The Jaeger-LeCoultre watch with a case that swivels to protect its crystal, created in 1931, is the Reverso.
The Reverso was developed for British Army polo players in India, who needed a watch that could withstand the knocks of the game. Its case slides and flips within a cradle, turning the dial toward the wrist and exposing a solid metal back.
That reversible construction is the model’s essential feature. The case back can also be engraved or decorated, making the Reverso both a practical sports watch and a platform for personalization. Later versions added complications and decorative crafts while retaining the swiveling architecture.
The name means “I turn around” in Latin. It is sometimes confused with Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Master Control or Polaris collections, but neither has the Reverso’s signature reversible case.