The Breitling Watch Blog

The Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso celebrates 85 years of its iconic design – A very interesting marketing video that says more about lifestyle and posterity than it really does about watches. In fact, most of the video doesn’t even show watches but rather people and families.

Finally posted a video review of my beloved Jaeger LeCoultre Squadra Hometime automatic watch. Features a cool in-house (is there any other kind?) Swiss JLC movement which can be reverso’d to reveal the see-through case back. Very awesome little feature. Are there some more interesting reversos? Yes… but I like this one, especially because of the case size and shape too.

Jaeger Le-Coultre, or JLC for short, is one of those brands that is held in high esteem in the Horological community for their innovative and vast array of in-house movements, yet are able to produce several models that are very affordable for the majority of luxury watch collectors. One of their most popular, and enduring designs is the Reverso, created in 1931, and now over 80 years old. One of the attempts to “sportify” the Reverso is the Reverso Squadra which I am reviewing today!

This model is the Jaeger Le-Coultre Squadra Hometime, which is a somewhat more sophisticated version of a GMT. Instead of having the standard 24-hour GMT hand that moves around the watch face once every 24 hours, the JLC Squadra Hometime uses a second standard 12hr that is tied to an AM/PM indicator located at 9 o’clock. This relieves the need to add a 24hr bezel or chapter ring and adds a little extra level of complication to the watch. The second hour hand can be hidden completely behind the main hour hand.

This is the black dialed model, which I believe is now discontinued. Only the white dialed version is available now. This version also has a Black PVD coated crown. The Squadra differs from the standard Reverso in that it is a square shape, and larger.

JLC does a good job with the case, mostly polished but with some brushed facets on the side. The case that the Squadra head is mounted into, is made of three pieces, held together by hidden screws inside the mechanism.

The back of the case is wonderfully JLC, with the 1000 hours master control stamp, water resistance, serial and model numbers.

The Integrated Rubber bracelet is a work of art, wonderful in its comfort as well as sporty in its look without being too sporty. The perfect Rubber bracelet in my opinion. The clasp is double butterfly, button-locked and brushed stainless steel. It also has two micro-adjustments on each side, allowing you to enlarge it slightly by releasing a mini clasp inside, similar to most diver extensions.

And here’s my favourite shot of this beautiful watch – the Reverso in action, revealing the wonderfully jeweled inside of the case. The exhibition view of the movement reveals its basic, but attractive finish. The movement is signed with the JLC logo, and the 1000 hours control as well as a few other movement features.

All in all I am very happy with my Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso Squadra Hometime. It has been a mini-grail for me for some time, and I finally took the plunge and picked it up, very happy I did. I think the integrated rubber bracelet looks fantastic, and tones down the dressiness of the watch which is what I was looking for, while going with the Crocodile or Stainless bracelet would make it a great gents watch. The Reverso feature, which on this model is more of a gimmick, is still great, since its a gimmick that is rooted in 80+ years of heritage, and allows me to see the movement without taking the watch off.

A work of high artistic and creative content, the seventh edition of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Yearbook showcases exceptional timepieces through photographs and images.

JLC just released their annual yearbook entitled the Yearbook SEVEN, for the seventh year of production. Introduced in 2007, this year book illustrates 180 years of JLC horology and innovation. A very cool book, but not cheap. You can order it here: http://elibrary.jaeger-lecoultre.com/, and until January 10, 2014 there’s free shipping with the promo code: YB2014 on all JLC publications.

Jaeger-LeCoultre created two custom objects to support (RED)TM AUCTION featuring icons of design and curated by Sir Jonathan Ive and Marc Newson.

The Atmos 561 by Marc Newson clock and the Memovox Tribute to Deep Sea watch now feature unique red accents and will be auctioned at Sotheby’s New York to benefit The Global Fund to fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.