2024 sees an interesting new member of the longstanding Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso family, known as the Reverso Tribute Monoface. In a lot of ways, the simple name of this Reverso collection says it all. First, the watch is part of the Reverso family — the profile makes that quite clear. Next, this watch is a tribute model. The implication is that, in some way, the product is intended to evoke something about the Reverso’s 93-year history. Finally, as a Monoface model, the watch has just one dial (as most watches do), with the other side of the Reverso’s rotating case being a blank polished steel canvas. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface is also near the entry-level price point in the Reverso family and will be considered by many as the entry price point for a men’s Reverso timepiece. Slightly less expensive are some quartz movement-based women’s pieces and the manually wound Reverso Classic that’s $150 less right now than the new Reverso Tribute Monoface.
The Reverso Tribute Monoface debuts in two dial colors, both with steel cases. I find it highly likely that additional case materials and dial colors will be added to the Reverso Tribute Monoface range in the near future. The debut Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface colors are a classic silvered gray and a deep blue produced from around 20 layers of lacquer color. While the blue is lovely, I prefer the higher-contrast legibility and timelessness of the light silver-dial model.
I am not sure I would have liked these watches as much if I had not actually worn them. In pictures, it can be difficult to see just how nicely the proportions work, and how comfortable they are on the wrist. I might have too readily dismissed the collection as not being novel enough, too small, and too simple. In person, these watches are, indeed, petite, but they are very attractive, and the size works quite nicely. I’m not sure a larger man could get away with wearing this watch with short sleeves, but when properly matched to someone’s anatomy and fashion, this is a stunningly pretty timepiece family. The Reverso always has been a looker, but like most famous shapes, not all renditions of it are as attractive as the best of them.
According to Jaeger-LeCoultre, the “Tribute” part of this Reverso Tribute Monoface is used because the watch is meant to closely match the original proportions of the first Reverso watches from 1931. Even though it debuted in the 1930s, the Reverso concept and design are 1920s in style, suggesting the height of the popular Art Deco era and the sensibility of the optimistic and indulgent Roaring Twenties. There is a popular myth that the Reverso was originally intended as a sports watch for polo players, but much doubt has been placed on that story. Whether or not equipping elite British polo players in colonial India is part of the Reverso’s birth story, the fact remains that this watch is a mainstream winner and doesn’t need a niche equestrian connection to earn fame and lasting merit.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface’s steel case has a system that allows the main case to press in and then turn around to reveal the opposite side. That blank polished-metal surface can be augmented with a personalized engraving all the way up to a miniature hand-painted enamel work composition (prices vary, of course), services that Jaeger-LeCoultre performs in-house. I don’t know if everyone needs to have a miniature Picasso on the back of their Reverso, but having a tasteful engraved message or artwork can be a really nice way to personalize a product like this. The steel case measures 40.1mm long, 24.4mm wide, and just 7.56mm thick. That is a bit larger than the original 1931 models, but not by very much. The case is water resistant to 30 meters and has an AR-coated sapphire crystal over the dial.
The dials of the Reverso Tribute Monoface watches are simple, with hour and minute time-only dials that use tasteful dauphine-style hands and traditional Reverso-style applied hour markers. Note that in some light, the polished-on-polished hands can blend in a bit with the blue-dial version of the Reverso Tribute Monoface, compromising legibility. Powering the watch is the in-house Jaeger-LeCoultre caliber 822 manually wound mechanical movement. Made of 108 parts, the caliber 822 movement operates at 3Hz with 42 hours of power reserve.
Jaeger-LeCoultre opts for a full deployant mechanism for the Reverso Tribute Monoface, which I agree adds class and gives the otherwise small package a bit more substance. Normally, I don’t like deployant clasps, but I have to admit this one is pretty nice and does not provide too much extra material or wearing bulk. The straps themselves are beautiful and texturally pleasing. The interchangeable straps are Saffiano calfskin leather, in blue or brown depending on the model.
If you are in the market for a simple dress watch and want something classy, but a bit more interesting than a basic round watch, the Reverso is an excellent choice. Flipping the case around as a fidget device is a bonus value and, for whatever reason, it looks like the Reverso is going to turn 100 years old and still be pretty sexy. This might not be the Reverso for all wrists, but for a lot of people, this latest entry-level men’s model is going to be the Reverso for them. Price for the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Monoface reference Q716848J (blue) or Q7168420 (silver) watches is $8,900 USD. Learn more at the Jager-LeCoultre website.
