Here is what we call a seriously attractive watch – you could only hate on the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface and its Fagliano Limited edition if you hate form watches or maybe dress watches overall. Otherwise, everything about both iterations either says the watch is a must-have, or the photography is incredible. Of course, as the name suggests, the Reverso Tribute Duoface is part of a winning staple for the Le Sentier manufacture – a dual time watch that uses two faces to display home and local time. So far, in the history of watchmaking, only Jaeger-LeCoultre can perform this trick with style to spare. 

The success of the Reverso Duoface is down to Jaeger-LeCoultre’s nifty Reverso case, which is still the industry leader in user-friendly watches with reversible cases. That is really saying something given that the case is almost 90 years old now; actually, the Reverso is 88 this year (at the time World of Watches was published) and that is interesting in its own right in some markets. Anyway, the manufacture is so good at crafting form watches that we are surprised Apple did not come calling to ask for its casemaking expertise. That the case for the Tribute Duoface is only 10mm thick is also amazing – Jaeger-LeCoultre has demonstrated that it can manage sturdier versions too, as last seen in the discontinued Squadra collection.  

The slimness of the watch should not lead one to think this is a dainty number. This Reverso Tribute Duoface is 47mm x 28.3mm, with the smaller number being the width of course. A watch in these proportions is a challenge for some wrists, which is something to be aware of – in short, this is exactly the sort of timepiece that one needs to try to pull the trigger on. In this range of watches, there is a smaller version, clocking in at 42mm, so there are options. Across many of these options, the in-house manual winding calibre 854A/2 powers the watch, front and back. Other typical features in the Reverso Duoface include small seconds (for the local time display on the front of the watch) and a day/night indicator (for the home time display on the back of the watch).

Calibre 854A/2 has a proud lineage, stretching back to the Reverso that kicked off this two faces of time style in 1994. Collectors will recognise the calibre as a descendant of the 854/1, obviously, and functionally not much has changed. The newer version has fewer parts, fewer jewels and is rated a few hours shorter in terms of power reserve. Another version, the 854B/2 matches the 45-hour rated power reserve of the 854/1. There is certainly a story behind this, and we will be trying to find out more in coming issues. For now, it should be noted that the entire industry is moving up the range as far as power reserve is concerned, and Jaeger-LeCoultre is likely on this path too.

As for the Reverso Tribute Duoface and the Fagliano versions, the main difference is in case materials, with the regular version in steel and the Fagliano in rose gold. Another key variation is in the leather strap of course, with Casa Fagliano supplying an elegant two-tone blue strap that echoes the spirit of the Reverso Douface. The Fagliano version is limited to 100 pieces; the regular Reverso Tribute Duoface is not limited.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Specs and Price

Movement Manual calibre 854/A2; 42-hour power reserve

Case 47mm x 28.3mm in steel or rose gold; water-resistant to 30m

Strap Leather or Cordovan leather

Price TBC