Jaeger-LeCoultre has taken one of its most technically ambitious Reversos and given it a full Métiers Rares treatment. The Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 is a five-piece pink gold edition that puts Pegasus, blue lacquer and a twin-axis tourbillon inside the brand’s most recognisable case architecture.
It’s not a quiet Reverso, and it isn’t meant to be. This is the model for collectors who see the swivelling case as a stage, not just a clever historical solution.
At a glance
- Jaeger-LeCoultre has introduced the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179, a five-piece limited edition with a hand-engraved Pegasus motif.
- The watch combines a Duoface display, a twin-axis tourbillon, openworked architecture and blue hand-lacquered detailing across both sides of the case.
- Pricing is upon request, with retail understood to sit above CHF 650,000.
The new Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 uses an 18k pink gold swivelling case measuring 51.1mm long, 31mm wide and 12.41mm thick, with a hand-wound calibre built around dual-time functionality and a multi-axis tourbillon.
Its most visible flourish is the relief-engraved Pegasus that runs across the rounded case side, surrounded by polished and grained clouds that continue onto the lugs and echo the blue-lacquered cloud work on the dial.
A Reverso made for mechanical theatre
The Reverso began life in 1931 as a practical watch for polo players, with a case that could flip over to protect the crystal.
Nearly a century later, that same slide-and-swivel construction has become one of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s most useful platforms for complicated watchmaking, especially when the brand wants to make both sides of the watch matter.
Here, the front dial places a blue lacquered time display at 12 o’clock, while the lower half is opened for the tourbillon aperture at 6 o’clock.
Turn the case over and the watch becomes more architectural, with a skeletonised view of the calibre, a second time zone, a 24-hour day-night indicator and more blue lacquer worked into the hand-bevelled bridges.
Pegasus engraving and blue lacquer do the storytelling
The Pegasus theme could easily have felt decorative in the shallow sense, but it suits the Reverso’s equestrian backstory better than most mythological motifs would.
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares Atelier has used the pink gold case as a miniature relief panel, engraving the winged horse against a moving field of clouds.
The dial-side cloud work is just as labour-intensive, with 50 hollowed areas filled by hand in varying shades of blue lacquer.
That blue carries across the reverse side too, where lacquered bridges, openworked components and a polished lacquer disc on the supporting cradle amplify the visual depth around the rotating tourbillon.
The Calibre 179 remains the real centrepiece
Calibre 179 is the manual-winding movement behind this Reverso, and its tourbillon is far more animated than a conventional one-minute construction.
The inner titanium cage completes a full rotation every 16 seconds, while the surrounding carriage turns once per minute and also serves as a seconds display.
The movement runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour and stores 40 hours of power reserve, with 385 components and 52 jewels inside a calibre just 6.85mm thick.
Jaeger-LeCoultre also uses a greyed hemispherical balance spring and a double-anchor balance shape, both intended to reduce air friction and support stable timekeeping.
A five-piece Reverso for the top of the collection
The Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 sits well beyond the everyday Reverso universe, even for seasoned collectors.
It’s a high-complication object that leans equally on engineering, engraving and case design, which makes it more compelling than a tourbillon placed behind a simple display back.
The blue alligator strap and pink gold folding clasp with 0.5mm micro-adjustments are relatively discreet finishing details, but they matter on a watch with this much mass, value and wrist presence.
With only five pieces planned, this is Jaeger-LeCoultre using the Reverso not as a nostalgia exercise, but as a compact gallery for its most demanding watchmaking and handcraft.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Jaeger-LeCoultre |
|---|---|
| Model | Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 |
| Reference | Q39424E5 |
| Case size | 51.1mm length x 31mm width x 12.41mm height |
| Case material | 18k pink gold, hand-engraved |
| Water resistance | 30m |
| Dial | Front and reverse displays with blue hand-lacquered elements, openworked bridges and tourbillon apertures |
| Movement | Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 179, manual-winding |
| Complication | Twin-axis tourbillon, Duoface dual time, second time zone and 24-hour indicator |
| Components | 385 components, 52 jewels |
| Frequency | 21,600vph, 3Hz |
| Power reserve | 40 hours |
| Strap | Blue alligator leather with pink gold folding clasp and 0.5mm micro-adjustment |
| Availability | Limited to 5 pieces |
| Price | Upon request, in excess of CHF 650,000 |
FAQ
What are the key details about Jaeger-LeCoultre Turns the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 Into a Pegasus Showcase?
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 pairs a twin-axis tourbillon, Duoface display and hand-engraved Pegasus case in a five-piece pink gold edition.
What should readers know about the timing and context of Jaeger-LeCoultre Turns the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 Into a Pegasus Showcase?
Jaeger-LeCoultre reveals the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 with Pegasus engraving, blue lacquer, Duoface display and a twin-axis tourbillon.
What makes Jaeger-LeCoultre Turns the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 Into a Pegasus Showcase notable for luxury and lifestyle readers?
Jaeger-LeCoultre has taken one of its most technically ambitious Reversos and given it a full Métiers Rares treatment.
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Jaeger-LeCoultre reveals the Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 with Pegasus engraving, blue lacquer, Duoface display and a twin-axis tourbillon.
