Designed by René-Alfred Chauvot, the Reverso was conceived with the express purpose of being able to withstand the harsh beating a watch would endure during a game of polo. This was put to JLC by entrepreneur César de Trey as a challenge for the brand in 1930. Born the year following in 1931, the Reverso was a sports watch, thanks to its unique case design. In the 1930s, the Reverso needed to be more durable than other available watches; hence its ingenious reversible case was born. This protected the dial from a direct hit and gave the Reverso its name. Over 90 years later and the Reverso’s design lives on as one of the most recognizable in watchmaking.
Offering a construction that is immediately reminiscent of the Reverso’s original design, the ref. 250.1.86’s 18kt yellow gold case sports 23mm x 38mm dimensions that make it incredible wearable and distinctly understated. Featuring the Reverso’s signature monochromatic single-texture silver dial with blued steel hand and Arabic numerals, the ref. 250.1.86 is intensely refined and classical, as the Reverso has always been over the decades. Powered by a JLC caliber manual-wind movement, as the Reverso was originally, and offered on a dark blue alligator strap with an 18kt yellow gold pin buckle, this example offers fantastic wearability that will certainly allow it to easily fit into any collection.