What the name means
Jaeger-LeCoultre does not sell a watch called the Reverso Tribute Grande Date. The name joins two products. The Reverso Tribute is a line introduced in 2016 that returns to the case proportions of the 1931 original. The Reverso Grande Date is a separate model from the mid-2000s with a two-disc large date and an 8-day hand-wound movement, calibre 875. Sellers use the combined name for replica Reverso cases with Tribute styling and a date aperture.
Baseline specs
- Case: rectangular, reversible, steel or gold. Tribute Small Seconds measures about 45.6 by 27.4 mm. Tribute Duoface and Chronograph measure about 49.4 by 29.9 mm.
- Movement: hand-wound or automatic, depending on model. The Grande Date is hand-wound with an 8-day reserve.
- Case back: solid and engraved on most references. Several Tribute models show a second dial instead.
- Date: large date at 12 o'clock on the Grande Date, set by pusher or crown.
What replicas get wrong
Case and carriage
A genuine Reverso case is machined from one block and flips inside a separate carriage. The fit has no play, and the lug screws sit flush. Copies show gaps at the pivot, a case that rocks when locked, and screws with soft slots. Look at the seam line where the case meets the carriage. Ask for a video of the flip, not a still photo.
Large date
A large date uses two discs that meet in one window. Most replicas print the number or use one disc behind a wide aperture. The result is uneven spacing between digits, a date that sits off center, and a window with no step. Genuine windows sit on a raised frame with a beveled edge.
Movement
Replica Reversos carry one of three movements: a Chinese automatic (Seagull or Hangzhou), a Miyota 9015, or an ETA clone sold as Swiss. None match an 8-day hand-wound calibre. Beat rate tells part of the story. The Miyota runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Calibre 875 runs at 21,600 and needs winding every eight days.
Finish details
- Dial printing: genuine text uses thin, even strokes. Copies show thick or filled letterforms.
- Hands: blued steel on genuine pieces. Cheap copies paint the hands blue.
- Case back engraving: depth is even and sharp. Copies show shallow, rounded lines.
- Strap: alligator on genuine. Replicas ship with embossed calf leather in most cases.
Price and law
Replica Reverso listings run from about $150 to $800. Claims of a Swiss clone push listings past $1,000. Steel Reverso Tribute models list in the four-figure range at retail, with gold and enamel versions above that. Importing counterfeit watches into the United States is prohibited. Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments under 19 U.S.C. 1526, and trafficking carries criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. 2320.
What a listing cannot tell you
Photos do not confirm case material, movement, or water resistance. No one can verify a specific replica from a product page. Ask the seller for the movement name, the weight in grams, and a video of the swivel and the date change. If the seller cannot supply those, the specs are unknown.