While they might be best-known for their fashion offerings such as shoes, bags, belts, and ready-to-wear, Yves Saint-Laurent has also been known to dabble in other industries, such as the watchmaking industry, as evidenced by the YSL ‘Reverso’ that we have here, albeit this endeavour was powered by one of watchmaking’s most famous names, Cartier. Having bought the global licensing rights to the Yves Saint Laurent name for watchmaking products in 1969, Cartier used their same producers and suppliers to create the parts necessary for the YSL Reverso. Produced until 1975 (which is when Cartier sold their YSL licensing rights to Citizen), limited numbers of the YSL Reverso have made it to market.

Powered by the ETA cal. 2512, which is the same movement as Cartier’s cal. 78-1 that they would have used at the time, the YSL Reverso is Cartier through and through. Split into three generations, this example belongs to the 2nd generation. The earliest examples boast the same unbranded dial design as this example, but with a PARIS signature at 6 o’clock instead of this example’s SWISS signature. This echoes Cartier’s own move from PARIS-signed dials to SWISS-signed dials at the same time. Those Paris-signed examples also hailed from a different Parisian casemaker and goldsmith named Paul Franck. The later SWISS-signed examples were made by a Parisian casemaker and goldsmith named Jules Person, both of who Cartier used on various watches of their own throughout the years. The final generation of the YSL Reverso features a YSL-branded SWISS-signed dial, and is also made by Jules Person.

Offered as a unique take on the Reverso, this example features a two-tone 18kt yellow gold and stainless steel 35mm x 21mm case. However, its main point of differentiation come in the shape of its stepped lugs and understated white dial that boasts a wonderfully unique handwritten-style font. This is one stylish obscurity that vintage collectors are sure to be excited by, especially those who like the Cartier Reverso from the same period, and want something a bit more outside of the box than a typical JLC Reverso.

Exploring an iconic design but with their own twist with the help and guidance of Cartier and their network, the YSL Reverso has become a collectible offering on account of its obscurity and famously stylish aesthetic.