Short answer
A Reverso Tribute 1931 sold as new for under about $3,000 is a fake in almost every case. A genuine Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute 1931 runs a hand-wound calibre 822 movement, a steel case about 46.8 mm long and 27.4 mm wide, and a carriage that slides and flips. Fakes show a quartz or generic automatic movement, a hinge or a stiff carrier, and a printed dial. A serial number confirmed by Jaeger-LeCoultre and a service record settle the question.
What the genuine watch is
Jaeger-LeCoultre has built watches in Le Sentier, Switzerland since 1833. The Reverso went on sale in 1931. Its case turns over on a sliding carriage so the glass faces the wrist during polo. Tribute references repeat the proportions and dial style of that 1931 model.
Points shared by Tribute 1931 references:
- Hand-wound movement from the calibre 822 family. No rotor.
- Power reserve of about 40 to 45 hours, depending on variant.
- Rectangular case in two or three parts, with a rail on each side of the carriage.
- Silver dial with a railroad minute track and baton hands on most references.
- Caseback with engraved decoration or a blank panel for a monogram.
Where fakes fail
- Carriage action. Genuine rails let the case slide with light friction and stop at two points. Fakes hinge the case or use a spring with a hard stop.
- Movement. A rotor, a battery, or a plastic movement ring means the watch is not a Reverso.
- Dial. Fake indices sit above the dial with glue visible at the edges. Printed tracks on fakes show jagged text under 10x magnification.
- Case finish. Corners on a fake carry a burr or a soft radius. A genuine case has sharp edges and polished flanks.
- Engraving. Font, depth, and spacing on a fake caseback differ from the reference.
Five checks
- Read the serial number on the caseback and compare it with the number on the papers.
- Ask Jaeger-LeCoultre to confirm the number against its records. No photo or listing proves authenticity.
- Turn the watch over. The glass must end up against the wrist, not sideways.
- Listen. A quartz fake jumps once per second. A calibre 822 beats about six times per second, near 21,600 vibrations per hour.
- Compare the asking price with recent auction results and dealer listings for the same reference.
Law, parts, resale
Counterfeit watches are illegal to sell or import in the United States under 18 U.S.C. § 2320. US Customs and Border Protection can seize shipments at the port. Jaeger-LeCoultre does not service fakes, and no independent watchmaker can order parts for a case the brand never made. Resale value of a counterfeit is close to zero.