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Jaeger-LeCoultre’s newest Reverso Tribute was made to travel the world, but will it stand firm here in Australia? Let’s find out!

Whether it be in a sales environment, information gathering for an upcoming review, or just cool and interesting watches from friends, new and old, I’ve had the privilege of handling a great many timepieces. Sure, it shouldn’t really come as a surprise that a guy from Watch Advice spends time with his company’s namesake, but often there are limits as to what I am able to see.

I believe that no timepiece from any brand (yes, including the one you’re thinking about) is out of reach. Despite this, some are significantly harder to chase than others. This can be for a number of reasons: perhaps there is a waitlist, or maybe the brand just doesn’t make that many watches annually, or the model is close to/has been discontinued. In time, however, I believe the time will inevitably come where it becomes available – and when it does, the fruits of your labour and patience will be all the sweeter.

That’s the exact relationship I have with Jaeger-LeCoultre. Founded in 1833, the Swiss watchmaker has spent the better part of almost two centuries establishing itself as a leader in the horological scene. From adorning the Vatican to dressing up Don Draper, the Richemont-owned brand has kept its finger on the pulse of fine watchmaking in a way that every other company has to respect. Funnily enough, they do, as Jaeger-LeCoultre is often reverently referred to as the “watchmaker’s watchmaker” by so many in the community.

Watches & Wonders 2025 was no different for them, as they would unveil new renditions of their wildly popular Reverso lineup. Highly regarded for the novelty and artistry of its reversible case, the collection has also been used to express some of the highest forms of artistry in the world. Think engravings, enamel copies of famous illustrations, and so forth. However, it has also allowed them to spread their horological wings, unlike any other brand, outfitting certain models like the new Reverso Tribute Geographic with deeply intricate and innovative complications.

So when the time came, I practically begged the Watch Advice team to set something up with Jaeger-LeCoultre, so that finally I could actually get a handle on this incredible timepiece. Given how annoying I am capable of becoming, I’m glad to report that I was able to get what I wanted: some time with a spectacular watch from one of the most esteemed companies in the world.

First Impressions

I thought I knew exactly what I was getting into with the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Geographic. In the watch world – or at least, the niche little corner where nerds like me tend to dwell – a worldtimer Reverso seems about as self-explanatory as it gets. Ever since the collection’s iconic swivelling feature progressed beyond its practical uses, it felt like it was only a matter of time before something like this came to be.

But while the Reverso Tribute Geographic didn’t have the bombastic, ‘razzle-dazzle’ factor that typically surrounds Watches and Wonders releases, it more than made up for it with unparalleled levels of craftsmanship. This was evident from the very first moment I laid eyes on it in person; I was practically shaking as Chamath carefully handed the watch over to me! That was a good sign – its mere presence already told you it was a serious piece of kit.

From observing to wearing, and of course, reversing, the Reverso Tribute Geographic looked and felt exactly how a complete, top-tier watch should. At first glance, though, my worst nightmare had come to life: scratches along the case flanks! Or at least, that’s what I thought – as it turned out, it was simply the dividing line that separates the flippable case from its cradle.

From that moment on, I knew nothing about the watch was going to be quite as it seemed – as if I were dining at an avant-garde restaurant like Disfrutar – and that even the intricate details I spotted throughout my time with it only hinted towards the watch’s true nature.

Design

It became immediately apparent that, from a design perspective, Jaeger-LeCoultre went to the absolute Nth degree with this watch. Every single time I looked at it, a new, intricately finished detail would jump out at me. I might never have gotten sick of looking at it – and if Jaeger-LeCoultre had let me have my way, I probably wouldn’t have ever taken it off.

The Reverso Tribute Geographic has two sides to it. The front of the watch, known as the ‘Recto,’ presents a sunray-brushed blue dial, carefully and elegantly tempering the gleam of the highly polished steel. Running along the periphery of the rectangular dial is a white printed minute track, intersected by angled indices and interrupted only by the similarly printed small-seconds subdial. The track cuts off diagonally to accommodate the complication and draws the eye towards the ‘SWISS MADE’ designation at six o’clock.

