Jaeger-LeCoultre introduced the Reverso Tribute Enamel “Shahnameh”.
Did you know that the world-renowned epic Shahnameh and the polo share common roots? While many of us, particularly due to cultural proximity, know Shahnameh as an ancient Persian epic, it is equally fascinating to discover that polo, a sport now more commonly associated with England, also originates from Persian culture. Drawing on these shared origins, Jaeger-LeCoultre pays tribute to its Persian cultural ties with a new limited edition series: the Reverso Tribute Enamel “Shahnameh”, a continuation of its iconic collection born from the sport of polo.
The origin of the Reverso watch, famous for its 180-degree rotating dual-dial design, dates back nearly a century, to the early 1930s. At the time, British officers stationed in colonial India would spend their leisure time playing polo. During one of these matches, a British officer’s watch was broken, prompting Swiss businessman and watch enthusiast César de Trey to seek a more resilient design from Jaeger-LeCoultre, one that could withstand the rigors of polo. Thus was born the Reverso, a durable watch with a reversible dial and a second face, which has since become an icon of watch design.
Over the years, the reverse face of the Reverso has been adorned with miniature recreations of some of the world’s most celebrated artworks. The new Reverso Tribute Enamel “Shahnameh” series embraces one of the world’s greatest literary masterpieces.
The caseback of each timepiece in the series features miniature enamel renderings of illustrations from a 16th-century edition of the Shahnameh, prepared in tribute to Shah Tahmasp.
“Written between 997 and 1010 by Persian poet Ferdowsi, the Shahnameh spans 60,000 couplets and chronicles the legendary rulers and myths of ancient Persia. One of its most magnificent editions is the Shah Tahmasp version, featuring 258 illustrations. This edition was presented to Ottoman Sultan Selim II in 1568 and remained in Topkapı Palace for centuries. Today, its pages are held in collections and museums around the world.”
Creating the miniatures required traditional techniques such as guillochage, grand feu enameling, and miniature painting—each illustration taking around 100 hours to complete. The collection includes four different models, each limited to just 10 pieces. Across all of them, horse imagery—a central motif of both Persian lore and polo—is prominently featured.
One model depicts a scene from a painting created between 1525–1530, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where the mythological figures Siyavush and Afrasiyab confront each other on horseback.
Reverso Tribute Enamel
Reverso Tribute Enamel
Another model draws from an illustration held by the Aga Khan Museum in Canada, portraying the moment when the hero Feraydun disguises himself as a dragon to test his sons.
The third model illustrates the tale of the warrior Sām abandoning his newborn son Zāl on Mount Elburz. There, the mythical bird Simurgh raises Zāl with wisdom and compassion. Years later, Sām journeys to the mountain to reunite with his son. The dial captures this emotional reunion with lush shades of green.
The final model is inspired by another illustration in the Aga Khan Museum, showing Rustam, son of Zāl, on a quest to slay a wild ass threatening a king’s horses. The dial replicates the vivid flora and natural tones of the original painting through deep, rich greens.
All models are presented in 18-carat white gold cases with enamel dials rendered in various tones of blue and green. Powering each watch is the hand-wound in-house calibre 822, offering a 40-hour power reserve.
