Pre- SIHH 2012 Jaeger LeCoultre Evokes an Era on a Dial

 

In 1931 Jaeger LeCoultre released a TT 1931 Reverso with a bright red enamel dial. (The color was very much that of a Coca Cola advertisement). Today this particular model is highly coveted due to its bright dial hue and fetches high prices at Auction Houses. At the SIHH 2012, Jaeger LeCoultre will unveil a reintroduction of the colored dial; however, this time the red color is done in red lacquer rather than the original enamel. . The Jaeger LeCoultre Grand Reverso 1931 Rouge Dial is simple allowing the color to command the watch unless of course one wishes to play a game of polo. 

I mention polo, because the nature of the game and its potential harm on a watches' dial actually brought about the Reverso idea.

In 1931, British Officers stationed in Colonial India would play polo in their spare time; however, more often then not the crystal of the wrist watches would get damaged during the game.
Cesar de Trey, an influential businessman, who was a close associate of Jacques-David LeCoultre visited friends in India.
A polo player approached him, "Sir, I challenge you to create a timepiece that can survive a game of polo with its crystal intact."

This challenge founded the legend of the Reverso. A Patent for Reverso was filed on March 4, 1931: A watch capable of sliding in its base and of turning completely on its axis to turn the crystal inward.

Thus the SIHH 2012 Jaeger LeCoultre  Grand Reverso 1931 Rouge Dial pays tribute to the year the Reverso idea was born as well as the alluring colors of the watches dial.

Jaeger Le-Coultre Raises Funds for Heart Center in Sudan

At the 68th Venice International Film Festival running from August 31st to September 10th, 2011, JaegerLeCoultre ,who has been sponsoring the festival for the last seven years and supplying Jaeger- LeCoulture finest glamor to the stars, has decided to use this opportunity to support a worthy cause.  On September 1st, on the 2nd night of the festival Jaeger-LeCoultre held an exclusive event: "Reverso for Emergency, Jaeger-LeCoultre Helps the Salam Center".

Just as there are ten glittering nights of the 68th Venice International Film Festival, Jaeger-LeCoultre ,with support of celebrities, will finance ten operations at the Salam Center.  The Salam Center was established in 2007 by Emergency Association in Khartoum, Sudan and specializes in children and adults suffering from heart disease.  The center provides these procedures free of charge to patients who otherwise would have no means of paying for their medical treatment. 

In honor of this worthy cause, Jaeger-LeCoultre unveiled a Reverso featuring a red heart as if drawn by the hand of a happy child. The Reverso design is turning 80 this year.  First developed in 1931 at the fervent request of British Officers in India who enjoyed a hearty game of polo but feared damage to the crystal of their timepiece.

As the story is told:

Cesar de Trey, an influential businessman, who was a close associate of Jacques-David LeCoultre visited friends in India.
A polo player approached him, "Sir, I challenge you to create a timepiece that can survive a game of polo with its crystal intact."

This challenge founded the legend of the Reverso. A Patent for Reverso was filed on March 4, 1931: A watch capable of sliding in its base and of turning completely on its axis to turn the crystal inward.

Actress Diane Kruger Reveals Jaeger-LeCoultre Ultra Thin Lady

At this years SIHH, German Actress and Ambassador of Jaeger- LeCoultre, Diane Kruger, together with the company's CEO, unveiled the new feminine Jaeger-LeCoultre Ultra Thin Reverso. Diane Kruger was quite pleased to be unveiling a watch collection so close to her heart. On her 18th birthday, her mother had offered Diane Kruger, a Reverso of her very own.

The introduction of the elegant timepiece is in commemoration of the Reverso's 80th birthday

In 1931, British Officers stationed in Colonial India would play polo in their spare time. More often then not the crystal of the wrist watches would get damaged during the game.
Cesar de Trey, an influential businessman, who was a close associate of Jacques-David LeCoultre visited friends in India.
A polo player approached him, "Sir, I challenge you to create a timepiece that can survive a game of polo with its crystal intact."

This challenge founded the legend of the Reverso. A Patent for Reverso was filed on March 4, 1931: A watch capable of sliding in its base and of turning completely on its axis to turn the crystal inward.

Over the past 80 years, the Reverso Collection has caught the attention of many watch wearers attracted by the watches elegant charm and aesthetic versatility both for men and women.

The new Ultra Thin Reverso exudes a sensual elegance and quiet seduction.

The best ladies watch of 2009

German watch magazine Armbanduhren voted The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Squadra Lady Duetto watch as the best ladies watch of 2009. Truly it is one of the most beautiful watches I have ever seen. The blend of rose gold and white creates a serene timepiece. The watch ,true to its Reverso title, has a watch case that flips to either side displaying two distinct faces both tell the time but are decorated differently. The one side displays the date within the six and the other side has a day/night complication indicator. The watch case is available in stainless steel or highly coveted 18k rose gold. The rose gold is set with 75 diamonds and 36 diamonds decorate the steel version. As with every watch crafted by Jaeger-LeCoultre, elegance is supreme and the movement is superb. Different straps are available for the timepiece. An articulated rubber strap is depicted in the image above blending exquisitely with the rose gold. More traditional alligator strap and metal strap are the other choices.