The indices quickly guide your eyes to the centre of the dial, which has its own set of compelling features. The polished Dauphine hands – now a hallmark of the Reverso Tribute line – make their return. Both the hands and indices are angled and finished in a way that allows them to catch the light beautifully, even in low-light settings, enhancing overall legibility.

Above the hands sit the printed Jaeger-LeCoultre name and applied logo, along with the big date complication. One of the watch’s major features, the big date is framed and finished in the same manner as the indices and hands – twinkling subtly while remaining highly readable, thanks to black numerals on a white background. If you still weren’t convinced of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s obsessive attention to detail, the big date complication uses a proprietary font; A tiny, almost insignificant feature – but once you notice it, you’ll never unsee it.

Of course, this dial is only half the story – there’s still the other side to go. Delicately flipping the watch over reveals the reverse side, called the ‘Verso.’ Instead of a traditional dial like the Recto, the Verso opts for a standalone worldtimer complication. It’s a clean and clever way to display a notoriously busy function and showcases the full horological potential of the Reverso. Like the rest of the watch, the Verso is finished to a dazzling, high-polish standard. This makes it prone to smudging and scratches, so if you’re not careful, you might end up with a few unwelcome surprises.

Starting from the centre, the standout feature is the polished steel and blue lacquer impression of a globe. While I’m saddened that the world map doesn’t include Australia, I’ll let it slide for now. Maybe once this piece is next in line on my grail list, I’ll request a bespoke version with the Great Southern Land in all its glory.

If you’re familiar with Jaeger-LeCoultre, you’ll also know their lacquer process is incredibly intricate. First, the globe’s shape is laser-engraved into the Verso side, with the landmasses and meridian lines raised. Only then is the deep blue lacquer applied – but because of the complex shape, this can only be done by hand. Using a syringe, the lacquer is carefully deposited into the recessed areas, then polished several times to achieve the distinctive – and frankly, stunning – finish. Because the lacquer and steel reflect light differently, the globe also gains a lovely sense of contrast and dimensionality.

Speaking of dimensionality, the 24-hour disc depicted on the Verso side is made up of two different shades of blue lacquer and is inset into the case beneath a thin layer of sapphire crystal. This scale rotates clockwise, in accordance with the 24 countries that have been engraved around the disc of the Verso side.

Moving outwards, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Geographic features a fluted and signed crown with a pin-operated date pusher situated directly beneath. This reference is encased in stainless steel with a fully polished finish, including both the case and cradle; a decadent pink gold version is also available. Again, because of the high polish, it’s worth keeping in mind that the watch will smudge far more easily than most others in your collection – unless, of course, your entire collection consists of high-polished dress watches. If smudges don’t bother you, or you carry a microfibre cloth around everywhere, you’ll be fine. Smudging comes with the territory of high polished surfaces, so it’s not really a red flag in this context.

The only definitive contrast you’ll spot at first glance is a Reverso design signature – three engraved gadroons that frame the case against the cradle. If you’ve read either of the articles I wrote on the Piaget Andy Warhol line, you might be wondering: “Did he mean to say ‘gadroons’?”

The answer is yes – and no. ‘Gadrons’ and ‘gadroons’ are completely different things. While ‘gadroons’ refer to the convex, rounded ridges seen on watches like the Piaget Andy Warhol, ‘gadron’ is the term used for the concave, engraved ridges that appear on the Reverso Tribute Geographic.

Some might argue the terms are interchangeable, as ‘gadron’ isn’t commonly accepted as standard. But to me, it makes sense to draw a line between the two. It’s remarkable what removing a single letter can do – much like the difference between a dense macaroon, a delicate macaron, and French President Macron.

The case of the Reverso Tribute Geographic gives way to the larger cradle, which features the signature sunburst engraving commonly seen on other Reverso Tribute models. Also, part of the cradle are the lugs, which sharply angle downward before squaring off. This design detail enhances the overall wearability of the timepiece – something I’ll mention again shortly.

