Press Release – Jaeger-LeCoultre Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1948 Timeless elegance

A cult watch that has appealed to both men and women, the Reverso has shown up in all manner of fascinating guises since 1931. Featuring an attractive blend of elegance and sportiness, the Reverso became a great classic of the Art Deco cultural movement, of which it embodies the essential values: refinement, artistic craftsmanship and aesthetic clarity. Ever since its birth, and above and beyond its timekeeping function, the Reverso has played the role of a guardian of memories.

The Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1948 with its stainless steel case revives the spirit of a bygone era. Contrary to many models that enjoyed pre-war fame and were by then consigned to oblivion, the Reverso watch with the swivel case, which was celebrating its 17th birthday in 1948, was more modern than ever. Its case with the emblematic gadroons radiated the cool, fresh appeal of steel. It still featured the same characteristics that were soon to become truly timeless – while its intense blue hands and hour-markers pointed towards the aspirations of an era eager for renewal.

In 2014, the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre pays tribute to the watch that heralded the Fabulous Fifties, created during the time when all hopes were focused on technical progress, and precision was gaining ground. The Reverso’s extraordinary combination of beauty and technical genius could only have seen the light of day in the workshops of Jaeger-LeCoultre, the world reference among watchmakers. In 1948 just as in 2014, the designers of the Manufacture made sure to display the inscription “Fabrique? en Suisse” (made in Switzerland) on the dial, just underneath the Jaeger-LeCoultre signature.

The Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1948 comes in a comfortable width and height accentuated by a stunningly slender shape, together illustrating the skills of the Manufacture Jaeger-LeCoultre in all fields of horology. As connoisseurs are well aware, the generous surface of its back is destined to fulfil its owner’s wish for personalisation. Thanks to this surface that measures just a few square centimetres, the Reverso became a horological work of art and an object of emotion, to be passed on or shared.

Gaining a full appreciation of the elegance radiated by this timepiece means dragging the gaze from the dial in order to admire the profile of the watch. Its close embrace of the wrist is made possible by its extremely slender 7.3 mm case that incorporates the complex parts of the swivelling mechanism as well as a movement measuring just 2.94 mm thin.

The resistance and reliability of Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822/2 testify to the expertise cultivated within the Manufacture. Stemming from the horological research conducted by Jaeger- LeCoultre, the Manufacture Calibre 822/2 beating at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour is renowned for its sturdiness and precision. Against the light background of the silver-toned dial, the applied hour-markers and facetted baton-type hands stand out clearly in all circumstances to ensure perfect legibility. The lower section bears a small seconds subdial serving as a constant reminder that the pace of daily life had accelerated by 1948 and that a timepiece had become an indispensable accessory of modern living. At a time when respect for accurate schedules had ceased to be a luxury and was already a necessity, the reliability of a watch mechanism represented an essential asset for a watch.

Precision and reliability are as important as ever in the modern age and represent values to which Jaeger-LeCoultre remains passionately dedicated.

Fitted with an alligator leather strap featuring a steel pin buckle, the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1948 will be available exclusively from Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques.

Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1948 Technical characteristics

Movement:
• Mechanical manually-wound movement, Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822/2, crafted, assembled and decorated by hand
• 21,600 vibrations per hour
• 114 parts
• 19 jewels
• Thickness: 2.94 mm
• 45-hour power reserve

Functions:
• Hour, minute, small second

Dial:
• Silvered grained dial, stamped hour-markers

Hands:
• Blue facetted baton-type hands

Case:
• Steel
• Height: 46.8 mm
• Width: 27.4 mm
• Thickness: 7.2 mm
• Polished finish
• Sapphire crystals
• “1000 Hours Control” indication appearing on the case-back • Water-resistant to 3 bars

Strap and buckle:
• Matt black alligator leather 20/18
• 18 mm pin buckle in steel

Reference: Q278852J, available exclusively in Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques