Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, Art Deco, 9 Carat Gold, 1938

A fine and rare Art Deco Jaeger Le Coultre Reverso wristwatch made in 1938. The Reverso wristwatch was invented after a chance remark by Polo players in India during the colonial period bemoaning that the glass on their watches was being smashed during games. An idea was germinated and a reversible case was born that could be swivelled 180 degrees, so its glass and dial could be protected. The Polo players could have a “watch for town” and a “watch for play”. With its quintessential Art Deco styling and amusing novelty value, the Reverso proved a hit with wealthy and interesting people across the world. The first Reverso was introduced in 1931 with a subsidiary seconds dial. This watch is the second model and was introduced in 1934 with the horological advancement of a sweep centre seconds. It is also the year in which the separate companies of Jaeger and Le Coultre merged. Art Deco The Art Deco period was one of the first truly worldwide movements of fashion in the arts, which reached its peak during the 1920’s and 1930’s. It had its roots in Paris just before the First World War. It took its name from Arts Décoratifs, an international Exhibition of Modern Decorative Arts in Paris in 1925. Art Deco was a stylistic about turn to the Art Nouveau movement which preceded it. Gone were the soft, curved shapes and lines and in came straight lines and the bold geometric forms influenced by cubism and the desire to be modern. Parisian designers and jewellers such as Louis Cartier and René Lalique played an important role in popularising the Art Deco mode in their jewellery and objects. Infusing their designs with bold bright colours, setting emeralds, rubies and sapphires in simple lines and elegant settings. Watch design was, as everything else, also influenced by the new modern ideal of straight lines, so watch cases began to become rectangular and square shape. Gold outer and inner watch case. Cal. 411, 16 jewel octagonal-shaped nickel-finished lever Le Coultre Co movement. Silvered dial with black Art Deco Arabic numerals, indented, with black chapter. Sweep centre seconds. Blued Steel hands Case, movement and dial signed Case Measurements: Length (lug to lug): 39 mm Width : 23 mm Depth: 9mm All watches are given a full thorough service. They are stripped down to their individual parts, thoroughly checked for any obvious wear and tear, cleaned, re-oiled, reassembled and regulated. The final result is that the case, dial and movement are in pristine condition.