Connecting the cradle to the wrist is a stunning blue calfskin strap, reinforced for durability without sacrificing comfort. The strap is secured with a deployant pin buckle clasp, also fully polished and adorned with the Jaeger-LeCoultre logo. Finally, flipping the watch over reveals the only non-polished surface: the rear of the case, finished with a vertical brushed texture and engraved with the usual caseback flavour text.

How It Wears

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Geographic has a total case width of 29.9mm, supported by a lug-to-lug length of 49.4mm and a thickness of 11.4mm. If you’re more used to wearing round watches, these dimensions might not sound like much, but the Reverso Tribute Geographic wears significantly larger than other Reverso Tribute models.

This largely comes down to the case shape, as usual; rectangular and square watches almost always wear larger than their round counterparts. That said, the Reverso’s slender profile – and the streamlined shape of the lugs – just about lets me get away with wearing this mighty piece on my wrist. Still, I’d suggest it’s best suited to those with a wrist size of 16.3cm (6.4in) and up.

The watch comes on a dark blue cordovan leather strap, made by the Argentinian leather artisans at Casa Fagliano. It’s a beautifully crafted strap, coloured to perfectly match the sunray-brushed dial on the Recto side. The use of shell cordovan isn’t just for looks – it also adds durability, water resistance, and a distinctive patina over time. That said, I wouldn’t go swimming with it anytime soon, especially with a water resistance of just 30m. If you’re after a Jaeger-LeCoultre that’s fit for a dip, the Polaris is probably more your speed.

But with a Reverso, it’s not just the comfort that defines the wearing experience – it’s the operation, too. The reversing mechanism is, as always, a genuine pleasure. Any other brand attempting this would likely come off as gimmicky, but Jaeger-LeCoultre has made it feel purposeful and tactile. It’s easy enough to use, although if you’ve got particularly short nails, you might find the small crown a bit fiddly.

All-in-all, wearing the Reverso Tribute Geographic has been an absolute joy, largely thanks to how comfortable the leather strap is. The combination pin buckle and clasp that Jaeger-LeCoultre uses, also deserves credit, as it allows the watch to sit flush on the wrist. That said, the friction-lock mechanism of the clasp puts the fear of God in me every time I try to take it off. I do wonder if Jaeger-LeCoultre would ever consider a button-release system instead, though that would likely make the clasp a bit chunkier.

If cordovan isn’t your thing, Jaeger-LeCoultre also include a canvas/calfskin hybrid strap, which can be swapped out easily thanks to quick-exchange spring bars. Full marks to Jaeger-LeCoultre for this small but meaningful quality-of-life upgrade, and one often ignored by other luxury brands at that. There’s also a wider selection of straps available via their website and boutiques. But ever since they dropped that pink gold Reverso Tribute on a Milanese mesh bracelet, I can’t help but dream of the possibilities a steel version could unlock…

Movement

All this goodness in looks and wearability, as is so often the case with Jaeger-LeCoultre, comes together with the help of a beautiful in-house movement. Well, when I say “beautiful,” you’ll just have to take my word for it – for obvious reasons, the Calibre 834 isn’t visible no matter how you flip the watch. But Jaeger-LeCoultre aren’t called the watchmaker’s watchmaker for nothing, and the Reverso Tribute Geographic is packed with plenty of horological punch.

Developed specifically for the two new Geographic models, the Cal. 834 is Jaeger-LeCoultre’s latest step into the realm of haute horlogerie. It’s manually wound, offering a 42-hour power reserve, and beats at a slower, more traditional 3Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour). What’s most fascinating, though, is how the movement was constructed entirely from the ground up. Sure, a lot of well-known brands boast ‘in-house’ calibres, but many are designed, developed, or manufactured with the help of other experienced names behind the curtain.

While Jaeger-LeCoultre certainly have access to some serious horological firepower – they share the Richemont Group company with the likes of A. Lange & Söhne, Vacheron Constantin, and Cartier – they often choose to go it alone. This makes Jaeger-LeCoultre one of the few true Manufactures left in the industry: brands that design, develop, and build their movements entirely in-house, starting from a blank page.

