Review Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duetto Medium

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As Christmas is fast arriving, we have to think, maybe at the last moment, what can we give to that dear person. The person can even be yourself… The important fact is that a gift brings joy. When it comes to watches, that joy is remembered and treasured every time the watch is worn. And what for a classic, timeless and sweet piece if not a Reverso. While the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duetto Medium is mostly oriented towards the feminine collector, I can see it as a perfect gift for any person that loves a bit of ice on the wrist, regardless of gender. So we have a look at the versions released earlier this year in the hope of sparking some gifting ideas.

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A story as old as…

Girls and boys (not the Blur song) gather around the digital monitor fire and listen to a story. 90 years ago, a group of Polo players have had enough of the expensive watches broken during violent Polo matches. They turned to one guy named César (not the emperor and definitively not the salad) to find them some watches that can be fully hit ( I’ve told you that Polo is a brutal sport). This guy had contact with Jacques-David LeCoultre, who asked a French engineer named Alfred (no…, not the guy from Batman) for a solution. René-Alfred Chauvot did not want to use the grill accustomed on the first great war watches. So he finds a solution like for a gentleman – a case that can slide and turn 180 degrees. In this way, the face of the watch can be well protected.

The new idea was a hit… (pun intended) The new watch establishes itself as a successful luxury sports watch, being very fast adopted by gentlemen practising other dangerous sports as well. The Reverso lived to become not only an icon but one of the largest and longevivest collections ever. While in the last 20 years we have seen some fabulous complications fitted in the reversible case, the simple time-only models remained a pinnacle of desire and elegance. From this, I personally find the two face models the most admirable models. Having the possibility to just dramatically change the look of the piece on the wrist just by a flip is … genius. I enjoy it more than a lot and, moreover, I have the tendency to use it as a calming process or as a distraction when the other activity I am involved in is boring me to death… ( so you see, it is a life saviour)

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duetto Medium

The beauty of the models presented today, the Reverso Duetto Medium stays not only in the classic look of the collection but also in the mechanical gimmick present – a watch with two faces fitted with an automatic movement. All this in a relatively small case size fitted with two rows of diamonds.

But let’s watch two small videos presenting the watches. In this way we can easier comprehend the beauty and the brains of the (magical) Reverso:

Reverso Duetto Medium (Steel) Reference: Q2578480

Reverso Duetto Medium (pink gold) Reference: Q2572570

Recognisable from the first look

One need only a short view of the sleeve to easily recognise the icon. Maybe not the precise model, but a Reverso will always be one of the fastest to spot. The aspect of the case is deeply printed in the memory of any watch lover and to any person with a good memory to recognise the watch from one of the many movies that featured it. my favourite, The Thomas Crown Affair.

Manufactured in rose gold or steel ( in our case) the watch measures 40 x 24 mm. The dimensions make it look good on more delicate wrists. This makes the Duetto Medium an excellent choice for ladies, hence the two rows of diamonds that surround the swivelling case.

The crown is another element where Jaeger-LeCoultre kept Reverso unchanged for years – the embossed logo in a polished finish. The bent lugs confer an exceptional good wrist feel and unusual comfort.

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The process of turning from one face to another is pleasant, conferring a sense of robustness. A 90 years old patent that is meant to last.

Traditional versus modern

Duetto offers a duality hard to beat. The coexistence of the conservative face with Arabic numeral, inner guilloche area and sword hands that is never meeting the modern face with a spectacular design and dauphine hands.

One can easily observe the central rotor weight fixed with visible ball bearings. The movement of the rotor can be perceived in the videos presented above. The gold case version is featuring a gorgeous black and gold theme second face.

The steel version features the proverbial blued sword hands and rhodium-plated applied numerals. The black railroad used as minutes’ register offers a more striking contrast to this version.

The second face impresses with a blue theme with silver printed details and rhodium-plated and faceted dauphine hands. I personally enjoy the faceted hands with half polish, half blasted finishes that offer outstanding legibility.

Calibre 968A

The presented Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duetto Medium models are powered by the Manufacture Calibre 968A. This movement is used on several Duetto Medium pieces. This is a 4Hz automatic movement featuring 207 components. At 4.27 mm, it is not the thinnest out there. But it is impressive considering: first, the only 9.5mm of the case (the case base construction ads its own thickness to the final number) and second, the extraordinary complication.

Since Calibre 986A is not visible to the viewer, we can only make an educated guess about the finishes involved. And the brand never disappointed in this chapter using the typical perlage for the main plate, Geneva waves and chamfering for bridges and a sunray finish on the visible side of the rotor.

Final words and conclusion

Jaeger-LeCoultre offers for Reverso Duetto Medium (and most of the recent models) the classic fast-changing strap system. With a diversified pallet of strap colours, one had the chance to further personalise its Reverso experience. The leather straps is another chapter where Jaeger-LeCoultre excels. The triple folding steel clasp is comfortable. The gold version is provided with a pin buckle in the case material.

For me it is impossible to find reasons for which one might not like or want a Reverso. I mean, there are, unfortunately, enough people not aware of this fantastic piece (but this is a topic for another discussion), but for those in the know, not appreciating Reverso is unimaginable. The unrestrained elegance of this sports watch is unbeatable. Even the concept of an art-deco sports watch is almost a contradiction in terms. Just like the difference between the ultra-traditional face and the modern second dal, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duetto Medium is a watch of beautiful contradictions. We can almost say that is like the difference between black and white (or blue and white for the steel piece). Despite this antagonism, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duetto Medium is a sublime and subtle piece that can be enjoyed anytime/anywhere.

So what stops you (other than the unfortunate financial circumstances) to give such a cult object to the person you love? Even if it is yourself…