Thin is Back In…

It was only a few years ago when it seemed like there was a contest among watch makers in a “Race to make the biggest watch possible”.  Watches went up to 60mm+ during this time, dominating the wrist and losing the sleek, subtle style that classic timepieces are known for.

Jump ahead to Basel 2011, where it seemed that the thinner, sleeker watches seemed to dominate the admiration of onlookers.  Some opinions are that an increasingly strong Asian market has influenced the size of watches being produced, others have said, that it’s just not flattering for a watch to be so big.  “It’s easy to create and place a movement in a case the size of a baseball”, joked one watch maker.  The truth is, there is not much skill involved in creating a caliber that has no size restrictions, however if the watchmaker has a slim, sleek case that they need to make a movement for, that is far more difficult.

Enter the manufacture Jaeger LeCoultre. JLC is a brand that has been creating watches since 1833.   Their most iconic watch is the Reverso, a watch that was created out of necessity back in 1931 to Polo players that continually would break the crystals of their watches while playing matches.  A case that rotated 180 degrees and left an exposed steel case back facing outward for protection was created while the watch and its dial remained unscathed.

At Basel this year Jaeger, marking the 80th anniversary of the Reverso, JLC released the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute to 1931 and the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin.   The Tribute to 1931 is an “authentic re-edition of the first legendary model, this one faithfully reproduces its appearance while adapting it to the new and more generous proportions of the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin.”  The newest additions to the Reverso family are a mere 7.2mm thick and come equipped with the entirely in house manual hand wound Caliber 822.

The Reverso Ultra Thin will come in 4 different styles.  There is a Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute to 1931 editions in both Steel and Rose Gold that will be limited production pieces that have unique color ways that are reminiscent of the originals with only 500 pieces available worldwide.   There will also be a non limited edition version in both steel and Rose gold cases as well.

In a day where it seems more is more, it is nice to see one of the world’s oldest traditions go back to its roots, and embrace a less is more execution.

Josh Nigut
jnigut@hpjewels.com
303-333-4446