Hands-On: Jaeger-Lecoultre Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 Watch
Photos by Ed Rhee
The people at Jaeger-LeCoultre never disappoint at Watches and Wonders, and 2025 was no exception. The latest flex? The Reverso Hybris Artistica Gyrotourbillon Calibre 179 . The Gyrotourbillon itself isn’t new, but this version takes what JLC introduced in 2023 and cranks it up to another level—both mechanically and artistically. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to strap the watch on as Jaeger-LeCoultre was being extra careful with this piece, presumably because it was counted as one of the 10 for sale. But that means your experience will be closer to ours, and we get to imagine together what it would be like to actually wear it!
We did get to handle it: flip it, trace the supple leather of the strap with our eager fingers, admire the case up close, and yes, dream about how it might feel on the wrist. Based on its proportions (51.1mm x 31mm x 13.63mm) and heritage, we’d wager it wears like a traditional Reverso, meaning it should be comfortable despite its complexity. The blue alligator leather strap pulls everything together, and JLC even over-engineered the buckle — because of course they did. It’s an adjustable gold double-wheel mechanism that lets you tweak the fit by 0.5mm. Because if you’re going this deep into high horology, even your clasp has to be complicated. But since we couldn’t try it on, we can’t assess how well it actually works.
This is far from the first Hybris JLC has produced; the moniker is basically used whenever the brand chooses to go absolutely wild with a movement or complications. Here, on the front the deep blue lacquer is rich and glossy, setting off the skeletonized elements beautifully. And then there’s the main attraction: the Gyrotourbillon. Watching it in motion is like staring into a tiny mechanical vortex—it does a full 360-degree rotation every 16 seconds while its peripheral carriage makes a full lap every minute. It’s hypnotic. If we actually owned this, we’d get nothing done—just sitting there, staring at the movement in awe. Functionally, you get hours and minutes on both dials, plus a second time zone with a 24-hour indicator—though let’s be honest, if you’re dropping $565,000 on this, you probably have people to keep track of time zones for you.
Flipping the case over is where things get even more ridiculous. The reverse dial is even more skeletonized, giving you a full look into the movement while still working in that signature blue lacquer. The manually wound Caliber 179 is packing 52 jewels and running at 28,800 bph with a 40-hour power reserve. Jaeger-LeCoultre has a habit of going wild with their complications, and this is proof they’re still on top of their game. They somehow took one of the more intricate movements and put it in a case that (probably) still wears like a classic. And for over half a million dollars, it can be yours—assuming you didn’t need to buy a house or, you know, a fleet of cars (or one expensive one…).
This isn’t just a watch; it’s horological art. Jaeger-LeCoultre has long made some beautiful watches, and this is no exception. Gyrotourbillons are just so fun to watch. If you ever get a chance to see one in person, do yourself a favor and take a long look. Just don’t get too close — Jaeger-LeCoultre would prefer you admire it from behind glass, as nature (and the brand) intended. While I wish I had the money for one, alas, here I am. (But do I really need a house?) The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Artistica Gyrotourbillon is available now. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Hybris Artistica Calibre 179 is priced at $565,000 USD and is limited to 10 pieces. For more information, please visit the Jaeger-LeCoultre website.
