Less Is More: The Art Of The Ultra Thin Watch

The Jaeger LeCoultre Grande Reverso Ultra Thin

Rose gold $16,000; stainless steel $7,800

A classic since 1931, the Reverso’s rotating case was originally developed after an English polo player showed the cracked glass of his wristwatch to a Jaeger LeCoultre executive and asked for a watch that could protect itself.  Though originally designed as a sports watch, the Reverso has come to be considered a classic dress watch as well, and an icon of Art Deco design.  The reversible case is customizable with anything from an engraving to a one-of-a-kind miniature enamel painting, making the Reverso one of the most personal of treasures for the wrist as well.  The newest addition to the Reverso family, the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin, is the first extra flat Reverso from Jaeger LeCoultre, in a contemporary size that still preserves the proportions of the 1931 model.

Richard Mille RM 017

Titanium $375,000; red gold $395,000; white gold $405,000

Richard Mille’s watches practically define modern watchmaking –he pioneered the use of exotic materials taken from such worlds as Formula 1 racing and the aerospace industry, and brought a whole new design language to the world of watchmaking. The RM 017 integrates this next generation with one of the most traditional complications: the tourbillon.  Housed in a thin, sensuously curved gold case, the RM 017’s titanium and black PVD movement is visible through the transparent dial, with the tourbillon cage rotating not in a conventional jeweled bearing, but in a high tech ceramic for reduced friction and improved resistance to wear.