Men's Chronograph Watches that Break The Mold

are the first choice for users who wish to project a technically inclined, active, and commanding persona.

The better to maintain this image, manufacturers have been careful to ensure that most men's chronograph watches are associated with sports, aviation, or scientific pursuits.

However, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Gran Sport Chronograph marches to the tune of its own fife.

While any watch industry veteran will attest that extreme sports-driven marketing is an ideal avenue for promoting men's chronograph watches, polo hasn't had much purchase on the X-Games demographic since at least 1931.

That's the year JLC launched the original time-only Reverso as the first sports watch. The idea of a rotating watch was born from a need to guard the glass of the dial against strikes from polo mallets. The second side of the case presented a shield of solid metal.

Since that time, the second side of the Reverso has played host to a number of complications, including the retrograde chronograph featured on the Gran Sport.

Launched in 1998, the Reverso Gran Sport Chronograph was the first unlimited series Reverso chronograph and only the second Reverso chrono of any kind after the 500-unit 1996 Reverso Retrograde.

The chronograph features a sixty-second dial and a 30-minute semicircle sub dial with a retrograde function; after 30 minutes, the hand jumps back to zero and begins anew. Naturally this limits the watch to measurements of intervals shorter than 30 minutes in duration.

The main dial features Arabic numerals in a style that indicates the watch was part of the first flight of Gran Sport Chronographs built from 1998 to 2001. The dial features a date window and a marche/arret indicator to alert the owner as to the current operational status of the chronograph function

The Reverso Gran Sport Chronograph was produced from 1998 until 2006 and was available in several configurations. This unit features an exceptionally unusual combination of gold case and rubber strap with deployable clasp.

However, the Gran Sport also was available with a exquisite “brick wall” steel bracelet as featured on this unworn Reverso Gran Sport Chrono in stainless steel. In contrast to the delicate gold of the previous example, this reference features a robust sheath of white metal, impressive mass, and radiates a masculine vibe.

The hour indexes and Arabic numerals at the 9 and 3 stations mark this as a watch from the model's second series of 2002-2006.

Like the two sides of the Reverso itself, these examples of JLC's mold-breaking chronograph offer two distinct facet of an extraordinary watch.Bekijk meer Rolex horloges en breitling chronomat evolution replica