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Lot Essay
Magnificent and fascinating, this reference Q23.33.40.2 is the exceptionally rare high-jewellery edition of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2. An ultra-exclusive high-complication watch, this masterpiece merges the brand's legendary multi-axis spherical tourbillon with masterful diamond gem-setting. Cased in 18K white gold, it is set with high-grade baguette-cut diamonds across the upper and lower case frame. To the best of our knowledge, the present watch is the first of its kind to be offered at international auction.
The present white-gold diamond-set version of the Gyrotourbillon 2 was part of an incredibly limited number. While the platinum and rose gold iterations were limited to 75 pieces each, the non-jewelled white gold variant was limited to just 20 pieces. This high-jewellery edition adorned with factory-set baguette diamonds was produced in even smaller numbers, probably only single-digit quantities, and was only available to order for the company’s most trusted VIP collectors.
A masterpiece of Jaeger-LeCoultre watchmaking craftsmanship, the gyrotourbillon is a multi-axis tourbillon watch. By counteracting the effects of the Earth’s gravity, this complication guarantees the tourbillon watch’s pinpoint watchmaking precision. The Gyrotourbillon is as technically efficient as it is visually fascinating.
First launched in 2008 for the 175th Birthday of Jaeger-LeCoultre and to commemorate the 80th Birthday of the Reverso model, the ultra-sophisticated Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2 has been described as “one of the most remarkable achievements in contemporary haute horology”.
Housed in an enlarged version of Jaeger’s iconic ‘Art-Deco’ Reverso case and visible from both sides, the extraordinary 3-dimensional Gyrotourbillon 2 manual winding caliber JLC 174 movement is a ‘living’ miniature sculpture. The action of the inclined two-cage spherical tourbillon turning on two axes is both mesmerizing and incredibly beautiful in its conception. The twin openworked dials display the hours and minutes with the seconds on the tourbillon carriage on one side, the power reserve and 24-hour indication on the other.
Jaeger-LeCoultre first introduced their two-axis ‘Gyrotourbillon’ in 2004, the ‘Gyrotourbillon 1’ which was developed by master watchmaker Eric Coudray. The present white gold and diamond-set version, reference Q23.33.40.2, the ‘Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2’ is a variant of its successor, first launched in 2008. It was awarded the “Complicated Watch Prize” at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in the same year.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2 – The Multi-Axis Tourbillon
Composed of 371 parts and 58 jewels, the Gyrotourbillon 2 incorporates several technical advances including beating at 28,800 alternances per hour instead of the 21,600 beats of the Gyrotourbillon 1. However, the chief feature is the spherical tourbillon itself, the rotation of which is extremely unusual. The tourbillon is quite spectacular to watch in action and is so precise that it enabled Jaeger-LeCoultre to win a prize the first official timing competition of the 21st century. The carriage itself is machined from a single block of titanium, in addition to the tourbillon revolving around the axis of its titanium carriage, it also rotates around a second axis, inclined at a 20° angle. The combined effect of these two rotations (respectively 30 and 15 seconds per revolution) frees the watch from the effects of gravity and also results in it being extremely lightweight and of very high precision. Another important feature is the cylindrical balance spring with two terminal curves, although patented in 1782 by the Englishman, John Arnold, this is the first time that the cylindrical balance spring had been miniaturized for use in a wristwatch. The cylindrical shape serves to make the movement more isochronous, the two terminal curves giving a more even motion during each rotation.
The present white-gold diamond-set version of the Gyrotourbillon 2 was part of an incredibly limited number. While the platinum and rose gold iterations were limited to 75 pieces each, the non-jewelled white gold variant was limited to just 20 pieces. This high-jewellery edition adorned with factory-set baguette diamonds was produced in even smaller numbers, probably only single-digit quantities, and was only available to order for the company’s most trusted VIP collectors.
A masterpiece of Jaeger-LeCoultre watchmaking craftsmanship, the gyrotourbillon is a multi-axis tourbillon watch. By counteracting the effects of the Earth’s gravity, this complication guarantees the tourbillon watch’s pinpoint watchmaking precision. The Gyrotourbillon is as technically efficient as it is visually fascinating.
First launched in 2008 for the 175th Birthday of Jaeger-LeCoultre and to commemorate the 80th Birthday of the Reverso model, the ultra-sophisticated Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2 has been described as “one of the most remarkable achievements in contemporary haute horology”.
Housed in an enlarged version of Jaeger’s iconic ‘Art-Deco’ Reverso case and visible from both sides, the extraordinary 3-dimensional Gyrotourbillon 2 manual winding caliber JLC 174 movement is a ‘living’ miniature sculpture. The action of the inclined two-cage spherical tourbillon turning on two axes is both mesmerizing and incredibly beautiful in its conception. The twin openworked dials display the hours and minutes with the seconds on the tourbillon carriage on one side, the power reserve and 24-hour indication on the other.
Jaeger-LeCoultre first introduced their two-axis ‘Gyrotourbillon’ in 2004, the ‘Gyrotourbillon 1’ which was developed by master watchmaker Eric Coudray. The present white gold and diamond-set version, reference Q23.33.40.2, the ‘Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2’ is a variant of its successor, first launched in 2008. It was awarded the “Complicated Watch Prize” at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in the same year.
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2 – The Multi-Axis Tourbillon
Composed of 371 parts and 58 jewels, the Gyrotourbillon 2 incorporates several technical advances including beating at 28,800 alternances per hour instead of the 21,600 beats of the Gyrotourbillon 1. However, the chief feature is the spherical tourbillon itself, the rotation of which is extremely unusual. The tourbillon is quite spectacular to watch in action and is so precise that it enabled Jaeger-LeCoultre to win a prize the first official timing competition of the 21st century. The carriage itself is machined from a single block of titanium, in addition to the tourbillon revolving around the axis of its titanium carriage, it also rotates around a second axis, inclined at a 20° angle. The combined effect of these two rotations (respectively 30 and 15 seconds per revolution) frees the watch from the effects of gravity and also results in it being extremely lightweight and of very high precision. Another important feature is the cylindrical balance spring with two terminal curves, although patented in 1782 by the Englishman, John Arnold, this is the first time that the cylindrical balance spring had been miniaturized for use in a wristwatch. The cylindrical shape serves to make the movement more isochronous, the two terminal curves giving a more even motion during each rotation.