Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Homage to Hokusai:
Reverso Tribute Enamel Timepieces
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Homage to Hokusai: Reverso Tribute Enamel Timepieces
Jaeger-LeCoultre has seamlessly integrated Asian motifs and Eastern decorative crafts into its timepieces since its inception, perpetuating the cultural exchange between Asia and Europe for over two millennia. This year, La Grande Maison introduces two exquisite Reverso Tribute timepieces adorned with miniature-painted enamel reproductions by Katsushika Hokusai, Japan’s renowned 19th-century artist as a nod to this rich tradition.
Jaeger-LeCoultre has seamlessly integrated Asian motifs and Eastern decorative crafts into its timepieces since its inception, perpetuating the cultural exchange between Asia and Europe for over two millennia. This year, La Grande Maison introduces two exquisite Reverso Tribute timepieces adorned with miniature-painted enamel reproductions by Katsushika Hokusai, Japan’s renowned 19th-century artist as a nod to this rich tradition.
Hokusai, revered for transforming ukiyo-e painting, expanded the genre to encompass landscapes, plants, and animals, breaking free from its narrow focus on the hedonistic lifestyle of 19th-century Edo Japan’s merchant class.
The chosen works, “The Waterfall at Ono on the Kisokaido Road” and “The Waterfall Where Yoshitsune Washed his Horse at Yoshino in Yamato Province,” are part of Hokusai’s series “A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces.” These pieces follow earlier Reverso Tribute models in 2021 and 2022 that paid homage to Hokusai’s waterfalls, continuing the Maison’s connection to nature.
Hokusai, revered for transforming ukiyo-e painting, expanded the genre to encompass landscapes, plants, and animals, breaking free from its narrow focus on the hedonistic lifestyle of 19th-century Edo Japan’s merchant class.
The chosen works, “The Waterfall at Ono on the Kisokaido Road” and “The Waterfall Where Yoshitsune Washed his Horse at Yoshino in Yamato Province,” are part of Hokusai’s series “A Tour of the Waterfalls of the Provinces.” These pieces follow earlier Reverso Tribute models in 2021 and 2022 that paid homage to Hokusai’s waterfalls, continuing the Maison’s connection to nature.
Crafted using the Geneva technique, the miniature paintings on the Reverso case-backs involve at least 14 layers of enamel, fired at 800°C, requiring a meticulous 80 hours of work. The enameller faced the challenge of precisely reproducing every detail on a one-tenth scale, including hand-writing microscopic captions near the top of each frame, a true technical and artistic feat.
The front dials, with faceted appliqué hour-markers, Dauphine hands, and chemin-de-fer minutes track, offer a discreet contrast to the intricacy of the miniature paintings. However, this simplicity contradicts the complexity of craftsmanship, with guillochage by hand and the application of translucent enamel requiring meticulous attention.
Crafted using the Geneva technique, the miniature paintings on the Reverso case-backs involve at least 14 layers of enamel, fired at 800°C, requiring a meticulous 80 hours of work. The enameller faced the challenge of precisely reproducing every detail on a one-tenth scale, including hand-writing microscopic captions near the top of each frame, a true technical and artistic feat.
The front dials, with faceted appliqué hour-markers, Dauphine hands, and chemin-de-fer minutes track, offer a discreet contrast to the intricacy of the miniature paintings. However, this simplicity contradicts the complexity of craftsmanship, with guillochage by hand and the application of translucent enamel requiring meticulous attention.
Embodying Jaeger-LeCoultre’s commitment to art and culture, the Reverso Tribute Enamel timepieces showcase the talents of the Métiers Rares™ (Rare Handcrafts) atelier in the Vallée de Joux. These additions to the Reverso legacy demonstrate the watch’s limitless potential as a canvas for creative expression, merging horology and artistry in a celebration of craftsmanship.
Follow us on Instagram @swisswatchglobal to be the first to learn about the latest releases from the world of horology.
Embodying Jaeger-LeCoultre’s commitment to art and culture, the Reverso Tribute Enamel timepieces showcase the talents of the Métiers Rares™ (Rare Handcrafts) atelier in the Vallée de Joux. These additions to the Reverso legacy demonstrate the watch’s limitless potential as a canvas for creative expression, merging horology and artistry in a celebration of craftsmanship.
Follow us on Instagram @swisswatchglobal to be the first to learn about the latest releases from the world of horology.
