Description

The present watch is the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Chronograph ref. Q389848J, a compelling modern interpretation of one of the manufacture’s most fascinating complications. Introduced as part of the Tribute collection, this steel reference revives the spirit of the celebrated 1996 Reverso Chronographe Retrograde while bringing the concept decisively into the present. It preserves the distinctive dual personality that made the original so admired: a restrained and elegant front dial contrasted by a far more technical, partially open-worked reverse dedicated to the chronograph display.

Crafted in stainless steel, the case measures 49.4 mm by 29.9 mm with a thickness of 11.14 mm, giving the watch a stronger wrist presence than its 1990s predecessor while still remaining unmistakably Reverso in form. On the front, Jaeger-LeCoultre adopts the clean and modern codes of the Tribute line, with a sunray-brushed dial and refined hands that emphasize balance and simplicity. Flip the case over, however, and the watch transforms entirely: the reverse side reveals the chronograph display in a far more architectural style, exposing the mechanics and giving the watch an almost instrumental character.

At its heart is the manual-winding Calibre 860, a rectangular in-house movement designed specifically for the Reverso format. Beating at 4 Hz and offering a 52-hour power reserve, it represents an updated evolution of the historic calibre 829. Among its most notable enhancements is the addition of a synchronized secondary time display on the reverse side, allowing the chronograph face to function as a second, equally usable time display. This innovation gives the watch an unusual versatility, making it feel remarkably close to two watches in one.

The chronograph itself is distinguished by a retrograde 30-minute counter, a feature that reinforces the model’s connection to its 1996 inspiration while preserving the visual drama that only a Reverso chronograph can offer. The result is a watch that is both mechanically intriguing and aesthetically unique—minimalist on one side, expressive on the other.

The Reverso Tribute Chronograph Q389848J stands as a reminder of what Jaeger-LeCoultre has long done best: creating technically inventive movements for shaped cases, and doing so with elegance rather than excess. In steel, it becomes an especially attractive proposition—sophisticated, unusual, and unmistakably Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Jaeger-LeCoultre – Bio

Jaeger-LeCoultre has been at the forefront of inventions throughout its history, right from the beginning in 1803, when the founder Antoine LeCoutre invented a machine to cut watch pinions from steel. The brand was established in 1833, and years later in 1937, a Paris-based watchmaker Edmond Jaeger joins LeCoutre to form Jaeger-LeCoutre. The duo continue to produce some astonishing movements, spread over 1300 calibers and counting.
Through the years, watchmakers such as Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin have used the company’s movements.