The Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso Classic Small Seconds is gorgeous. I love this watch deeply and can’t imagine not owning one. I forgive its flaws because it is just so incredibly beautiful. The way the light plays off the high-polish case, the immediately identifiable shape and proportions, the beautiful guilloche dial and blued-steel hands, there’s nothing else like it.

From a design perspective, I cannot fault the watch at all.

I chose this specific model as it felt like the archetype Reverso to me (I love the solid case-back and plan to engrave it as soon as I figure out what to put there) but there will be a variation for you, from layouts to dial colors to complications, the Reverso will have a model to scratch your itch.

The reality is though that the movement in this watch is fairly ordinary (although it is in-house); it isn’t particularly accurate, doesn’t hack and it’s not really well decorated. Plus, putting aside my personal willingness to wear even the dressiest of watches with a t shirt, I can also see how it wouldn’t be very versatile for people who dress casually day to day. Its objective value is, therefore, a little lacking.

This isn’t an objective choice though (or we would all wear fitbits and read the time on a phone), this is a choice born of passion and irrational emotion… and the Reverso has those in abundance.

Basically, the Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso Classic is only about two things – the greatest aesthetics that I have ever seen in a modern watch, and the cool-flippy-case-reversey-thingy that it does. If you love those things, buy one. No watch that was made since 1969 will make you feel the way that the Reverso does.

If you don’t connect to those things, that’s your business, but I would strongly suggest that you get in the mood by listening to some Jazz while sipping something strong, and go take another good look at a Reverso… you might just fall in love yet.