Release: The Mindblowing Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185
An Ode To Watchmaking

This year’s watch releases have overall been fairly muted so far. Perhaps because the big brand watchmakers felt like taking it easy and playing it safe with the global pandemic still raging. Truth is that even the independents played it relatively safe, with a few very cool exceptions. That said, Catherine Rénier (CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre) was having none of that. Under her leadership Jaeger-LeCoultre didn’t just go full speed ahead with their latest release, no no, they went absolutely balls to the wall.

I was fully expecting JLC to do something wild this year With the Reverso. It is after all an anniversary year for the Reverso. But I have to admit I was not expecting this. Jaeger-LeCoultre is the watchmaker’s watchmaker and this is a not so subtle way to remind us all why that is the case. JLC is a ‘Grande Maison’ indeed. The Reverso Hybris Mechanica is in my opinion an ode to true watchmaking. An absolute tour de force with, as far as I can tell, no equal. The key Points of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 (Quadriptyque) read as follows:

• The world’s first watch with four faces; the most complicated Reverso timepiece ever made
• A total of 11 complications, including:
  • perpetual calendarPerpetual Calendar A perpetual calendar is a complication in a mechanical watch that automatically adjusts for the different lengths of the months, including February, and leap years, and (almost) never requires manual adjustments. It has a mechanism that takes into account the different number of days in each month, including leap years, and automatically adjusts the date, day, month and year accordingly [Learn More],
  • minute repeaterMinute Repeater A minute repeater is a complication in a mechanical watch that allows you to hear the time by activating a chime. It chimes the hours, quarter hours, and minutes on command by activating a slide or a button. The mechanism is based on a set of gongs and hammers that strike the gongs to produce the chimes. The minute repeater is considered to be one of the most complex and difficult complications to manufacture. It is a traditional complication that was used in the past to tell time in the dark or in low-light environments. [Learn More],
  • indications of the synodic, draconic and anomalistic cycles (never before presented together in a wristwatch), requiring 12 patents
• It combines Jaeger-LeCoultre’s uncontested mastery of chiming watches, precision mechanisms, astronomical complications and ultra-compact watchmaking
• User-friendly design and construction.

Jaeger-LeCoultre was the brand that, many Moons ago, sparked my interest in watches. A spark that has evolved into a raging fire since then. So I’ll readily admit that I have a soft spot for the brand. However, emotions aside here, and for lack of better words, this release is absolutely stunning. Now, I could easily wax on about what I admire about this watch, truth is I’m still locked down here like many of you and I have yet to see it in the metal. No chance to get a hands-on with it yet.

However, Jaeger-LeCoultre did an equally excellent job presenting this very special release in the video below. I can only insist that you watch the below. A watch unlike any other. An inspiration for many. Surely to spark the interest of many new watch enthusiasts. And of course, adding even more fuel to the passion some of us already have for the peculiar art of watchmaking.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• REVERSO HYBRIS MECHANICA CALIBRE 185
• Case material: White gold
• Case dimensions: 51.2 x 31 mm
• Thickness: 15.15 mm
• Movement: Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 185
• Functions:
  • Face 1: Hour – Minute, TourbillonTourbillon A tourbillon is a complication in a mechanical watch that is designed to improve the accuracy of the watch by compensating for the effects of gravity on the balance wheel and escapement. It consists of a rotating cage that holds the balance wheel and escapement, which rotates on its own axis once per minute. This rotation helps to average out the positional errors caused by gravity, making the watch more accurate [Learn More] (indicating the Second), Instantaneous Perpetual Calendar, Grande Date, Day, Month, Leap Year, Night & Day
  • Face 2: Jumping Digital Hour, Minute, Minute Repeater (with system avoiding dead time)
  • Face 3: Northern Hemisphere Moon PhaseMoonphase A moonphase complication is a feature found in some watches that displays the phase of the moon as it appears in the sky. It typically includes a small disc with a representation of the moon, usually with a depiction of the lunar surface, that rotates to indicate the current phase of the moon. The disc rotates once every 29.5 days, the same period of time it takes for the moon to go through its lunar cycle. [Learn More], Draconic Lunar Cycle (height of the moon), Anomalistic Lunar Cycle (apogee and perigee), Month, Year
  • Face 4: Southern Hemisphere Moon Phase
• Power reserveRéserve de marche Also known as Power Reserve. A watch's power reserve refers to the amount of time a mechanical watch can run without being wound. The power reserve of a mechanical watch can vary depending on the size of the mainspring, the efficiency of the gear train, and the rate at which the mainspring releases energy. If a watch has a Power Reserve 'complication' it simply means that the status of the power reserve can be seen on the watch itself (either on the dial or movement side of the watch). [Learn More]: 50 hours
• Water resistance: 30 metres
• Strap: Blue alligator
• Reference: Q7103420
• Limited edition of 10 pieces

More info here