The Cal. 834 is a perfect example. Rather than stacking complications onto a base calibre with modular add-ons, Jaeger-LeCoultre have fully integrated both the worldtimer and big date directly into the movement. These are controlled via two discreet pushers: a spring-loaded slider at the top of the case that adjusts the 24-hour scale for the worldtimer, and a pusher below the crown for the big date (which requires a tool to operate). The integration is seamless, particularly with the big date complication, which uses a patented mechanism that aligns both date wheels on the same plane. It’s a small touch, but one that enhances the usability and elegance of the watch.

My only gripe with the movement is the lack of hacking seconds. For an industry that lives and breathes the balance between artistry and precision, leaving out such a practical feature is a curious decision. I suspect it was omitted to keep the dimensions of the Reverso Tribute Geographic in check – it’s already a pretty substantial watch – but I still think it would’ve been a welcome and functional addition.

Final Thoughts

Humour me for a moment – what’s the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen? Was it a perfect sunset? A vintage car rumbling through the hills? Your partner on your first date? It’s a tricky thing to pin down. But it gets a whole lot easier when that pretty thing is sitting right in front of you. It’s a classic case of you know it when you see it.

For me, that’s exactly how I feel about the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Geographic. Despite its rather sizeable proportions (at least for a Reverso), I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t up there with the most beautiful things I’ve ever laid eyes on. Of course, my partner tops the list – sorry, Jaeger-LeCoultre – but the Reverso Tribute Geographic would definitely make the top ten – especially when it’s right there on my wrist. I know it when I see it, right?

So, where do I land on this piece? It’s not a stretch to say that this watch is nothing short of incredible. To say anything less would do a disservice to both Jaeger-LeCoultre and, frankly, my own integrity. The artistry and microengineering on display here are second to none.

That said, while the Reverso Tribute Geographic certainly stands tall, it doesn’t stand alone. At an asking price of A$34,200 (at time of writing), Jaeger-LeCoultre is firmly in the ring with some serious contenders in the haute horlogerie space. On one end, you’ve got Chopard’s L.U.C Time Traveller One at A$28,800 – a refined, technically excellent worldtimer that brings some serious competition. Then there’s the A$38,500 limited edition Montblanc 1858 Geosphere 0 Oxygen Monte Rosa – rugged, visually striking, and loaded with personality.

But here’s the thing – and hear me out before calling it a cop-out – none of them are a Reverso. There’s no other watch quite like it. Sure, a few similar pieces have existed over the years, but they’ve either been discontinued, forgotten, or just don’t hold a candle to what Jaeger-LeCoultre has achieved. I also mean that in the literal sense, as scant few watches have ever ventured into the prospect of reversible cases! All in all, the Reverso silhouette is one of the most iconic in the entire industry, and it’s hard for even the strongest competition to shine quite as brightly next to a design this enduring.

So yes, I think it’s an absolutely exceptional timepiece. While there’s always room for small improvements (I’m still thinking about that non-hacking seconds hand), the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Geographic is about as complete as it gets. It’s a deeply considered, beautifully executed piece of watchmaking – and yet another win in a long line of successes from the watchmaker’s watchmaker.

Reference: Q714845J

Specifications

• Dimensions: 29.9mm case diameter x 49.4mm lug-to-lug x 11.4mm thickness
• Case Material: Stainless steel
• Dials:
  • Recto, Front: Sunray-brushed blue with rhodium-plated indexes, Dauphine hands, and white printed minute track
  • Verso, Back: Solid polished steel with two shades of inset blue lacquer, laser-engraved globe depiction with blue lacquer, & 24 laser-engraved city names denoting time zones
• Movement: Manual wind Calibre 834 with grande date, small seconds, & 24 timezone worldtimer complications
• Beat Rate: 3Hz (21,600VpH)
• Power Reserve: 42h
• Water Resistance: 30m (3bar)
• Strap: Blue Casa Fagliano leather strap with steel clasp & pin buckle

Australian RRP: A$34,200

Availability: Available now, in-store at Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques, at authorised retailers, and online at Jaeger-LeCoultre.com.

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