One for the Books

A look at what went into the creation of Jaeger-LeCoultre's Reverso Tribute Enamel 'Shahnameh', four watches that are inspired by the epic Persian poem

- by Preetika Mathew

There are few watches as distinct and recognisable as the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, and there has been no dearth in how the Maison has used its dual faces as canvases. From colour showcases and artistic crafts to skeletonisation and a display of complications, the swivelling mechanism of the watch has allowed for innumerable design explorations. This year, too, at Watches and Wonders, the brand unveiled models that brought all these aspects to the fore. However, an artistic highlight was the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Shahnameh’—four models inspired by the epic Persian poem Shahnameh, detail driven and hand-decorated in the Métiers Rares Atelier of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture.`x`

Before we get into the extraordinary craftsmanship of the four watches, it’s important to highlight the many ideas that these watches tie together. The Reverso as a design is indelibly tied to the sport of polo—it was developed in 1931 to meet the demands of polo-playing military officers stationed in India during the British Raj. Its swivelling case allowed the wearer the turn the dial inward thereby protecting it from damage during a game. Paying tribute to this origin story, the casebacks of Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Shahnameh’ feature reproductions of illustrations depicting polo and legends with an equine connection from the magnificent verse. The sport originated in Persia, and there are records of it going back more than 2,000 years. These illustrations have been expressed in the form of miniature paintings, which also trace their roots to Persia, executed in the technique of enamelling, a Jaeger-LeCoultre cornerstone.