Jaeger-LeCoultre has released a selection of limited-edition Reverso Timepieces in celebration of the Lunar New Year. They exemplify exquisite craftsmanship and artistry from the Métiers Rares atelier at La Grande Maison, while also honouring the origins of the Reverso in the sport of polo
Xu BeiHong, the father of modern Chinese Art, is best known for his ink-and-wash paintings of horses at the start of the 20th century. His combination of epic Chinese themes with Western techniques made him a pioneer, earning him the title of “The Four Great Academy Presidents” in Chinese modern art.
The Lunar New Year in 2026 heralds the arrival of the Year of the Horse. So, it’s apt that Jaeger-LeCoultre turns to Xu’s art to for their timepieces. The maison has created special watches to add to your collection that best reflect the year’s vitality and spirited approach.
It can’t be easy to miniaturise original ink-and-wash paintings on a surface of approximately 2cm by 2cm. Yet, Jaeger-LeCoultre has captured the dynamic movement and restrained detailing of Xu’s brush strokes on its timepieces.
Reverso Tribute Enamel The Running Horse
This watch borrows from the 1942 masterpiece, Running Together (Six Horses). It pays homage to the ‘Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum’, a set of 7th-century stone reliefs that commemorate the warhorses of the Tang dynasty Emperor, Taizong. Here we see a single horse transcending time and space at full gallop. Meanwhile, the dial is a green grand feu enamel. It is a shade known in Chinese painting as Evergreen Pine Green, a symbol of longevity.
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Reverso Tribute Enamel Two Horses
The dial for this is decorated with a barley-seed guilloché pattern, comprising 50 intricate precise lines. On the flipside, we see a scene from the 1942 masterpiece, Running Together (Six Horses). This time, they have selected two horses: one black, one white. The two are by each other in a manner that resembles yin and yang energy, standing as a symbol of strong affinity.
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Reverso Tribute Enamel The Standing Horse
This timepiece features the 1939 masterpiece, Standing Horse. A single horse stands alone, its mane majestically blowing in the wind. It exudes a sense of beauty and majesty. The dial is decorated with what is known as a herringbone guilloché pattern, which is made of 120 precise lines. This design is highlighted by a layer of translucent grand feu enamel in a soft orange hue.
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Reverso Tribute Enamel Horse
For this timepiece, Jaeger-LeCoultre turns the spotlight on in-house artists – the engravers from Atelier des Métiers Rares. The reverse side of this watch case shows a hand-engraved horse emerging powerfully from a wreath of golden clouds, set against a background of glossy black Grand Feu enamel. It was made using modelled engraving, which consists of using 10 different sized chisels to sculpt the metal step by step over 80 hours.
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