Jaeger-LeCoultre has released the fifth capsule of The Collectibles, its in-house programme dedicated to sourcing, authenticating, and restoring museum-grade vintage timepieces. This installment focuses exclusively on eight rare Reverso watches produced between 1931 and 1937 — the model's formative first decade — and is being presented at the Maison's Madison Avenue boutique in New York City through February 23, 2026.
The Men’s Icons
The capsule comprises three men's and five women's pieces, each restored by the ten master watchmakers in Jaeger-LeCoultre's dedicated restoration workshop using historical components from the Manufacture's own heritage stocks. Every watch ships with an archival extract, a new handmade leather strap, and a complimentary copy of The Collectibles book. Original boxes, papers, and straps are included when available.
The men's selection traces a compelling arc through the Reverso's early mechanical evolution. A 1931 example carries the black dial that was considered radically modern at launch — described at the time as "the dial of the future" — with a railroad minute track and trapezoidal indexes that directly informed today's Reverso Tribute aesthetic.
A rare 1936 two-tone specimen in steel and 9K yellow gold (350/1000) houses Calibre 410, the first movement Jaeger-LeCoultre developed specifically for the Reverso after initially relying on sourced Tavannes calibres (063 and 064 for men's, 050 and 051 for ladies') to bring the model to market. Completing the men's trio, a 1937 Reverso with small seconds powered by Calibre 413 bears the unified Jaeger-LeCoultre name on its black dial — a direct marker of the historic Le Coultre and Jaeger merger that year.
The Ladies’ Pieces
The five women's pieces illustrate how quickly the Reverso diversified beyond its polo-field origins. A 1931 Dame in 18K yellow and white gold features a white gold cradle with yellow gold lugs and case, its dial substituting the minute track for corner brackets — a design element carried forward into today's Reverso One collection. A Dame with Double Signature carries heated blue hands and bears the name of an esteemed retailer alongside the Manufacture's own, indicating limited-distribution production. The Reverso 1931 Cordonnet presents the most unusual configuration: a chrome cordonnet strap — typically executed in calfskin — attached via distinctive lugs. Two additional Dame variants framed by geometric brackets round out the capsule, fitted with black and brown calfskin straps respectively, each featuring the era's characteristically bold black dials.
Summary
The Collectibles programme spans 17 emblematic references across the Manufacture's heritage, from the Duoplan and Reverso through the Geophysic, Futurematic, and Memovox Polaris, covering production from the mid-1920s to the early 1970s. The programme represents one of the few instances where a major Manufacture operates its own dedicated vintage restoration workshop — a significant distinction from third-party restoration or certified pre-owned programmes that lack access to original heritage component stocks.
The fifth capsule is available for purchase worldwide via JLC’s website and exclusively at the New York City boutique at 701 Madison Avenue through February 23. The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
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