Grande Reverso 1931 Limited Ed.

JAEGER-LECOULTRE GRANDE REVERSO 1931 SPECIAL EDITION RED

ICONEEK price: SOLD

The model pays tribute to the original Reverso, model 201 with its caliber 064, created in 1931 in Paris, by Cesar de Trey and David LeCoultre, and patented on March 1931 for 5 francs (at the time), no. 159982 (see picture), for a reversible watch. Shortly after its launch in 1931, the Reverso was available with a broad palette of dial, including fancy colors. In 1931, some Reverso for ladies are already available with burgundy China lacquer dial. In 2012, during the SIHH, JLC, so called La Grande Maison, released the « Grande Reverso 1931 Rouge » in tribute to these early famous models, a special Boutique edition.  Shortly after the Great Depression, during the french « Annees Folles » (Crazy Years), it was not only a distinctly non-conformist attitude to wear a colorful dial, but also a taste of extravagance.

Only few changes were made: the size and the caliber, in order to fit actual taste and preserved the Reverso original dna. The case is larger, 46 mm, and slimmest, 7.3 mm, like the 2011 Grande Reverso 1931, and the caliber 822 is a thin manually-wound movement.

Under the sapphire crystal, a superb red laquer dial with white gold baton and railway minute track, white gold Epee hands, « Reverso » and « Swiss » painted in silver. The dial reminds us the red China lacquer with its red gloss color, but moreover the famous Cabaret interiors from the 1930s. Like in the vintage version, the dial only shows the name Reverso and not the name of the manufacture as the model is still so iconic, more than 80 years after its creation.

This very elegant slim case is set with a winding crown with logo, an engraved case back «  Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Edition Speciale Rouge ». This « Boutique » edition was tested for 1,000 hours, like the Master Control collection, and this is emphasized by the « 1000 Hours Control » logo on the case back. The leather strap is set with a stainless steel JLC buckle. The retail price in 2013 was approx. 8’500.- CHF, the model was exclusively available in JLC boutiques for approx 1 year.

A well-born young but collector yet model!

Condition: 9.8/10, complete and mint, from the original owner.