JAEGER-LECOULTRE UNVEILS THE REVERSO TRIBUTE ENAMEL ‘HORSE’

Celebrating the Lunar Year of the Horse, this rare Métiers Rares™ creation pairs grand feu enamelling with master engraving in a strictly limited edition of ten.

Photo courtesy: Jaeger-LeCoultre

To welcome the 2026 Lunar New Year, Jaeger-LeCoultre introduces a remarkable new chapter in its zodiac series: the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Horse’. Created in the Manufacture’s Métiers Rares™ atelier, the timepiece brings together master engraving, grand feu enamelling and in-house mechanical watchmaking in a collector’s edition limited to just ten pieces.

Originally conceived in 1931 for polo players, the iconic Reverso remains inseparable from the elegance of equestrian sport. The new edition deepens that connection by honouring the Chinese Zodiac symbol of the horse—an enduring emblem of strength, vitality and freedom in Asian culture. The watch was first unveiled ahead of the Lunar New Year at the brand’s Dream Shaper exhibition in Shanghai, offering an early glimpse of its exceptional craftsmanship.

Turning the swivelling case reveals the pièce de résistance: a majestic hand-engraved horse emerging from golden clouds against a backdrop of opaque black grand feu enamel. Each caseback demands more than 80 hours of meticulous engraving. Using ten chisels of varying sizes, the engraver works directly on enamelled metal—an extraordinarily delicate process that requires absolute precision to preserve the flawless enamel beneath. Black rhodium accents refine the mane, muzzle and hooves, while sand-blasted clouds create a striking sense of movement and depth.

The dial mirrors the caseback’s lustrous black enamel, preserving the timeless Art Deco codes of the Reverso Tribute line. Achieving this deep, glossy finish requires five to six layers of enamel, each fired and cooled over several days before being polished to a mirror-like shine. The perfect harmony between dial and caseback highlights the rare expertise of one of the few watch manufacturers to maintain its own enamelling and engraving ateliers in-house.

Inside, the manually wound Calibre 822 powers the watch with a 42-hour reserve, underscoring the Maison’s commitment to technical excellence alongside artistic mastery. Encased in pink gold and paired with a black alligator strap, the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Horse’ stands as a poetic fusion of culture, craftsmanship and mechanical precision—an intimate work of art destined for a select circle of collectors.