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Jaeger-LeCoultre expands its artistic Reverso Tribute lineup with four new enamel creations inspired by Hokusai’s iconic Waterfalls series.

Jaeger-LeCoultre returns once again with a Reverso series dedicated to the incredible Hokusai artworks, this time with a special ‘Waterfalls’ collection. Four new timepieces are being introduced, each a 10-piece limited edition, and are hand-decorated by the artisans of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares™ atelier. The beautiful decorations include various techniques, such as guilloché and enamel on the dial, and miniature enamel paintings of Hokusai artworks on the casebacks.

Hokusai (c.1760–1849) was seen as the bridge between the art movements of the East and West. He was an innovator with a profound influence on Japanese art, with his fame mainly coming from the innovative approach he brought to ukiyo-e in the 19th century. He transformed a genre that, for almost 200 years, had been purely focused on subject matter into one that included landscapes, plants, and animals.

Since 2018, Jaeger-LeCoultre has honored many of Hokusai’s works of art with limited-editions of the Reverso. Jaeger-LeCoultre’s most iconic timepiece served as the base for these exceptional Enamel Tributes. As outlined by Jaeger-LeCoultre, the previous works included:

• 2018: First Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai paying tribute to Hokusai’s monumental series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji with The Great Wave off Kanagawa reproduction.
  
• 2021: One image of the series A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces is reproduced on Reverso Tribute Enamel limited editions: Kirifuri Waterfall at Kurokami Mountain in Shimotsuke
  
• 2022: Another image of the series A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces is reproduced on ReversoTribute Enamel limited editions: The Amida Falls in the Far Reaches of the Kisokaidō Road
  
• 2023: Two more images of the series A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces are reproduced on Reverso Tribute Enamel limited editions: The Waterfall at Ono on the Kisokaidō Road and The Waterfall Where Yoshitsune Washed his Horse at Yoshino in Yamato

And now, for Watches & Wonders 2026, Jaeger-LeCoultre is presenting the final four images of Hokusai’s eight-piece series A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces. This eight-piece series “marked the first time that the theme of falling water was approached in ukiyo-e painting”. The series also included one of Hokusai’s earliest applications of the fashionable “Prussian blue pigment”, which has been recognised as a turning point in Japanese art.

Artistry And Precision Through The Reverso Design

These latest Hokusai editions are presented on an 18K white gold Reverso case, which measures 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick. These case dimensions remain true to the elegant proportions and design of the Reverso Tribute line, offering a refined presence on the wrist, while being the perfect canvas for the display of the intricate artwork and hand-guilloché craftsmanship.

The timepieces are offered in either a choice of black alligator leather with small-scale lining, or my personal favourite bracelet white gold 18K Milanese bracelet. While the Milanese bracelet offers more elegance and visually stands out on the wrist thanks to the beautiful shine it gives out, for these rare hand-painted timepieces, I personally feel the leather strap would do them more justice. The black alligator strap will provide a nice contrast against the vivid imagery, making them stand out even more!

Reverso Tribute Enamel – Rōben Waterfall at Ōyama in Sagami Province

This Reverso Tribute Enamel caseback showcases the Rōben Waterfall at Ōyama in Sagami Province, and the timepiece doesn’t just capture the vertical rush of the waterfall itself, but also the way people interact with it. At the base of the waterfall, small human figures can be seen gathered in the pool, enjoying the water. They seem to appear almost insignificant against the might of nature above them. It creates a strong contrast, showing both the overwhelming power of the natural world and the fragility of humanity alongside it.

The front of this Reverso features a hand-guilloché dial that has a stunning barleycorn pattern. This intricate engraving requires 49 finely cut lines, each line being completed through three separate passes of the rose-engine lathe, bringing the total to 147 passes. The dial is then finished with a light walnut-brown enamel coating.

Reverso Tribute Enamel – Kiyotaki Kannon Waterfall at Sakanoshita on the Tōkaidō

The second timepiece is a tribute to the Kiyotaki Kannon Waterfall at Sakanoshita on the Tōkaidō, where the waterfall is portrayed to be much softer and more delicate in appearance than Hokusai’s other prints. Rather than dominating everything around it, the waterfall exists in balance with the Kannon temple and the pilgrims climbing the steps nearby, who appear to be making the journey not just to admire the beauty of Mother Nature, but also for spiritual renewal.

