Jaeger-Lecoultre: Reverso

This richly illustrated volume traces the story of one of the world's most recognizable wristwatches through archive images and original photography, together with an evocative text by noted author, historian, journalist, and horological specialist Nicholas Foulkes. Born in 1931, at the height of the Art Deco period, the Reverso was created in response to the challenge of designing a wristwatch that could withstand the rigors of polo matches. It captured the essence of the time - a period when the spirit of modernity changed everything, from social mores to architecture, music, sport and every field of design. Epitomizing this spirit with its sleek form and unique reversible case, the Reverso has remained an eternal expression of modernity for 90 years, continually reinventing itself while never compromising its identity. Its blank metal flip side, which began as a purely functional solution, became a canvas for creative expression, decorated with enamel, engravings or gemstones. As well as tracing the history of the watch and its evolution over the past nine decades - with more than 50 calibers and several hundred dials - the book explores the social milieu and cultural changes that provided the backdrop to the creation of the Reverso and, later, its continued reinvention. It shares the stories of more than a dozen Reverso owners who have personalized their watches in deeply meaningful ways. And it also tells the fascinating story of Jaeger-LeCoultre's founders, their inventions that have had a profound impact on horological history, and the Maison's development as an integrated Manufacture with 180 skills brought together under one roof. Born as the modern wristwatch, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, introduced in 1931 with a unique reversible case, was developed from the challenge to design a model that could withstand the rigors of polo matches. Published to coincide with the ninetieth anniversary of the Reverso, this volume tells the story of Jaeger-LeCoultre's founders, the brand's development as a completely integrated manufacture, and the spirit of collective invention of its technical design innovators who continue to evolve theReverso into the twenty-first century.; 200 pages; Silk hardcover in a luxury slipcase; Made in ItalySPECIFICATIONS; 11"W x 1.5"H x 14"D