SpotlightFlowers From Paradise: Tropical Blooms Join The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso One Precious Flowers Bouquet
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso One Precious Flowers collection forms the canvas for three watches with tropical blooms, birds of paradise and hibiscus, against a bejewelled frame in pink gold, and mother-of-pearl dials
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Introduced in 2021, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso One Precious Flowers collection of bejewelled timepieces displays gorgeous floral decorations on the swivelling casebacks of the reversible watches. With the introduction of two new flowers into this precious bouquet, the brand add three timepieces to the collection this year. These vibrant tropical blossoms—birds of paradise and hibiscus—serve as decoration on an 18-karat pink gold canvas, further embellished with diamonds. Limited to 10 pieces per model, the Reverso One Precious Flowers timepieces are a stunning example of functional jewellery that also displays age-old enamelling techniques that have come to define haute horlogerie.
The Mother-Of-Pearl And Gilt Dial Of The Reverso One Precious Flowers
Monoface models (with just the one watch dial) of the elegantly proportioned Reverso One timepieces best allow for artistic expression on the otherwise plain caseback. Enamelling and gem-setting on the new Reverso One Precious Flowers watches flow from the caseback to the dial side, encompassing the edges of the 40mm by 20mm case, as well as the smooth bevelled sides. A reverse diamond setting decorates the winding crown. On the rectangular dial made from mother-of-pearl, decorative Arabic numerals are framed by gilded edging on four corners, and dauphine hands in pink gold match the cases. The bezel and lugs are set with diamonds, and even on the dial side, enamelled edges peek out, hinting at a beautifully decorated caseback.
Tropical Art Deco: Reverso One Precious Flowers
Artwork on the caseback involves a combination of enamelling techniques, the first of which is champlevé (meaning ‘raised field’), which involves cutting away at the base metal to achieve a desired pattern before enamel is painted into these recesses, one layer at a time. This technique is combined with paillonnage, which uses gold leaf that has been cut into desired shapes and then fitted into recesses. The gold base brings out the vibrancy of the hues that will be applied in the next step. Once the base is ready, grand feu enamelling begins. Here, pigments are placed onto the metal before the case is fired at extremely high temperatures, with each turn in the fire considerably increasing the risk of damage to hours of painstaking effort.
Only once the enamelling is complete, can the gem-setting process start. Here too, balance is key as gem setters require a soft base, while enamelling hardens the metal. Each of these timepieces requires between 70 and 120 hours of work.
Reverso One Precious Flowers: Birds Of Paradise
Representing freedom and joy in the language of flowers, the Birds of Paradise timepiece evokes delight with its rich orange and red hues against a background of green foliage and snow set diamonds in different sizes. With a total of 331 diamonds measuring 1.64 carat, this timepiece is paired with a deep green alligator leather strap.
Reverso One Precious Flowers: Hibiscus Enamel And Diamonds
The Hibiscus Enamel version is the first time a Reverso One Precious Flowers timepiece features a background made entirely by enamelling. On this watch, approximately 157 diamonds (1.25 carat) decorate the lugs and edges of the case, framing the tropical bloom that symbolises beauty and love in calming hues, with a light blue alligator leather strap to match. The Hibiscus Diamonds timepiece features these blued hibiscus blossoms against a total of 523 diamonds measuring 2.02 carat, and is paired with a deep blue alligator leather strap.
The watches are powered by the brand’s manually-wound calibre 846, with an approximate power reserve of 38 hours.
These exotic Reverso One Precious Flowers timepieces are a symbol of not just the flower decorating the case but also of elegance, art and the ancient techniques of decorative crafts in the world of fine watchmaking.
