Jaeger-LeCoultre introduces two new Reverso Tribute Enamel collections, honoring both the Year of the Horse and Chinese artistic heritage. These limited-edition timepieces, with only ten pieces available for each, highlight the brand's exceptional craftsmanship in enamel work, guilloché, and engraving, merging functionality with decorative artistry.
The collection draws its inspiration from the Reverso's historical ties to polo and showcases Jaeger-LeCoultre’s specialized Métiers Rares expertise. The watches feature intricate designs, from the homage paid to Chinese painter Xu Beihong to the symbolic representation of the horse. Each piece reflects a harmonious blend of traditional techniques and luxurious watchmaking, making them highly coveted items for collectors and enthusiasts.
Celebrating Art and Heritage: The Xu Beihong Editions
The Reverso Tribute Enamel \"Xu Beihong\" series is a remarkable tribute to the renowned Chinese painter, featuring three distinct white-gold models. Each watch's caseback proudly displays miniature grand feu enamel reproductions of Xu Beihong's famous horse paintings. These intricate artworks, depicting horses in various dynamic poses—a lone galloper, a synchronized pair, or a majestic standing steed—require approximately 80 hours of meticulous enamel painting per piece. The dials complement these artistic endeavors with rigorous guilloché work, colored in hues reminiscent of traditional Chinese landscapes: Evergreen Pine Green, Distant Mountain Blue, and Crimson Dawn Orange.
Powering these elegant timepieces is the manually wound Calibre 822 movement, which precisely indicates hours and minutes while providing a 42-hour power reserve within a sleek white-gold case. The reverse side of the dial presents an array of guilloché patterns, including sunray, barley-seed, and herringbone designs, serving as exquisite backdrops to the miniature masterpieces on their respective covers. These limited-edition watches are a testament to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s dedication to fine art and horological excellence, offering a unique blend of cultural homage and mechanical precision.
Equestrian Elegance: The Year of the Horse Edition
Expanding on the equestrian theme, the Reverso Tribute Enamel \"Horse\" limited edition boasts a stunning pink-gold caseback. This particular model features a high-relief, hand-engraved horse, depicted leaping from sand-blasted clouds, set against a backdrop of Black Opaque grand feu enamel. This artistic rendition, achieved through a specialized modeling engraving technique applied directly onto the enamel, profoundly symbolizes the horse's attributes of power, freedom, and unwavering perseverance—values deeply revered in Chinese culture.
The watch’s aesthetic coherence is further enhanced by a matching black enamel dial, which is elegantly equipped with classic Dauphine hands and distinct Art Deco appliqués. This design choice not only pays homage to the historical roots of the Reverso collection but also reinforces the watch’s luxurious appeal. The \"Horse\" edition, like its Xu Beihong counterparts, is a limited release, making it an exclusive symbol of fine craftsmanship and cultural appreciation. Both series underscore Jaeger-LeCoultre’s commitment to combining traditional watchmaking with intricate artistic expressions.