Haute Complication: Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185

For decades Jaeger-LeCoultre has been known as the watchmakers’ watchmaker. The reason behind this is that its movements, and they have made over 1200 different calibers to date, are so good that they also supplied them to some of the greatest names in the watchworld, such as Cartier, Audemars Piguet, and Van Cleef & Arpels. One field in which they excel in particular is that of grande complications. In this, Jaeger-LeCoultre likes to challenge itself, as they did this year with the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185.

Using the case of its most iconic model, this Jaeger-LeCoultre is the most complicated Reverso ever made. It features no less than 11 complications,  and to display them all in good order, the watch is utilizing four “dials”: one on each side of the sliding case, as well as both sides of the frame it is in. It results in a spectacular yet also very organized watch on which a lot of information can be read with ease. Organized is also something the watchmakers that developed and made this watch have to be. Some of its complications, such as a minute repeater, tourbillon, and perpetual calendar, are already difficult to make by themself but to combine them all in a very small space is a daunting task. The Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 even includes complications never seen before in a wristwatch, such as the display of the synodic, draconic, and anomalistic cycles of the moon, and uses 12 patents to make it all happen.

What might come as a surprise is that Jaeger-LeCoultre means for this grande complication to be actually worn by its owner. This might sound like a given, but as watch brands are keen on showcasing their capabilities, this is something that is often forgotten. While the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185 is large, being 51.2mm long and 31mm wide, it is not overly so. The fact that it is not extremely large was also an extra challenge for the watchmakers at Jaeger-LeCoultre to overcome. While doing this, they remained to have a keen eye for detail. We see this not only in the refined finishes throughout the watch but also in the fact that there is no pause between the hours, quarters, and minutes of the minute repeater. With most minute repeaters, there can be a silent gap, for example, when there are no quarters to chime. By further developing and refining the mechanism, Jaeger-LeCoultre eliminated this problem. All together is the Reverso Hybris Mechanica Calibre 185, a watch as rare as it is breathtaking while redefining the term grande complication.