Marking its 90th anniversary this year, the Reverso is the only truly successful reversible wristwatch. Jaeger-LeCoultre has long utilised the twin sides of the Reverso case for complications, and now for the first time equips the flip side with a digital hour display.

The Reverso Tribute Nonantième – nonantième is French for “ninetieth” – has a conventional front, but an unusual reverse decorated in blue lacquer that features a “semi-jumping hour”, disc minutes, along with a day and night display.

Front and back

Initial thoughts

From the front the Nonantième is hard to distinguish from other Reversos, but from the back it is immediately interesting with its digital hour and disc-type minutes. The reverse face is attractive and certainly unique, but the movement inside is more familiar.

Though the cal. 826 is new, it is evidently derived from the cal. 853/854 in the various Reverso Duoface models, being similar in principle but different in indications. It’s mechanically novel, though the fact that the hour display is “semi jumping” rather than actual jumping is regrettable.

The reverse display with digital hours

Rectangular (or even tonneau) watches usually lose their elegance beyond a certain size, and the Nonantième is close to the limit. At 49.4 mm by 29.9 mm, the Nonantième is a big watch, identical in size to other extra-large models in the Reverso line up, making it suited for larger wrists.

At a bit over US$40,000, the Nonantième feels pricey given that the Reverso Duoface models start at about US$23,000, rising to US$25,000 for the top-of-the-line Tribute Calendar.

Moon and stars

Designed in the current house style for the Reverso – namely dauphine hands and baton markers – the Nonantième also incorporates a celestial theme in its Art Deco-inspired design.

Showing the time, date, and age of the moon, the front has a moon phase display with a disc bearing a textured moon that’s modelled on the actual lunar surface.

And on the reverse, the time display is encircled by a figure-of-eight bridge that’s engraved with stars and lacquered in blue.

Notably, the reverse dial features a “semi-jumping hour”, rather than an actual jumping hour that jumps instantaneously. Below the hours is a day and night display on a blue disc bearing a sun and moon motif, and at the base, the minutes indication on a disc.

The bridge for the reverse display

The watch is powered by the cal. 826AA, a hand-wind movement with a 42-hour power reserve. It is essentially the reliable cal. 822 – the workhorse Reverso movement for decades – but modified to incorporate the displays on both faces.

Key facts and price

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Nonantième
Ref. Q711252J

Diameter: 49.4 mm by 29.9 mm
Height: 11.72 mm
Material: 18k pink gold
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: Cal. 826
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, big date, and moon phase on the front; semi-jumping hours, minutes, and day-night indicator on the reverse
Frequency: 21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz)
Winding: Hand wind
Power reserve: 42 hours

Strap: Alligator with gold pin buckle

Limited edition: 190 pieces
Availability: Only at boutiques
Price: US$40,500; €38,700; or 58,500 Singapore dollars

For more, visit Jaeger-lecoultre.com.