It might still be 2025 and the Year of the Snake, but Jaeger-LeCoultre is racing ahead to mark the Year of the Horse in 2026 with its latest limited edition release, the Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Xu Beihong.’ Fittingly, it has drawn on the horse paintings of Chinese artist Xu Beihong (1895-1953) for inspiration for the three models in the series.

Miniature-painted enamel casebacks of the three Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Xu Beihong’ models side by side.

Xu is widely considered one of the pioneers of modern Chinese painting, not just for his traditional ink-and-wash paintings that have become extremely sought after in the Chinese modern art market, but also for his active promotion of young and fellow artists, as well as extensive collection of Chinese art. While Xu painted many different subjects, including portraits and landscapes, he was particularly known for his expressive animal paintings, especially of horses and birds.

Artisans at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares atelier spend 80 hours meticulously hand-painting Xu Beihong’s horse masterpiece stroke by stroke on the tiny Reverso caseback surface.

The storied Reverso in white gold is the canvas of choice here for the miniature reproductions of horse paintings by Xu. For the series, artisans at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Métiers Rares atelier had to reproduce Xu’s 1942 masterpiece Running Together (Six Horses) and 1939 Standing Horse on Reverso casebacks, minute spaces that measure barely 2cm² in surface area. It is a painstaking feat that requires incredible skill and 80 hours of very precise application of enamel paint, stroke by delicate stroke on the dial to replicate the artworks. The results, as you can see here, do the original sound justice.

Beyond enamel miniature painting, the series is also a showcase for two other of Le Grande Maison’s famed specialities: grand feu enamelling and guillochage.

Layers of powdered enamel applied in the grand feu enamelling process, where each layer is fired at high temperatures to create the Reverso’s deep, translucent dial colour over the guilloché pattern.

Guillochage on the Reverso dial, creating the intricate pattern that forms the base for the enamel.

On the dial side, each model features a different pattern of hand-turned guilloche paired with richly coloured grand feu enamel to match the painting on the caseback — a sunburst guilloche paired with a deep pine green for ‘The Running Horse,’ barleycorn guilloche layered over with a misty grey blue for ‘Two Horses,’ and a striking herringbone guilloche that stands out against a glowing bronze orange grand feu enamel for ‘The Standing Horse.’

Three Reverso dials showcasing sunburst, herringbone, and barleycorn guilloché with coloured grand feu enamel.

Each watch is powered by Jaeger-LeCoultre’s classic manual-winding in-house Caliber 822, which beats at 21,600 vph with 42 hours power reserve. Available in a series of three references, each limited to 10 pieces.

Tech Spec: Reverso Tribute Enamel ‘Xu Beihong’

‘The Running Horse’ / ‘Two Horses’ / ‘The Standing Horse’

Reference Q39334B3 / Q39334B2 / Q39334B1

Movement Manually wound Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 822; 42-hour power reserve

Functions Hours, minutes

Case 45.6 x 27.4 mm x 9.73 mm thick; 18K white gold; water-resistant to 30m

Dial Sunray-pattern guilloche, green grand feu enamel; barleycorn guilloché, blue grand feu enamel; herringbone guilloché, orange grand feu enamel

Caseback Miniature-painted grand feu enamel

Strap Black alligator with interchangeable double-folding clasp

Availability Limited to 10 pieces each