Designed by René-Alfred Chauvot, the Reverso was conceived with the express purpose of being able to withstand the harsh beating a watch would endure during a game of polo. This was put to JLC by entrepreneur César de Trey as a challenge for the brand in 1930. Born the year following in 1931, the Reverso was a sports watch, thanks to its unique case design. In the 1930s, the Reverso needed to be more durable than other available watches; hence its ingenious reversible case was born. This protected the dial from a direct hit and gave the Reverso its name. Over 90 years later and the Reverso’s design lives on as one of the most recognizable in watchmaking. Offering a luxurious take on the Reverso’s originally sporty design, the Duoface Day and Night ref. 270.2.54’s 18kt rose gold case boasts 26mm x 42mm dimensions that make it incredible wearable and distinctly understated. Featuring a monochromatic silver dial with a blued steel handset, Arabic numerals and a night and day display at 12 o’clock and another dial that is black and boasts another night and day indicator, the ref. 270.2.54 is intensely refined and classical, as the Reverso has always been over the decades. Powered by a JLC caliber manual-wind movement, as the Reverso was originally, and offered on a leather strap with an 18kt rose gold pin deployant clasp, this example offers fantastic wearability, not least thanks to its two dials, that will certainly allow it to easily fit into any collection as it operates as two timepieces rather than just the one.

A horological icon like no other, the Reverso has been one of the industry's poster-children since its debut all those decades ago, and watch collectors have been eager to get their hands on it ever since - especially rare precious metal examples like this one.