Answer

Replica Reverso Tribute Small Seconds watches copy the 1931 Reverso case: a rectangular steel case that flips on a slide. Most copies measure about 45.6 mm lug to lug and 27.4 mm wide, the numbers Jaeger-LeCoultre publishes for the original. Copies run an Asian hand-wound movement at 21,600 vph (3 Hz). Street prices sit between $120 and $400. The original lists above $7,000 and uses the in-house calibre 822/2.

What the 1931 name refers to

Rene-Alfred Chauvot filed the Reverso patent on 4 March 1931. The case was made for British polo players in India who broke glass crystals during matches. The flip case put a steel back over the dial. Jaeger-LeCoultre reused the shape in the Tribute line, with a small seconds subdial at 6 o'clock and a dial side that reads clean at arm's length.

Specs to compare

  • Case: 45.6 mm by 27.4 mm, steel or 18k pink gold, three-body construction.
  • Movement: original calibre 822/2, hand wound, 21,600 vph; copies use Asian hand-wound units.
  • Dial: small seconds at 6 o'clock, applied or printed indices, railroad minute track.
  • Caseback: solid flip side; engraving is a factory option on the original.

Tells on a copy

  • Slide piece: thinner than the original and moves with less resistance.
  • Caseback engraving: shallow lines, soft edges.
  • Dial print: the REVERSO signature and minute track blur under 10x magnification.
  • Seconds hand: wrong length for the subdial, often short of the track.
  • Crown: unsigned, or stamped with a mark that lacks crisp edges.
  • Movement: no Geneva stripes, no countersunk jewels.

Price bands

Copies sell from $120 to $400. Claims of Swiss movement in this band refer to assembly, not Swiss parts. Steel originals list above $7,000 from the maker. Pre-owned Reverso Tribute Small Seconds listings sit below that figure on Chrono24. Gold cases cost more in both markets.

What a copy does not include

No manufacturer warranty. No service history. No parts supply. Bridge finishing is stamped, not applied by hand. Gold copies use plating or low-karat gold, and hallmarks are absent or wrong. Resale value is close to zero. Buyers who want the 822/2 finishing and the 30 m water resistance rating should budget for the original.