Jaeger-LeCoultre is leaning into the art deco heritage of Manhattan for its latest vintage curation. The watchmaker has unveiled the fifth installment of the Collectibles, a capsule of eight rare Reverso timepieces dating from 1931 to 1937 that were inspired by NYC’s architecture of the era.
The Collectibles program represents Jaeger-LeCoultre’s dedicated in-house effort to source and restore museum-grade pieces from its nearly 200-year history. At the company’s restoration workshop, 10 master watchmakers rebuild components by hand and service movements while meticulously preserving each piece’s original character and patina.
This new collection highlights the Reverso’s foundational decade. Key pieces include a circa 1937 model (above) featuring a then-revolutionary black dial—whose railroad track and trapezoidal indexes directly inspired today’s Tribute aesthetic—as well as another 1937 watch that was the first model to bear the Jaeger-LeCoultre signature, following the historic merger of the two maisons, and a feminine-style 1931 Cordonnet, which swapped traditional calfskin for a striking chrome rope-like strap.
Another significant piece is a 1936 two-tone watch (pictured at top) that houses calibre 410, the first movement developed specifically for the Reverso; before this, the brand relied on temporary movements sourced from the watchmaker Tavannes. Notably, this model pairs yellow gold with Staybrite, an early steel alloy chosen for its polishable luster in an era when stainless steel was notoriously difficult to make.
The latest Collectibles are on public display and available for purchase at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s store at 701 Madison Ave. through Feb. 23. For those outside New York, the timepieces are also available globally via the brand’s website. Each purchase includes an archival document, a new leather strap, and a copy of The Collectibles coffee table book.
Top: Jaeger-LeCoultre’s 1936 Reverso Small Seconds in stainless steel with a black strap, sold for $47,100 (photos courtesy of Jaeger-LeCoultre)
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