two issues? This marvel is limited to 10 pieces only, and the price. I don't know retail, but somehow I fear to know it... 

The Reverso Tribute Small Seconds Green:

Here, Jaeger Lecoultre is playing on a well known register. We already know he Tribute Small Seconds, which first came in 2018 in Blue, then one year after in Burgundy, and now, in Green. 

The recipe is the same: 

- Same case: 45, 6 x 27, 4 x 8, 5 mm, water resistant to 30 meters.





- Same movement: Cal 822/2, which is manual winding, made of 108 parts, with a power reserve of 42 hours. 

- A strap designed by Fagliano, matching with the color of the dial. 






Only the color changes, for a green which is deeper than the one we could admire in the London Boutique Edition. 

You got the idea: Here, Jaeger Lecoultre is playing the card of the " cool factor ".

I fear that, like it was the case for the Blue and the Burgundy, the Green will be a nightmare to take in picture, as it seems that the varnish is the same. But I can't wait to fight against my fears... 



Let's end this quick presentation with the Reverso One " Precious Flowers "

The Reverso One is in fact a series of Four watches. Two in whitte gold, called White Lilies and Blue Arums, and two in pink gold, called Pink Arums and Purple Arums. 









All of them are limited to ten pieces each. And they all come with a white mother of pearl dial. 

The other common point is that they all are diamond paved and they have enameled or engraved flowers and leaves. 

Conclusion: 

Jaeger Lecoultre showed that they have the most talented watchmakers, once again, but we already knew that. In the top high end Horology, they are just excellent. 

They also know how to make some cool pieces. That's for sure, but there is still a missing link... The innovative, cool and ( relatively ) affordable watch(es). 

And even if it is the Reverso Year, this year, I hope we'll see some cool round watches...  

To be followed.

Best,

Nicolas









More posts: Ballon BleuDuometreFlying TourbillonHybris MechanicaJaeger LeCoultre

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Comments: view entire thread

 

How to set all the astronomical informations?

 
 By: Alfihar : April 6th, 2021-23:14
I hope that for it’s price, Catherine Rénier intervenes personally at your home to settle this type of detail 😬

I really don’t know how but...

 
 By: Alfihar : April 6th, 2021-23:26
I think that there is a reference point with a date an hour a minute... for setting the watch The mechanism is crazy ! ...  

Yes, really crazy.

 
 By: amanico : April 6th, 2021-23:54

+1 Crazy

 
 By: Gelato Monster : April 7th, 2021-01:43
This is why they are one of if not the best (arguably can beat any other brand)

Oh so that’s where the painted Earth

 
 By: robsallnow : April 6th, 2021-23:27
in the teaser goes, on the third of four dials! Nice to hear it’s so thin for a four dial watch. They’ve got 10 years to work out where to put a fifth!! As for the affordable fare for us, green is very predictable and welcome but still with that circular ... 

That cal 185! Just stunned.

 
 By: dedestexhes : April 6th, 2021-23:36
I often don’t like all these over the top watches, but this one... probably never will be able to see it in the flesh though. Dirk

merci Nico...i'm impressed how many components JLC is able to pack into that Reverso Case...

 
 By: mahesh : April 6th, 2021-23:44
Hybris Mechanica movement is just breathtaking in terms of mechanical architecture ! there is every reason to call JLC the ''watchmakers' watchmaker'' - isn't it?! Best, mahesh.,

Hi my friend... try to count 😜

 
 By: Alfihar : April 6th, 2021-23:47
...  

oh la la...

 
 By: mahesh : April 7th, 2021-00:37

Wow, JLC did deliver!

 
 By: eklektik : April 6th, 2021-23:56
Thanks Nicolas for this intro to these new models. It will take some time to digest all these technical informations! Few early comments: - HM is a stunning piece. Great achievement from the new management team, confirming that the manufacture can still d... 

Wow! That Cal. 185 is just stunning.

