Jaeger-LeCoultre's Limited Reverso Hokusai Watch

In the history of Japanese art, no name is more significant than Katsushika Hokusai. Throughout his career spanning the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Hokusai created thousands of ukiyo-e paintings, sketches, and woodblock prints celebrating the serene natural beauty of Japan, including the world's most recognizable piece of Japanese art, “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” With extensive experience in enameling, Jaeger-LeCoultre is well-equipped to bring these complex works of art to the realm of watchmaking, and in 2018, the company paid homage to “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by releasing a limited edition series of Reverso watches.

In 2021, the brand aims to once again capture Hokusai's artistry, miniaturizing the fine line work, complex use of gradient color, and tranquil sense of grandeur present in the artist's 1831 woodblock print “Kirifuri Waterfall.” The new limited edition Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai “Kirifuri Waterfall” combines one of the brand's most exquisite enamel works to date with a unique supplementary dial design, beautifully interpreting one of Japan's greatest art pieces for the wrist.

The slim case design of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai “Kirifuri Waterfall,” measuring 27.4 mm by 45.5 mm, is pure Reverso classic. The Streamline Moderne form with its signature short curved lugs, distinctive grooves at the “12 o’clock” and “6 o’clock” marks, and the iconic rotating central case is crafted from bright white gold, giving it an added touch of luxury.

While the front view of the rotating case is familiar, the back becomes the focal point of the entire model. Here, the massive back is devoted entirely to the hand-painted Grand Feu enamel depiction of Hokusai’s “Kirifuri Waterfall.” This painting, crafted by a Jaeger-LeCoultre master over 70 hours, required the invention of a new patented enameling technique to achieve the bokashi color gradient effect that defines Hokusai's original.

Another challenge was the tiny scale of the painting - while the original print measures 37 cm by 24.5 cm, the enamel painting is barely more than one-tenth the size, yet retains almost all the details of the original work, right down to the intricate artist’s signature.

To highlight this artwork on the case back, the dial of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai “Kirifuri Waterfall” has gained a new unique look. Drawing inspiration from the wave patterns under the waterfall in the “Kirifuri Waterfall” artwork, Jaeger-LeCoultre has developed a stylized guilloché wave finish for the dial.

According to brand representatives, each dial is worked on an antique lathe for five hours before being coated with several layers of translucent Grand Feu enamel. The translucent seafoam green color and wave pattern give the Reverso a tranquil waterlike feel that can appeal to everyone.

Aside from the new finish, this dial differs little from the standard Reverso model, featuring the classic combination of dauphine hands, pointed chamfered indices, and a prominent railroad minute track.

Jaeger-LeCoultre equips the Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai “Kirifuri Waterfall” with the in-house Calibre 822 manual movement. The Calibre 822 has long been a mainstay of the Reverso line, but its age is beginning to show, as it offers a power reserve of only 42 hours at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour. To complete the design, Jaeger-LeCoultre pairs the watch with a timeless black alligator leather strap.

Despite the lack of mechanical novelty, the limited edition Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai “Kirifuri Waterfall” is a complex and stunning demonstration of the brand's enameling and guilloché capabilities and pays tribute to Japan's most famous artist.

Only 10 pieces of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai “Kirifuri Waterfall” will be produced. The watch is available now through official dealers for 80,000 euros. For more detailed information, visit the brand's website.