By Kien Lee

Jaeger-LeCoultre pays homage to the upcoming Year of the Horse with the debut of the Reverso Tribute Enamel Horse, a masterpiece of fine craftsmanship from its Métiers Rares atelier. This limited edition of only ten pieces celebrates the horse as a pervasive symbol of vitality, speed, and freedom within Chinese culture. The timepiece features a double equine reference, linking the zodiac symbol to the swivelling case's 1931 origins on the polo field.

The reverse side of the pink gold case reveals a majestic horse hand-engraved with such precision that it appears to leap from sand-blasted golden clouds. This intricate artwork requires eighty hours of focused labor, utilizing a modeled engraving technique to create a profound sense of depth and volume. The engraver works directly onto a surface already coated in black Grand Feu enamel, a challenging process that demands absolute accuracy to protect the flawless background.

A perfectly matched opaque black Grand Feu enamel adorns both the dial and the caseback, achieved through five to six successive layers of firing and cooling. The signature Reverso Tribute dial maintains its Art Deco elegance with faceted appliqué hour markers and Dauphine hands, allowing the glossy black background to take center stage. This deep, uniform shine is the result of half a day of meticulous polishing and many years of artisanal experience.

Beneath the artistic exterior, the watch is powered by the manually wound Calibre 822, which offers a power reserve of forty-two hours. Entirely designed and produced in-house at the manufacture in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux, the movement reflects the technical expertise that has defined the brand since 1833. Secured with a black alligator strap, this rare edition was presented as a highlight of the Dream Shaper exhibition in Shanghai.