 
 By: kev09 : April 7th, 2021-00:07
The skill involved in designing and putting that together is mind blowing. I’m almost tempted to put my beloved Reverso Duo in part exchange. Thanks for showing these new watches Nicolas. Regarding the green one, I was hoping for something a little more i... 

Excellent write up as per usual

 
 By: xxn : April 7th, 2021-00:14
quick question is that green dial officially a 90th anniversary addition?

Thanks. Good to know

 
 By: xxn : April 7th, 2021-02:58
cause this green dial was a little underwhelming

The triptyque and now the quadriptyque, between those two I need 2 life time of studies ;-)

 
 By: PoyFR : April 7th, 2021-00:22
wonders of discoveries for us and years of experience and achievements for JLC. Magic! It's a shame that for most of us this piece will remain the magic that we see in our dreams.

My pleasure, Reuven.

 
 By: amanico : April 7th, 2021-01:59

Thanks a lot for all these information Nico!

 
 By: Watch_kha_wen : April 7th, 2021-00:26
The new limited edition complication is just a marvel (and that’s an euphemism!) I am truly amazed by the level of complication and details they nowadays manage to bring in such a tiny physical piece. Hope I can see it in the flesh one day. Re the tribute... 

Agree!

 
 By: Watch_kha_wen : April 7th, 2021-05:16
I don’t understand why they have not issued more flavours of the 2016 tribute tho Kev

I like that!

 
 By: Watch_kha_wen : April 7th, 2021-05:25

Very Nice

 
 By: SALMANPK : April 7th, 2021-00:33

Merci!

 
 By: amanico : April 7th, 2021-02:19

The HM is absolutely stunning!

 
 By: jlux : April 7th, 2021-00:34
It shows what JLC is capable of doing and inventing. On a much more realistic level, I must say that the first pictures of the green Reverso are very tempting.

Thank's for this Nico!

 
 By: lm6 : April 7th, 2021-01:08
The green Tribute looks amazing. Evin if I agree with you that green is becoming a little to common right now, I think it will be a stunner in real life. The Cal 185 leaves me out of words - and that meant in a positive way. It is nothing less than unbeli... 

Ouch!

 
 By: amanico : April 7th, 2021-02:49

+1!

 
 By: lm6 : April 7th, 2021-03:06

1.6 million Euro!!???

 
 By: robsallnow : April 7th, 2021-03:33
I could buy TWO Richard Mille watches for that!!! ;-D That said, it’s easier to tell the time on this Reverso’s fourth dial than it is on most RM watches lol

Correct. ;)

 
 By: amanico : April 7th, 2021-03:37

May be ...

 
 By: leopold : April 7th, 2021-04:25

Hehehe... ;)

 
 By: amanico : April 7th, 2021-05:12

I will try my best. ;)

 
 By: amanico : April 7th, 2021-03:13

Yes! :-)

 
 By: Echi : April 7th, 2021-04:04

Thank you Nico,

 
 By: sirdavid : April 7th, 2021-03:12
for such a precise, prompt, and interesting article. I will likely be purchasing the deep green in the next couple of weeks. It is a configuration I requested from the London Boutique last summer. When do you anticipate posting news of more releases from ... 

Aha! There was a brief tease...

 
 By: sirdavid : April 7th, 2021-05:27
of something very tasty towards the end of Catherine Rénier's launch film. ...  

We'll see that later.

 
 By: amanico : April 7th, 2021-06:47

Wooohooo the return of the 8 day movement....

 
 By: robsallnow : April 7th, 2021-09:57
...with two extra days of power reserve...and a parking meter timer!! :-p

Where? Where??? ;)

 
 By: amanico : April 7th, 2021-14:40

Wow! Is this Jumping Hour Reverso the April 14th introduction? Stupendous!

 
 By: Ano Nuevo : April 7th, 2021-10:42
This watch is as exciting as the green Reverso is disappointing! And if that jumping hour and gorgeous night sky is the back of the Reverso, what beauty have they put on the FRONT??!? Ano “Now THAT I like” Nuevo

let me guess....

