Since its founding in 1833, JAEGER LE-COULTRE has continued its watchmaking as a "manufacture," completing the production of all parts for its mechanical watches in-house. From Wednesday, July 6th to Tuesday, July 12th, Isetan Shinjuku Main Building 1F, The Stage will host "Reverso Story since 1931," an event showcasing Jaeger-LeCoultre's craftsmanship.

This event, which looks back on the history of the brand's iconic "Reverso" watch, will feature the world premiere of the third installment of the "Reverso Tribute Enamel" Katsushika Hokusai series, as well as a diverse lineup of numerous heritage and rare pieces.

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The classic "Reverso" continues to shine 90 years after its creation.

The Reverso, characterized by its reversible rectangular case incorporating Art Deco style, originated in an era when watch crystals were not as strong as they are today. It was developed to protect the crystal from the impacts of polo matches. Even now, with technological advancements allowing for stronger crystals, its style remains beloved. Today, it is enjoyed not only as a sub-dial to display a second time zone, but also as a canvas for expressing the wearer's individuality and art.

Only 10 exquisite art pieces in the world.
Katsushika Hokusai, "Amida Falls in the Depths of the Kiso Road"

As an homage to Asian art, Jaeger-LeCoultre has created a timepiece for its "Reverso Tribute" that reproduces a work by Katsushika Hokusai on the reverse side. In the past, they have reproduced Hokusai's "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" and "Kirifuri Falls at Kurokami Mountain in Shimotsuke," and this time, for the third installment, they have created a miniature painting of "Amida Falls in the Depths of Kiso Road" by hand using grand feu enamel.

Each timepiece, meticulously crafted by skilled artisans over a long period of time, is limited to just 10 pieces worldwide. It can truly be called a rare and exquisite work of art.

Now, let's take a look at the exquisite decorative techniques that Jaeger-LeCoultre has spared no expense in creating this timepiece.

Enamel miniature painting by skilled craftsmen

"Amida-ga-taki Falls in the Depths of Kiso Road," the most famous of Hokusai's "Waterfall" series, created when he was in his 70s, expresses the power of the cascading water and the magnificent landscape that captivated Hokusai, and in the middle section, a scene of dwarf-like men resting very close to the waterfall is depicted.

While reproducing the vibrant blue and yellow that are characteristic of the artwork, a single skilled craftsman spends over several weeks, more than 70 hours, expressing the subtle nuances and unique blurring effect of the gradually changing colors seen in the original print on paper. Each step is carefully planned, involving 12 to 15 firings at 800°C, in order to create a print that is less than one-tenth the size of the original.

Diamond-shaped guilloché engraving created using a lathe over a century old.

For this watch, the dial, the face of the timepiece, is adorned with a diamond-shaped guilloché engraving. Similar to the grand feu enamel decoration, this process is carried out by a single skilled craftsman using a lathe that is over a century old. To create the diamond pattern composed of 60 lines, the dial alone undergoes as many as 600 processing steps. Then, over a period of more than a week, at least 6 to 7 layers of enamel are fired at 800°C to create the beautiful, translucent green dial.

The "Reverso Tribute Enamel - Katsushika Hokusai's 'Amida-ga-taki Falls in the Depths of Kiso Road'," a Jaeger-LeCoultre timepiece adorned by two skilled craftsmen, can be said to be a masterpiece that brings together the pinnacle of the brand's craftsmanship.

Through the "Reverso Story since 1931" event, we invite you to discover the perfect timepiece for yourself from Jaeger-LeCoultre's extensive collection, including the Reverso, which began as a sports watch and continues to evolve into a canvas that reflects technical prowess and art.

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