The dial side features a hand-guilloché wavy pattern, which shimmers beautifully beneath the emerald-colored enamel. This intricate design is made up of 66 finely engraved lines, with each one requiring three separate passes of the rose-engine lathe, resulting in a total of 198 passages dedicated to the guilloché work alone.

Reverso Tribute Enamel – Yōrō Waterfall in Mino Province

The Yōrō Waterfall in Mino Province is celebrated for its natural beauty and for the legend surrounding it, with its waters once believed to turn into sake as a gift from the gods. Hokusai’s artwork captures both the force of the cascading waterfall and the spirit of this story, with the human figures in the foreground appearing small and almost insignificant against the scale and drama of the scene!

On the other side, the hand-guilloché dial reveals a striking new bamboo-styler pattern, which is then finished with a rich olive coloured enamel. The colour really does bring this bamboo pattern to life, with the vivid imagery being almost as beautiful to look at as the caseback hand-painting. This intricate decoration is created through 48 precisely engraved lines, with each line requiring three separate passages, resulting in a total of 144 passages to bring the guilloché pattern to life.

Reverso Tribute Enamel – The Falls at Aoigaoka in the Eastern Capital

The last Reverso Tribute Enamel in the collection is The Falls at Aoigaoka in the Eastern Capital. This miniature painting depicts a powerful stream rushing over the rocks, creating a striking contrast between the calm lake water from which the falls begin and the rough, fast-moving basin below. What adds to the depth of the imagery is the presence of humans on the adjacent hillside, who seem to go about their daily activities, surrounded by the beauty of nature.

The dial features a herringbone-style hand-guilloché pattern, which is brought to life by a vibrant cyan-blue enamel finish. This intricate decoration is created through 120 precisely engraved lines, with each one requiring three separate passages, resulting in an impressive total of 360 passages for the guilloché work alone.

Initial Thoughts

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s hand-painted Reverso Tribute timepieces have always been special, not just to showcase the exceptional skill of their master enamellers but also for keeping alive the practices of Métiers d’Arts. Since 2021, the maison has introduced Reverso Tribute timepieces that were enamel reproduction works of Hokusai. They have continued this path to now and completed the last four paintings in the “A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces”.

Just like the previous editions, these four new timepieces highlight everything that makes the Reverso Tribute collection so captivating, bringing together remarkable miniature imagery alongside intricate hand-guilloché work and rich enamel finishes. This collection is a fusion of artistic beauty and traditional watchmaking, making these simply more than watches and true works of art.

The manually-wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822, sitting inside each of the four Reverso Tribute Enamel timepieces, offers the watch an overall slim profile, which allows the Reverso Tribute’s elegant proportions to remain intact. In a collection where the artistry naturally takes centre stage, the Calibre 822 quietly plays its role in ensuring these pieces remain true mechanical timepieces at heart.

These are the type of watches that remind us why Métiers d’Art remain such an important part of high-end watchmaking, proving that a timepiece can be emotionally captivating just as it is mechanically impressive!

Reference: Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai Waterfalls Series – Yōrō Waterfall in Mino Province (Q39334T6)

Specifications:

Australian Retail Price: Price on request.

Availability: Limited edition of 10 models. Available through Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques, or for more information, please head online to Jaeger-LeCoultre.com.au

Reference: Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai Waterfalls Series – Rōben Waterfall at Ōyama in Sagami Province (Q39334T7)

Specifications:

Australian Retail Price: Price on request.

Availability: Limited edition of 10 models. Available through Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques, or for more information, please head online to Jaeger-LeCoultre.com.au

Reference: Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai Waterfalls Series – Kiyotaki Kannon Waterfall at Sakanoshita on the Tōkaidō (Q39334T8)

Specifications:

Australian Retail Price: Price on request.

Availability: Limited edition of 10 models. Available through Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques, or for more information, please head online to Jaeger-LeCoultre.com.au

Reference: Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai Waterfalls Series – The Falls at Aoigaoka in the Eastern Capital (Q39331T9)

Specifications:

Australian Retail Price: Price on request.

Availability: Limited edition of 10 models. Available through Jaeger-LeCoultre boutiques, or for more information, please head online to Jaeger-LeCoultre.com.au