Jaeger-LeCoultre Decorates The Reverso With Hokusai’s Amida Falls

In Japanese art and culture, few names resonate as much as Katsushika Hokusai. This 19th-century master artist is well-known beyond Japan’s borders as his fame extends into the Western world as well. Hokusai was one of the rare Japanese craftsmen who elevated woodblock printing, considered a simpler form of art at the time, to a high-end artform. His series of 8 woodblock prints created in 1833 and 1834, all depicting waterfalls found across Japan, is considered to be one of the finest representations of landscapes ever produced. Among this series is The Great Wave off Kanagawa, but also the Amida Falls, which is the topic of choice in Jaeger-LeCoultre’s latest Reverso Tribute. 

Using the iconic Reverso concept, JLC has taken the caseback of the Reverso Monoface and turned it into a miniature canvas yet again. This time a miniature reproduction of Hokusai’s woodblock print of the Amida Falls is hand-applied on the closed back side of the reversible case with Grand Feu enamel. The result is a perfect recreation of the famous artwork, scaled down to one-tenth of its original size. And as such, it completes the Reverso Tribute trilogy dedicated to Hokusai, which started with The Great Wave off Kanagawa in 2018 and the Kirifuri Waterfall at Kurokami Mountain in 2021.

Switching to the dial of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai ‘Amida Falls’ reveals more artistry, as the guilloché Lozenge pattern, needing 600 individual passes of the traditional laithe, is covered by translucent green Grand Feu enamel. This is then finished with a subtle minute track in white, applied white gold indices and Dauphine hour and minute hands. All is set in the signature rectangular case, made of white gold and measuring 45.5mm by 27.4mm and 9.73mm. Inside the reversible case ticks Jaeger-LeCoultre’s in-house made Calibre 822/2, which indicates central hours and minutes only. Ticking at a rate of 21,600vph and provides 42 hours of power reserve once fully wound by hand.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Enamel Hokusai ‘Amida Falls’ comes on a black alligator leather strap with a white gold pin buckle. However simple this may look, it suits the watch very good and doesn’t take away one bit of attention the dial and miniature painting deserve. The watch is presented as a limited edition of 10 pieces and is exclusively available in Japan. No price has been disclosed, but considering a rose gold time-only Reverso Monoface retails for EUR 14,600, this will be quite a bit more expensive than that given the special dial and artwork.

For more information, please visit Jaeger-LeCoultre.com