1 of 500: Rose Gold Jaeger Lecoultre Reverso Septantième

I am beginning to think I’m going to have to create a neo-vintage cateogory here. Some of my very-favourite pieces come from the era of modern watchmaking, but pre-instagram. I really quite enjoy the obscure corner of Chrono24 that these pieces have faded to. It’s easy to forget that JLC was producing icons since well before #redbarcrew began. Today, we have one such watch. This 70th anniversary is easily in my top 3 Reverso references and that should say something (if you know how deep my love for the model runs).

In 2001, JLC celebrated 70 years of Reverso. The piece they released in honour of the landmark year featured an 8 day power reserve, a precious metal-based movement, larger 46.5×29.5mm case, and a grande date. The result was a confluence of haute complication and traditional watchmaking. The watch was released when Hodinkee was just Ben Clymer and his Ranchero pissed off in a UBS office. Modern watch collectors are only just now waking up to what a lovely and ground-breaking reference the Septantième was. The artful guilloché dial, reminiscent to me of a Lange 1 or Patek 3712, just gets more beautiful the more you stare. I would be torn between this lustrous rose gold or platinum. I don’t think you could go wrong either way.

The example here is well-preserved. The case is only very-lightly marked. It has been worn, but at a glance you’d struggle to tell. Its dial and movement appear to have just left Le Sentier, Switzerland. It comes with a full set. As examples go, I feel confident that this condition is a green light. One would be hard pressed to find a more tasteful celebration of traditional, yet high-tech, Swiss watchmaking.

Find this Reverso Septantieme here from L’Ecrin on Chrono24 for 38302 USD.