JAEGER LeCOULTRE

Reverso

dated 1932-33

Vintage 1933 Legendary

Polo Players Watch

with original Box

This beautiful Jaeger watch was designed for Polo players, hence flipable steel case, that can be rotated 180degrees, with the dial protected within external case frame, and caseback exposed.

The Reverso was envisioned after British officers in India complained to a watch importer that the glass cases of their watches often shattered during polo matches. The importer, Cesar de Trey, mentioned the problem to his supplied, Jacques-David LeCoultre, who then consulted Edmund Jaeger and Rene Alfred Chauvot. Together the three developed a watch case that would slide and swivel.                                          The watch was finally introduced in 1931 under LeCoultre, though not with a LeCoultre movement, and designed by Jaeger — this was before the two companies were one. In the beginning, LeCoultre didn’t supply the movement for the watch as the cases were produced before the right movement was developed. However, in 1933 LeCoultre started to manufacture Reversos with an in-house movement.

The watch is in great condition considering its age and its history, the movement has been recently fully serviced and is keeping very good time. All parts are original, hence some patina on the dial and some light wear on the case, but in my opinion it only adds to the character of this stunning timepiece.

What's even more interesting about this watch, it comes with its original box.

Specifications:

Make:             JAEGER LeCOULTRE, Switzerland

Model:           Reverso, dated 1933

Serial No       13184 (case), 35615 (movement)

Movement:     Manual wind JLC cal.11U movement, 15 jewels

                       signed LeCoultre Co

Case:             tank shape stainless steel case frame with rotating subcase containing the movement

   Snap on stainless steel case back, marked with serial number 

Dial:                Rectangular silver with hour bar markings and gilded minute scale

                       steel blueish hands

Strap:             16mm tan leather strap