Introducing: The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Monoface In Steel – Now Back With A Smaller Case (Live Pics)
What We Know
Jaeger-LeCoultre is introducing a trio of new Reversos, led by a new stainless steel Reverso Tribute Monoface. With nearly the same case size as the original 1931 Reverso, the new Monoface is a traditional addition to the Reverso collection. Alongside the two-hand Reverso Monoface, Jaeger-LeCoultre has also introduced a Duoface Tourbillon in stainless steel (very cool!) and Duoface Small Seconds in pink gold. While this Intro focuses on the new Tribute Monoface, the more complicated Reversos are also strong releases – the steel Duoface Tourbillon is nicely executed, so we’ll also discuss that with some live photos.
The stainless steel case measures 40 x 24mm and 7.6mm thick.
The new Reverso Tribute Monoface is, in many ways, the Reverso I’ve wanted for a while. The stainless steel case measures 40 x 24.4mm and has a slim 7.6mm profile. This puts it within a couple of millimeters of the original 1931 Reverso in all dimensions (38 x 23mm). The vintage Reverso case is no match for the modern case though, which slides seamlessly and has actual water resistance – 30 meters on the new Monoface.
In silver opaline or sunray blue.
It’s offered with a silver opaline or a sunray blue lacquer dial. The dial is clean and simple, as a Reverso should be, with sharp dauphine hour and minute hands, trapezoidal indices, and an outer rail minute track. The design is similar to last year’s Reverso Small Seconds, though the case is smaller. Each is powered by the long-standing Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 822, a manual-wind movement with a 42-hour power reserve that’s been in the manufacturer’s stable powering Reversos for about 30 years. The winding action from the crown remains crisp, smooth, and satisfying. Flip the dial over for your polo match, and you’ll see the Reverso’s blank, polished back, which is ready to be engraved.
The stainless steel Reverso Tribute Monoface is delivered on a folding clasp and calfskin leather saffiano strap that has a contrasting smooth finish around the lugs. Retail price is $8,900.
An original 1931 Reverso compared to the new Monoface in steel.
Alongside the new stainless steel Reverso Tribute Monoface, Jaeger-LeCoultre has also introduced the Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon in stainless steel. It’s a more modern (and slightly more accessible) take on the Tourbillon introduced in pink gold in 2023 and the platinum limited edition before that. The 60-second flying tourbillon is visible through both sides of the dial. On the front side, it sits at 6 o’clock in an otherwise clean and contemporary sunray grey dial. But flip the dial over to see the second time zone, and you’ll see a dial that puts more of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s watchmaking and craft on display. The dial is partially open-worked to show off hand-beveled bridges and is decorated with Clous de Paris guilloche done by hand in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Metiers Rares atelier.
For all that, it sits in a relatively compact case measuring 45.5 x 27.4mm and just 9.15mm thick. The Tourbillon Duoface is a beautiful display of traditional craft in an entirely modern package. It’ll set you back $110,000. For comparison, last year’s pink gold Duoface Tourbillon was released at $139,000. As a sign of the times, the platinum limited edition of 50 had a price of $123,000 back in 2018.
Finally, Jaeger-LeCoultre has also introduced a pink gold Reverso Tribute Duoface Small Seconds with a glossy blue dial and silver sunray dial with a 24-hour night-day display. The rich blue lacquer is particularly striking against the pink gold case. The Duoface is powered by JLC’s caliber 854, displaying hours, minutes, and seconds on the front, as well as a second time zone and 24-hour indicator on the second dial. The second time zone is adjusted by a small slider inset in the top caseband, which is only visible when the Reverso case is being flipped. Price: $25,500.
What We Think
On my 6.3-in wrist.
This is what I want from a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso on wrist. The new Reverso Tribute Monoface is slim, elegant, and wearable. I prefer the clean opaline dial that sits somewhere between white, silver, and nearly grey, depending on the light. The matte finish is almost boring but reminds me of vintage Reversos. The sunray blue dial is more contemporary and probably more interesting, but I’ve seen enough steel watches with blue dials for now, even if the rectangular Art Deco Reverso is decidedly different. While the Reverso is rectangular, it has a certain softness since there aren’t many sharp edges to the case.
The case might be too small for some, but there is still a range of larger Reversos in the catalog; for example, the Tribute Small Seconds or Classic Small Seconds. But for those who want a traditional Reverso size, we finally got it. I was able to spend some time with the new Monoface alongside a few vintage Reversos, and it wears essentially the same on wrist.
Otherwise, the modern execution of the dial works. We could pine for more heritage inspiration as we saw in the Tribute to 1931, but to me, this is what a modern Reverso should be. It’s clean and contemporary – without leaning on the past too much. While the caliber 822 has been in use for about 30 years, sleuths have noticed it’s also been quietly updated over the years with modern expectations like a freesprung balance.
The front dial of the Duoface Tourbillon.
Meanwhile, the stainless steel Duoface Tourbillon is aspirational stuff. It’s complicated; it’s beautiful, and it’s everything that’s made Jaeger-LeCoultre one of the best watchmakers at its scale, not just today but for the past century. I’ve been lucky to see a few beautiful tourbillons over the past few weeks – this Reverso, the Daniel Roth Tourbillon, and the Chopard L.U.C 1860 Tourbillon (more to come on that one). Daniel Roth and Chopard L.U.C produce watches at a significantly smaller scale than Jaeger-LeCoultre, but this tourbillon illustrates how, even with its size, JLC continues to maintain handcraft that can come close to matching these manufacturers.
As for the price of the Tribute Monoface: $8,900. It’s a big ask for a stainless steel watch with two hands. But Jaeger-LeCoultre is trying to position the Reverso as more than just that. The case is complicated (55 parts); the bridges of the cal. 822 are hand-beveled. These are details that JLC hopes can set the Reverso apart from the potential competition.
I was able to spend some hands-on time with each of these Reverso releases, so let us know if you’d like to see a full Hands-On review.
The Basics
Brand: Jaeger-LeCoultre
Model: Reverso Tribute Monoface
Reference Number: Q7168420, Q716848J
Dimensions: 40.1 x 24.4mm
Thickness: 7.56mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Color: Opaline silver or blue sunray lacquer
Indexes: Applied non-luminous indices
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Gold-tan or blue calfskin with contrasting smooth and Saffiano finishes and a folding clasp
The new Monoface in steel, with sunray blue or opaline white dial.
The Reverso Duoface in pink gold.
The Movement
Caliber: Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber. 822
Functions: Hours and minutes
Diameter: 20.2mm
Thickness: 2.94mm
Power Reserve: 42 hours
Winding: Manual
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour
Jewels: 19
Chronometer Certified: No
Pricing & Availability
Price: $8,900
For more, check out the Reverso collection on Jaeger-LeCoultre’s website.
Hodinkee