 
 By: robsallnow : April 7th, 2021-10:51
the regular galvanised grey dial with arabic numbers...like they did with the Reversos with the decent meteorite or aventurine dials

You are probably right.

 
 By: amanico : April 7th, 2021-10:52

The Hybris Mechanica is absolutely insane!

 
 By: mhz vph : April 7th, 2021-07:53
While Patek manages to change a dial from blue to green, the real masters have been hard at work. What a beast of a watch!

Well said!

 
 By: amanico : April 7th, 2021-08:58

Almost Unbelievable...

 
 By: elliot55 : April 7th, 2021-08:29
... In each and every way. And only 1.25M. Better get two.

How many man-hours to create this behemoth for over one million dineros, only ten pieces and yet

 
 By: remarque : April 7th, 2021-09:57
absolutely no resources devoted to us plebians? No forward movement on the basic journeyman Reverso. Same old 822/2 caliber, 21600 Hz, 45 hour PR, no signific WR, but WOW new green, blue and red colors for big price of $8250, but wait, pay even MORE for t... 

Agreed. So disappointed in the “steerage” Reverso Small Seconds in green. How original! <— sarcasm

 
 By: Ano Nuevo : April 7th, 2021-10:35
Couldn’t they have found SOMETHING interesting to add to that re-re-re-used design? Even a Duo? And next year I suppose they’ll slap a yellow dial and yellow strap on the same watch for only $12K. Ano “You can’t always get what you want” Nuevo

Oh, I’m all for green watches

 
 By: Ano Nuevo : April 7th, 2021-16:12
My gripe is that JLC changed nothing but the color in this model for 2021. I’d hoped for a new complication or two, or sword hands, or a Duo model, or something completely new and exciting for us peasants —in short, something to distinguish the new green ... 

I don't know which site you saw the green dial's price on

 
 By: robsallnow : April 7th, 2021-10:41
but according to the JLC website the UK retail price for the green, red and blue are exacly the same, £7200

ok, I see that is the case in the US

 
 By: robsallnow : April 7th, 2021-11:38
just looking at other countries....all three same in Australia, UK....but say in France it's 200 euros more....no idea what's going on

Thanks, Doubleup.

 
 By: amanico : April 7th, 2021-11:20

Is there a picture/diagram

 
 By: robsallnow : April 7th, 2021-13:38
of the box corrector device?

That HM Reverso is spectacular!!!

 
 By: jleno : April 7th, 2021-15:56
I can only imagine how crazy it must be to see something like that in person and get blown away 4 separate times from each side!

Spectacular, of course.

 
 By: Sebi : April 8th, 2021-02:50
But then again, on an unlimited budget that is something to be expected from JLC. No need to add stones or anything! I doubt I will ever see the grace of these astronomical dials in-the-metal, what a shame. One question... where are the pieces for the reg... 

Next Wednesday....

 
 By: robsallnow : April 8th, 2021-02:57
....apparently

Certainly. ;)

 
 By: amanico : April 8th, 2021-03:26

Could it be this mystery reverso?

 
 By: Fastwong : April 8th, 2021-03:24
...  

Having said that

 
 By: robsallnow : April 8th, 2021-04:30
that still doesn’t look like a Reverso for the regular Joe, that looks like it will cost more than a straight forward Reverso or Duo, and not just because it appears to be gold

We'll see...

 
 By: amanico : April 8th, 2021-05:54

Ha! Finally! ;)

 
 By: amanico : April 8th, 2021-08:45

I’ve been a little slow on the uptake lately

 
 By: Ano Nuevo : April 8th, 2021-10:21
Or, as the late great Tennessee Ernie Ford put it, “I got a hitch in my git-along!” Ano “Slow but still sharp” Nuevo

Well put.

 
 By: amanico : April 8th, 2021-15:27

In 6 days, my friend.

 
 By: amanico : April 8th, 2021-03:27

Yes.

 
 By: amanico : April 8th, 2021-15:27