The first series of tribute timepieces features one of René Magritte's most famous paintings, "The Treachery of Images," in a lacquered engraving on the caseback of the firm's iconic "Reverso" model.
Jaeger-LeCoultre has teamed up with the Brussels-based jewelry house, Maison De Greef, to combine creativity and expertise in this René Magritte tribute-edition "Reverso" watch.
History of the 'Reverso'
The project was also carried out in close collaboration with Charly Herscovici, President of The Magritte Foundation.
For this special edition, the Swiss watchmaker's iconic reversible watch comes adorned with the artist's painting, "The Treachery of Images," featuring a pipe painted in almost photographic detail, accompanied by the phrase "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" ("This is not a pipe").
Painted in Paris, France in 1929, the painting can today be admired in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, USA.
Gray gold or steel
This first Jaeger-LeCoultre tribute series to the Belgian painter includes a gray gold watch, limited to a five-piece edition, and a steel watch, limited to 15 pieces.
Both models are directly inspired by the original "Reverso" watch, presented in 1931.
The "Grande Reverso Ultra Thin 1931" has a gray gold case and a silver-toned dial displaying hours, minutes and small seconds.
The "Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute to 1931" has a stainless steel case and a black dial with hours and minutes functions. Both use the Jaeger-LeCoultre 822 caliber.
The René Magritte painting is featured as a lacquered engraving on the back of the case.
Although hidden away at first glance, wearers can flip round the "Reverso" to reveal the artwork at any moment.
This timely series marks two anniversaries, celebrating 85 years of the "Reverso" in 2016, and the 50th anniversary of the death of René Magritte in 2017.
After unveiling its first series of celebratory watches, the Swiss watchmaker has two more in store for the coming years.
The first series of special-edition René Magritte "Reverso" watches can be admired exclusively at Maison De Greef.
