Review: Getting into JLC with the Reverso Classique Quartz

Like many other watch collectors in 2020-22, I found myself with some additional funds available for watches due to decreased spending in other areas. With those funds, I decided I wanted to add a few pieces from high-level brands that were not yet in my collection. Utlimately, two of the pieces wound up being quartz: a 9F Grand Seiko and a Reverso Classique. Going quartz with these pieces allowed me to add two iconic watches whereas going mechanical would have allowed only one or the other to be acquired.

There are plenty of places that recount the history of the Reverso, so I won’t repeat that here. Instead, I’ll focus on some of the attributes of this Classique that made it the right choice for me.

Although most watches in my collection have mechanical movements, I am not a mechanical watch purist. (Although my general preference of movement would be hand-wind, automatic, and quartz, in that order.) When buying a watch, I assess the whole package. And for some watches, like this Reverso and my Grand Seiko, the quartz movement adds value over a mechanical version.

Here, the high-quality JLC quartz movement should require lower overall service costs than its mechanical equivalent. Because this is a two-hand movement, it is virtually impossible to tell that the watch is quartz-powered from just looking at it. And the movement allows the watch to come in at an incredibly svelte 7 mm thickness -- by far the slimmest watch in my collection.

Speaking of dimensions, the size of this one isn’t for everyone. At just 23 mm wide and 39 mm long -- and with the aforementioned thinness -- this watch easily slips away beneath your cuff. (But watch out for the micro-scratches, even from your sleeves, that it easily picks up on its high-polish surface.) Because rectangular watches wear a bit larger than their size would indicate, this probably wears about like a 34 mm round watch would. It’s not going to announce itself in any room. But if you, like me, already have a preference for sub-40 round watches and vintage-inspired watches in vintage-appropriate sizing, then this could be the perfect dressier watch for you.

Meanwhile, the finishing on the watch face is amazing. You can easily see the quality of the manufacturing, and a loupe only makes it more evident. It’s hard to put into words, but looking at the textures and printing on this piece shows why JLC stands above so many other brands.

I’ve enjoyed wearing this Reverso on several different straps, including a Forstner beads of rice bracelet and alligator and ostrich straps from Tuns. The strap change process is a little different than most watches, given the design of the Reverso case, but once you do it a couple of times you get the hang of it. One thing I would recommend is avoiding straps with most quick-change springbars, as the knobs on most of them are tall enough to touch the case due to its design, potentially causing scratching (or worse).