A Look at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s ‘The Great Wave Off Kanagawa’ Reverso Watch!
The particular parts of a watch I tend to admire the most are the internal mechanisms and the external aesthetics. We’d all be lying to ourselves if we didn’t admit that the most important attribute we search for in that perfect timepiece, is an attractive face to match our equally attractive wrists. While the majority of the world’s leading luxury brands sell some incredible wristwatches, on occasion it’s the limited edition pieces and the rare handcrafts that really tickles the taste buds.
So today, we thought we would focus all of our attention on Jaeger-LeCoultre’s unbelievably beautiful and rare handcrafts collection, which was commissioned earlier this year as a tribute to some of the most famous pieces of art on earth. If you are a huge fan of luxury timepieces AND luxury art then this piece is certainly for you!
Inspiration for the Reverso tribute
The talented watch artisans at Jaeger -LeCoultre have been able to replicate remarkable prints of art by renowned artists like Ferdinand Holder, Georges Seurat and Katsushika Hokusai on one of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s finest and oldest watch models, the Reverso. The skilled makers developed particular techniques for each iconic print including ink wash painting, and Japanese woodblock printing for the ‘Great Wave off Kanagawa’, to make sure they delicately reproduced every detail perfectly.
Part of the motivation behind the creation of such incredible rare handcrafts was to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Swiss artist Ferdinand Holder’s death. Three out of the eight Reverso enamel tributes depict the landscape artwork that Holder spent much of his life painting. If you’d like to check out these particular pieces click here!
All models have been issued as limited edition and only eight pieces of each will be on sale exclusively in Jaeger-LeCoultre Boutiques.
‘The Great Wave Off Kanagawa’ Reverso
After admiring each piece, we decided that the reproduction of ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’ by Katsushika Hokusai was our favourite, so we’ve put together a quick summary of the attributes. As with all the rare handcrafts, the tribute Reverso features a sophisticated rectangular 18 ct white gold case, inspired by the original art-deco Reverso design from 1931. The characteristic that gives the Reverso it’s widely acclaimed name is the double-sided reversible dial (go figure).
On one side, the watch features a bold blue dial with a faint ‘wave’ pattern, as well as white gold applied hour markers and dauphine hands; and on the other side, the meticulously replicated ‘Great Wave’ enamel print can be found. With the dial being so small, I can imagine the creators found it extremely challenging to replicate even the slightest detail, like ensuring the dial’s surface depicts a smooth finish with no visible brush strokes (probably something those with the untrained eye wouldn’t even notice.) The piece is then completed with a traditional crocodile leather strap in blue, to complement the bold colours of the watch face and the 19th century inspired enamel.
Even the illustrations above showcase just how spectacular these pieces really are; they are themselves an ingenious work of art, worthy of being on display for the entire world to admire, not just on one person’s wrist. If you are searching for the perfect watch that is one-of-a-kind, oozes sophistication and classic style and has a touch of modern appeal, then this may just be the piece for you!
To learn more about the craftsmanship behind the creation of the beautiful enamel Reverso tribute watches, read Jaeger-LeCoultre’s official press release here. And if you still can’t get enough of the rare handcrafts, then check out some of Patek Philippe’s incredibly detailed handcrafts here, you will not be disappointed!