Reply With QuoteBrendan. That looks lovely, and great to see the whole process of servicing. I’ve not seen one in the flesh but they really are an iconic design. Many thanks for posting.
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Servicing a Reverso
Perhaps one of the most iconic watches of all time, the Reverso, was launched in 1932 in response to complaints from sportsmen that their watches were being damaged during their exercises.
The well known art deco design survived for a few years after that but was then pretty well abandoned.
The story goes that a large number of Reverso watch cases were discovered in the 70's in an Italian workshop and the Reverso enjoyed a new lease of life.
During my time working at Jaeger Lecoultre I saw many various models, from ones with hidden erotica on the reverse side to finely hand enamelled and extremely expensive gold and diamond cased models.
This current model I am servicing is a dual time version. Steel case.
These watches are a pure pleasure to work on.
They look gorgeous and rarely give any kind of servicing problems.
This one was mainly dry of lubricants, had some magnetism present and the case and bracelet needed a serious polish and grain.
There is a large Reverso clock hanging in the reception area of JleC in Le Sentier.
I have often asked for one at Christmas time but had to make do with a box of JleC freshly hand made chocolates !
Not complaining !
Here are some photos of the procedure:
Dried oil in the jewel holes. The winding was stiff because of dried lubricants in the wheels:
Into the cleaning baskets:
Mainspring lubricants dried out:
Reassembly and initial readings:
Reading after oils have circulated:
Hands were magnetised:
Grained the case back but forgot to take photos of the polished case and bracelet !
Perhaps the owner will contribute !
Isn't it gorgeous ?
Who would not want to wear one of these ?
Thanks for looking.
Brendan
Last edited by Webwatchmaker; 10th December 2017 at 10:50.
Brendan. That looks lovely, and great to see the whole process of servicing. I’ve not seen one in the flesh but they really are an iconic design. Many thanks for posting.
Sent from my iPad using TZ-UK mobile app
Thanks for posting this. Always like these "on the surgeon's table" episodes. How does the dual time work? Minute hands synchronised and just the hour hands can be set to different times? Or something else? It seems complicated to do, but the movement doesn't look too daunting somehow.
Fantastic Brendan, great to see how good JLC are on the inside too.
You mention the hands were magnetised and I’ve had a similar problem with my Reverso Gran Sport and been told it was magnetised; it’s rate is quite fast again.
Great read (and photos). What year is this one?
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Great post thanks.
Have always liked those, the dials are beauties.
By pulling the crown 1 or 2 clicks results in setting local hours or local and away hour/minutes. Beauty of this model is the case is not compromised by the presence of pushers which in my opinion distracts from the elegant lines of the case.Originally Posted by Tokyo Tokei
Awesome thanks and one of my favs.
Beautiful!
One day maybe.
Who am I kidding.
That looks really good Brendan. Mine could be winging its way to you soon for a service.
Like Guycord says.
Very similar arangement to the Sea Dweller. An amazing little wheel which engages the hour wheel and works as a calendar quick change too.
I wouldn't like to have to make one !
Brendan
Thanks for sharing, Brendan, really enjoyed this. I used to own one of these but I never got to see the internals; never realised that the inside was as pretty as the outside!
Brilliant, thanks for sharing.
Some advice please Brendan.
My wife has a Reverso Quartz, I have the necessary screwdrivers etc. and do all my own battery replacement when necessary.
Being in engineering for over fifty years I like to think I'm 'fairly' competent.
I'm looking ahead here to the day that the Reverso needs a new battery.
Is this something you think it's worth attempting.
Thanks in advance.
Dave
Really enjoyed reading this - have decided to wear mine today now!
You will need especially long screwdriver blades with good heads to reach the screw heads on the inside of the lugs.
Also an ultrasonic bath is advisable because a lot of muck gets into the springs at each end of the case.
The movement block of the case only fits one way.
Lightly grease the gaskets before reassembly.
Blow all dust off the dial.
Don't touch the battery except with plastic tweezers.
Good luck !
Brendan
Last edited by Webwatchmaker; 11th December 2017 at 10:53.
Great post thanks. I do like a Reverso.
Always good to see these posts, from an amateur tinkerers POV I love seeing the expert's pics.
They do seem well loved, never appealed to me in pics personally but I think they look like the sort of watch you derive the pleasure from playing with on the wrist. They always look quite satisfying the way they reverse and make me want to have a play with one.
Never been a fan of the wide open date windows like that and it looks a bit guess the date as doesn't have a marker or centre by the looks.
Hmmm..! sounds above my capabilities.
A job for a expert me-thinks.
Many thanks.
Send it down and I'll fix it for you.
B.
Brendan
great post! still on the hunt for the perfect one...
Very many thanks Brendan, when the battery finally gives up the ghost I'll do that.
Dave
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