In the year of the 80th anniversary of the Reverso, Jaeger-LeCoultre created a model dedicated to Giovanni Soldini. In 1999, during the third stage of the Around Alone, from Auckland in New Zealand to Punta del Este in Uruguay; the great Italian sailor saved the life of Isabelle Autisierr. At the mercy of the stormy sea, Isabelle was trapped in her capsized boat for over 24 hours until Giovanni finally managed to rescue her. Unconcerned about the danger, Soldini diverted his course to reach the French sailor, crossing stormy seas with waves exceeding 10 metres and winds of over 40 knots.
The Reverso Grande Ultra Thin Around Alone 1999 is a tribute to him and his epic feat. The engraving shows the four stages of Around Alone, the solo round-the-world sailing race, and a diamond set in the case indicates the point in the South Pacific between New Zealand and Cape Horn where Soldini saved the life of his friend and rival sailor.
