This year’s Watches & Wonders 2023 was all about the Reverso for Jaeger Le Coultre, with a number of Tribute models being a particular highlight. Of these, one is the new Reverso Tribute Chronograph, a successor to a 1990s model.

The original model formed part of a series of half a dozen Reverso complications developed within a decade, which started in 1991. Its then new manually-wound chronograph movement, the Calibre 829, measured 26.8 x 23.3mm, had a column wheel chronograph, with chronograph sub dials on the ‘reverse’ side and a retrograde minute counter. It was Jaeger-LeCoultre’s first rectangular shaped chronograph movement and first manually-wounded integrated chronograph movement in the post-quartz era.

Now, this new Reverso Chronograph has a new movement – the Calibre 860 is a manually-wound movement based on the Calibre 829. The back side now has a time indication/ second time display as well as a large chronograph seconds on the upper part and a retrograde 30-minute counter at the base, of the dial.

The new Reverso Tribute Chronograph is available in either stainless steel with a blue-gray dial, or in a red gold case with a black dial.

The front dial is the classic Tribute look, with baton hour markers, Dauphine hands and railroad minutes track. The steel model’s blue-grey sunray dial has ADL (atomic layer deposit), which involves multiple ultra-thin layers of titanium oxide. The black dial of the rose gold model is also sunray-brushed.

On the other side is the chronograph of the name. The skeletonised dial features a central chronograph second and the separate sub-dial for the retrograde minute. The bridges are decorated with Côtes de Genève, and the chronograph seconds and minute tracks are highlighted in black.

The Calibre 860 has a column wheel chronograph with a horizontal clutch, beats at 28,800 VPH and has a power reserve of 52 hours. The movement powers both the two time indications.

Whether or not this is a ‘new’ movement, there is one thing that stood out for me with this new model – at 49.4mm x 29.9mm with a thickness of 11.14mm, it is actually thinner to handle and wear than I had thought it might be. It also sits well on a range of wrist sizes.

The Reverso Tribute Chronograph comes with a pair of interchangeable straps, one in leather and canvas, the other leather, from Casa Fagliano, on double-folding buckles. The leather and canvas one is hands-down the nicer option. Once you see it on that strap and try it on, I am pretty sure you won’t want to change it to the all-leather one.

The Reverso Heritage models are, to my eyes, the best looking ones, and the new Tribute Chronograph slots neatly into the collection. The RRPs are AUD 34,800 for the steel model and AUD 61,000 for the pink gold version.

Categories: chronograph, Hands-on, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Switzerland, Watch Profile, watches, Watches & Wonders Geneva 2023, Women's watches