The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duo-Face Small Seconds defines the charisma of a watch. I’m not the only one who finds the proportions, materials, and colors amazing. Everyone at Fratello’s office wanted to own this special Reverso. In the introductory article, I mentioned that I couldn’t wait to try this watch on. It didn’t take long to arrive and it did not disappoint. In fact, it made me dizzy.
When I wrote about the four new Reverso Tribute references, the one with the most visual impact was the rose gold Q3982590. You may be familiar with the pink gold Reverso Classic Duo Face Small Seconds (Q3842520). It’s basically the same watch, but the design of the dial is different. For example, the Tribute does away with the classic Arabic numerals, and the guilloché pattern is also absent from the Tribute model. Classic looks truly classic, and Blue’s tribute successfully captures both the traditional and modern spirit. The strong dauphine hands of the Tribute also have a much stronger visual impact than the thin sword hands of the Classic.
Charismatic Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duo Face Small Seconds
The new Reverso Tribute Duo Face Small Seconds is made of warm, shiny, polished pink gold and is extremely attractive. I almost had to fight to get the watch and start the actual test session. This is a charismatic watch, so you can’t fault Fratello’s teammates. Thankfully, it never loses its charm once you have it on your wrist. The glossy, ink-blue lacquer dial of the Recto dial, which displays home time, is so appealing that you can’t help but peer into it.
Since this is a Duoface, it also has a second (“verso”) dial. It’s not flashy, but it’s incredibly stylish and sophisticated. It features raised pink gold indexes on a silver background, a recessed center and a sophisticated 24-hour (nighttime) display. The blue dial is exciting, but when you turn the case, the silver dial calms down again.It’s such a dynamic watch.
Slightly larger
For my wrist of 18cm, the length of 47mm, diameter of 28.3mm, and case thickness of 9.6mm are a bit large, but I think I can get used to the size. There were no issues with the size during the testing period. However, rectangular watches certainly give a very different impression than round watches. It’s as if your wrist has some kind of memory and avoids opposing shapes. You can “tame” your wrist with a little training, but you also need to train your brain. That’s because most watch-loving brains expect the wearer’s eyes to process a round watch rather than a rectangular watch when looking at the wrist. Again, practice makes perfect.
This is a duo-face, so you can’t see inside the watch, but if you’re wondering, this watch is powered by the molded hand-wound caliber 854A/2. Most Duoface models are equipped with the same 19 jewel, 3Hz in-house movement. A small slider attached to the top case band controls additional time zones and a 24-hour display, but the slider is not visible until you remove the case from the cradle.
Nostalgic Reverso
The Reverso Tribute Duoface is a throwback to the first Reverso model from 1931. It features iconic codes like the railroad minute track, applied hour markers, and sword-shaped or dauphine hands, but the colorway has been updated and executed at a level you probably wouldn’t expect. It was quite possible in the 1930s. First of all, the watch feels incredibly tight. The way the case rotates and clicks back into place is smooth and solid. The tolerances used by Jaeger-LeCoultre are tight.
And then there’s the dial. Since the 2024 Reverso is born in an emotional rather than a practical world, it spends more time in the hands of various artisanal experts before leaving Le Sentier’s production. For example, the deep blue dial with a luminous sunray finish is the result of a complex and time-consuming lacquering process that includes 50 manufacturing steps and 20 coats of lacquer.
Speaking of modern touches, this watch comes with a ready-to-change strap. A blue calfskin strap and a matching dual material strap. The best news is that there is no folding clasp in sight. The pink gold pin buckle remains elegant, simple, and historically correct. Remember that the Reverso was originally a sports watch.
When you listen to the Reverso, you can spin and sing.
With its captivating blue dial and gorgeous rose gold case, this Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duo Face Small Seconds makes me want to belt out the 1965 Dave Berry hit. This sparkling Reverso really “has a strange effect on me and I love it.” I like it very much. What I don’t really like (but this is purely based on my 2024 budget cap) is that it retails for €27,900 / US$25,500.
Much has been said and said about the pricing of JLC’s new releases in the comments below various Fratello articles. In a relatively short period of time, the price curve of this brand showed a sharp upward trend. I’m still having trouble matching the current price with the corresponding watch. If you feel the same way or have a different view, let us know in the comments section below.