The originality that crafted the Jeager-LeCoultre Reverso was out of practical necessity.
In 1931, British Officers who were stationed in Colonial India would play polo in their spare time. However more often then not the crystal of the wrist watches would get damaged during the game.
Cesar de Trey, an influential businessman, who was a close associate of Jacques-David LeCoultre visited friends in India.
A polo player approached him, "Sir, I challenge you to create a timepiece that can survive a game of polo with its crystal intact."

This challenge founded the legend of the Reverso. A Patent for Reverso was filed on March 4, 1931: A watch capable of sliding in its base and of turning completely on its axis to turn the crystal inward.

The Effect of the Economy on Luxury Watches.

When the economy was great, my interest in finances was somewhat vague, but now it has become something of an obsession. I constantly check the Dow Jones to see whether the market is up or down - mostly down, and the minutes before 4pm ,when the market closes, my eyes are glued to the screen watching the numbers change. So naturally I am always scanning the net to find articles about the current economic situation and luxury watches. I came across an article on Portfolio. com titled "Tough times for Luxury Watches" which I found well written and a good read. Click on the title and you will be able to read the full article.

The article states quite a bit of statistics regarding the downturn of mid range luxury watches. The downturn in the economy left an entire army of watch buyers in a quandary, your stock brokers, your mortgage brokers, lawyers, real estate developers, construction workers suddenly found themselves scrambling to pay the bills, regular bills like the phone and electric. Who could think of buying a luxury watch?
But there are dreams and just because the bank balance is dwindling the dreams don't stop, as Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel designer, voiced in a January BBC interview.

"I can be interested in a $20m diamond I will never buy, without desiring the diamond. If you want only things you can afford, it's boring too."

"It's great to see things you may not buy - because you don't have the money - but it is very ugly to think they shouldn't exist because you can not buy them."

(Watch depicted Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Joaillerie Ladies' Manual Wind Watch 18K White Gold with Diamonds Q2673301)
People will not succumb to frivolous spending, but spending wisely, and although at this present moment the spenders have halted to rethink their past spending habits, they will reorganize and begin to set money aside for that which they want. The thrill of having a luxury watch strapped to ones wrist does not fade with the passage of time, but only increases so that when one purchases an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak or a Cartier Tank or a Concord La Scala the satisfaction is ten fold.

(Watch depicted Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Men's Watch Automatic 18K Rose Gold White Dial on Brown Leather Strap 15300OR-OO-D088CR-02)

Last week I took my son to the doctor to have his yearly shots. I noticed the Doctor had on an exquisite Cartier Tank. I admired it and she said, "I had wanted a Cartier Tank for the longest time, and finally I bought it."
In these troubling times with CEO's getting hammered for travelling by private jet, people are feeling guilty about spending large sums of money. However, there is no substitute for a good watch, especially a good Luxury Watch which will last a lifetime. The trick is to channel your money wisely and in doing so you will be able to afford a luxury watch. Buy a luxury watch and feel good about yourselves, feel that even in this economy you can gain self confidence, and confidence is a much needed trait around about now.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the above issues.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso slides into the future.

"Necessity is the mother of invention," as the old saying goes, spurred the creation of Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. Antoine LeCoultre opened his Le Sentier workshops in 1833 creating innovative timepieces, but it was the Reverso that became quite a legend.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Duetto Womens's Manual Watch 18K White Gold Silver Dial with Blue Diamonds on Purple Leather Strap


In 1931, British Officers who were stationed in Colonial India would play polo in their spare time. However more often then not the crystal of the wrist watches would get damaged during the game.
Cesar de Trey, an influential businessman, who was a close associate of Jacques-David LeCoultre visited friends in India.
A polo player approached him, "Sir, I challenge you to create a timepiece that can survive a game of polo with its crystal intact."

This challenge founded the legend of the Reverso. A Patent for Reverso was filed on March 4, 1931: A watch capable of sliding in its base and of turning completely on its axis to turn the crystal inward.

Since 1931 the Reverso has been redesigned in many styles to compliment the styles of that era. The Reverso Squadro , a square watch distinguishable from its original rectangular counterpart, is a modern version of the original with a distinctive sporty edge. The Squadro is a powerful impressionable watch collection built to house movements to the highest level of precision and technical perfection. All the mechanical caliber Squadros feature a rotor mounted on ceramic balls as opposed to the typical stainless steel balls. The ceramic balls require little maintenance and lubrication. The latest Reverso Squadro Watches include Reverso Squadro World Chronograph and Reverso Squadro Hometime.


The Reverso Squadro World Chronograph is the first squadro crafted from high-tech titanium. The Watch displays hours, minutes, seconds, large date and chronograph on the front dial and universal or world time display on the back dial. Self-winding Calibre 753 comprises of 366 parts, 39 jewels and beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour. The World Time is displayed on the Reverse via a disc that depicts the name of the major world cities in each of the world's time zones. The disc turns inside a 24 hour ring. This spectacular and highly functional time-piece is limited to 1,500 pieces.

Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso exquisite and legendary innovative timepieces are available for half the price at The Watchery. Although the Reverso was created in 1931, its functionality has not wavered, making the Jaeger LeCoultre one of the most sought after watch collections.