Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso à Éclipses

Few watches have provided Jaeger-LeCoultre with as much room for experimentation as the Reverso. What began in 1931 as a practical solution for polo players, allowing the case to swivel and protect its crystal, gradually became something else entirely: a remarkably adaptable canvas for watchmaking, engraving, enameling, and personalization.

The Reverso à Éclipses, introduced in 2006 for the Reverso’s 75th anniversary, takes that idea considerably further. Rather than reserving its surprise for the reverse of the case, Jaeger-LeCoultre placed it directly beneath the dial.

At first glance, this 18K rose gold example presents a beautifully restrained face with vertical decoration, stylized Arabic numerals, blued-steel hands, and the manufacture’s intertwined “JL” signature. But a small slider integrated into the case activates an ingenious mechanical shutter. As the shutters retract, the conventional dial disappears, revealing a second, hidden dial beneath.

And this is where things get especially interesting.

Executed by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s in-house enameling atelier, the concealed Grand Feu enamel dial is rendered in graphic black and white with a military-style 24-hour display. The effect is almost startling against the classical rose-gold Reverso case: highly traditional decorative craft used to produce something remarkably modern and graphic. The shutters can also be positioned to gradually reveal the enamel work, giving the watch several distinct personalities.

Jaeger-LeCoultre described the à Éclipses as belonging to the tradition of the “secret watch,” but its execution is considerably more elaborate. The watch retains the Reverso’s familiar swiveling architecture while adding a second mechanical transformation on the dial side. It is essentially a Reverso within a Reverso, with one reveal hiding another.
This example is No. 18 from a limited edition of just 25 pieces, making an already unusual chapter in Reverso history considerably rarer. It is manually wound and comes fitted to a brown alligator leather strap with a signed 18K rose gold deployant buckle.

Accompanied by its papers and pamphlets, Certificate of Origin, and Jaeger-LeCoultre cleaning cloth, this Reverso à Éclipses combines three of the manufacture’s great strengths: mechanical ingenuity, traditional métiers d’art, and one of the most enduring case designs in watchmaking.

A secret watch is charming enough. A secret dial hidden behind another dial inside a reversible watch? That’s just Jaeger-LeCoultre showing off!

Few watchmaking concerns are as storied as Jaeger-LeCoultre. Though the maison is not technically a member of the “Holy Trinity” of Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin, one could easily make the argument that it should be: After all, it was JLC that supplied movements to Patek from the beginning of the 20th century through the early 30s.

Founded in 1833 by Antoine LeCoultre in Le Sentier, Switzerland, the firm became the Jaeger-LeCoultre we know today when it merged with the business of Parisian watchmaker Edmond Jaeger in 1937. The two horological concerns collaborated on numerous projects before cementing their partnership, the most important of which was no doubt the Reverso. A sport watch with a reversible case, this ingenious timepiece was designed to protect the watch dial — when engaged in sport or other dangerous activities, the wearer would simply flip the case over, exposing its back to the world rather than the vulnerable crystal.

But the Reverso is far from the only significant timepiece brought to market by JLC: The firm also produced the world’s thinnest pocket watch in 1907, powered by the Caliber 145. In 1929, the maison released the Caliber 101, still today the smallest mechanical movement. (Queen Elizabeth II wore a Caliber 101-equipped wristwatch to her coronation in 1953.) And perhaps no other watchmaker is world-renowned for their production of a clock in the way that JLC is famous for the Atmos. Invented by Jean-Léon Reutter, it’s powered by minuscule changes in atmospheric pressure — Edmon Jaeger acquired the patent and licensed it beginning in 1936. The Atmos is still produced in numerous forms today, and remains the Swiss government’s foremost diplomatic gift.

From classic, near-centuries-old designs like the Reverso and the Atmos to modern über-complications such as the brilliant Master Gyrotourbillon, Jaeger-LeCoultre remains on the cutting edge of horological technology nearly two centuries after its founding.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.