Short answer
A replica Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Small Seconds is a copy of a hand-wound Swiss watch first sold in 1931. The genuine model uses a rectangular case that slides on a carriage and flips over. Copies sell for a fraction of the retail price. They differ from the original in movement, case thickness, crystal material, and the flip mechanism.
What the genuine watch is
Jaeger-LeCoultre built the Reverso for British army officers who played polo in India. A mallet strike could crack a watch crystal. The Reverso case mounts on a sliding carriage. The owner pulls the case out, turns it over, and pushes it back. The crystal then faces the wrist.
The Small Seconds version places a 60-second subdial at 6 o'clock. The main dial shows hours and minutes only.
Specifications of the reference
Figures below come from Jaeger-LeCoultre catalog data and published retail listings for the steel Classic reference.
- Case: stainless steel, rectangular, about 40 mm long by 24 mm wide
- Thickness: about 8 mm
- Movement: calibre 822/2, hand-wound
- Parts: 108
- Jewels: 21
- Rate: 21,600 vibrations per hour
- Power reserve: about 45 hours
- Crystal: sapphire
- Water resistance: 30 m
- Strap: alligator leather
- US retail for the steel model: about $7,800
Numbers change by reference and by model year. Check the current catalog before you rely on a figure.
How copies differ
Most copies come from workshops in Guangzhou, China. Common differences:
- Movement: quartz or a low-grade automatic. A quartz small seconds hand jumps once per second. A mechanical hand sweeps.
- Case thickness: copies run 1 mm to 3 mm thicker. The slide carriage needs space.
- Crystal: mineral glass on cheaper units, sapphire on better ones.
- Flip action: some copies flip. Some have a fixed case with a decorative back.
- Dial: printed indices instead of applied metal. Font weight on the brand name runs heavy.
- Caseback: engraving depth is shallow. Genuine backs take deep personal engraving.
- Strap: embossed calf leather sold as alligator.
- Weight: copies run lighter than the steel original.
Prices of copies
Reported prices for Reverso copies run from about $80 to $400. No independent body verifies those figures. Price tracks movement type and crystal, not accuracy to the original.
Legal position in the United States
Trafficking in counterfeit goods is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. A first offense carries up to 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine for an individual. US Customs and Border Protection can seize and destroy shipments. Richemont, the parent company of Jaeger-LeCoultre, files civil suits under the Lanham Act.
What to check on a copy
- Case thickness in millimeters.
- Movement type and beat rate.
- Flip action. Ask for a video of the case turning.
- Crystal material.
- Photos of the caseback engraving under side light.
- Subdial position against a catalog photo.