Important Collectors’ Wristwatches,Po...

New York, Mar 23, 2005

LOT 210

Jaeger-LeCoultre "Reverso Répétition Min-utes,? No. 178/500, Ref. 270.2.73. Made in a limited edition of 500 examples in the 1990s to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Reverso model. Very fine and rare, rectangular, minute-repeating, 18K pink gold gentleman's reversible wristwatch with an 18K pink gold Jaeger-LeCoultre deployant clasp. Accompanied by a fitted box and certificate.

USD 35,000 - 45,000

EUR 27,000 - 35,000

Sold: USD 32,200

C. Three-body, solid, polished, reeded bezel. D. "Guilloché"silver with painted Arabic numerals on a plain reserve, aperturefor the strike regulator. Blued steel "épée" hands. M. Cal. 943,rhodium plated, "fausses côtes" decoration, 38 jewels, straightline lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber,self-compensating flat balance-spring, repeating on gongs byactivating a fluted slide on the band.Dial, case and movement signed.Dim. 26 x 42 mm. Thickness: 10 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 1 - 01

Notes

Jaeger LeCoultre, "Reverso.? The history of the "Reverso" begins in 1930 in India. Cesar de Trey, a Swiss traveler, picked up the idea for a watch that could be turned over to protect its dial and crystal from the dangers common watches faced on the dusty polo fields in the, then, British colony. Back in Switzerland, he approached the LeCoultre company in Le Sentier with his ideas. It was decided to have the case for the watch developed by the Jaeger company in France, who asked the French designer and engineer René-Alfred Chauvet to prepare the draw-ings for its production.