Replica Reverso Tribute Small Seconds 1931 watches copy the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Small Seconds, a rectangular art deco dress watch with a swivel case and a running subdial at 6 o'clock. The best versions keep true proportions at about 45.6 mm long, 27.4 mm wide, and 8.5 mm thick, and they run a hand-wound movement instead of a battery. Buyers judge them on four points: case shape, the flip mechanism, dial printing, and subdial placement.
What are the key specifications of the Reverso Tribute Small Seconds 1931?
The original sits in a stainless steel or gold rectangular case with a reversible carriage that swivels inside the frame. The dial side carries a lacquered or sunray-brushed surface, applied baton markers, dauphine hands, and a small seconds counter at 6 o'clock. The strap runs 20 mm at the lugs and tapers toward the buckle.
- Case length: about 45.6 mm
- Case width: about 27.4 mm
- Thickness: about 8.5 mm to 9.0 mm
- Lug width: 20 mm
- Movement: hand-wound, 21,600 vibrations per hour
- Power reserve: about 40 hours on the original calibre
- Subdial: small seconds at 6 o'clock
Which movement should a high-grade replica use?
A proper Reverso tribute replica runs a manual-wind movement with a small seconds train, usually a Chinese or Japanese calibre built on the classic 822 layout. Hand-winding is the point: it keeps the case thin and the flanks flat. An automatic movement adds a rotor, pushes thickness past 10 mm, and breaks the silhouette that defines this watch.
Check the winding feel before anything else. A good movement winds smoothly, hacks, and holds about 40 hours. A cheap one grinds, loses time inside a day, and often ships with a glued-on subdial hand that never moves.
How do you spot a low-grade replica?
Most failures show up in the same five places. Work through them before you pay.
- The swivel does not lock. On a good case, the carriage flips with firm resistance and snaps into both positions.
- Proportions are wrong. Stretched or squat cases read as fake from arm's length, even to people who do not collect watches.
- The subdial sits too high or too low instead of resting on the 6 o'clock axis.
- Printed markers look flat. Real applied indices catch light and cast a small shadow.
- Sapphire is absent. A mineral crystal scratches within weeks and shows a hard, cheap glare.
How does the swivel case work on a replica?
The movement sits inside a carriage that slides and rotates inside the outer frame. Two rails hold it in place, and a small notch locks the carriage at each end of its travel. Test the flip a few times in both directions: smooth travel with a firm click at both ends points to a machined case, while rough grinding means stamped parts.
What should the dial and hands look like?
The subdial is the giveaway on this reference. The small seconds hand should sweep evenly, and the track printing should be fine and crisp rather than thick and blobby. Dauphine hands need a sharp central crease, because flat polished hands look wrong under any light.
Which strap and case size fit best?
A 20 mm alligator-grain strap with a thin profile suits the case, and a deployant clasp keeps the tail tidy. The Reverso wears smaller than its 45.6 mm length suggests because the lugs sit close to the case. A 6.5 inch wrist to 7.5 inch wrist is the sweet spot for this shape.
How much should a good replica cost?
Budget tier replicas sit at the bottom of the market and rarely survive a year of regular wear. Mid-tier versions with a true hand-wound movement and sapphire are the practical choice for most buyers. Top-tier builds with a decorated movement and a correct crown position cost more, and the gap shows mostly in case finishing and swivel action.
FAQ
Does the replica Reverso Tribute Small Seconds have a working small seconds hand?
On any decent build, yes. If the subdial hand is printed on the dial or glued to a fake pin, the watch holds a quartz movement and should be avoided.
Is a quartz Reverso replica worth buying?
Rarely. Quartz keeps the price low but removes the hand-winding ritual, forces a thicker case back, and usually arrives with a lower grade case and crystal.