A fake Reverso Tribute Duoface is a replica of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface, a rectangular watch whose case slides on rails inside its cradle and flips over to show a second dial with a second time zone. The original is hand-wound and runs both faces from one movement, so a replica only feels close to the real thing when the flip works and the back dial keeps its own time setting. Copies sell from about $80 for quartz versions that do not flip to $600 for super clones with a hand-wound movement.
How the Duoface flip case works
The case sits inside a frame, called the cradle, and slides on two short rails. Slide it up, turn it over, and press it back down, and the back face becomes the front. Cheap replicas glue the case in place or use a hinge, which is the clearest sign you are looking at a low-grade build.
Both dials run off a single movement on the original. The front face shows local time, the back face shows a second time zone with a day and night ring, so a traveler can read two cities at once. On most replicas the back dial is fixed, meaning you can turn the case but the second time zone never sets.
Which replica grades are on the market?
Three grades show up under the Reverso Tribute Duoface name. Prices move with the movement inside, so the case you see in photos is not the whole story.
Quartz copies ($60 to $120)
These use a battery movement, so the case is thin and light. Most cannot flip, the crown sits too far from the case band, and the dial printing looks flat under a loupe. They are the version you find on marketplaces with generic photos.
Automatic copies ($150 to $350)
These flip, but an automatic rotor adds 2 mm to 3 mm of thickness. The back dial works as a 24-hour disc rather than a true second time zone you can set. Case finishing is decent, and the strap is the weakest part on most of them.
Hand-wound super clones ($400 and up)
A hand-wound clone with a decorated movement gets close to the real profile: thin case, smooth slide, correct dial layout, and a layout that follows the JLC caliber 854. At this price you should expect an AR-coated sapphire crystal, a real leather strap, and polished rather than stamped screws.
Dial colors and finishes to compare
The Tribute Duoface comes in silver opaline with a blue back dial, and in blue sunray with a silver back. Replicas follow the same pairings, but the sunray brush on a copy looks coarse next to the real dial.
The back dial carries a guilloché or opaline finish depending on the version, plus the day and night aperture. On a good copy the guilloché lines are cut and catch light; on a cheap one they are printed and look flat.
What to check before you buy
- Does the case flip? Ask for a video, not still photos.
- Thickness: the original Tribute is about 10 mm thick, and an automatic copy runs 12 mm or more.
- Movement: hand-wound is correct, quartz is not.
- Dial printing: the brand text and the railroad minute track should sit even and sharp.
- Back dial: check that the day and night ring turns and the setting holds.
- Crown: should be fluted and sit flush with the case band.
- Strap: 20 mm lug width on Tribute-size copies.
- Water resistance: assume none, and keep it dry.
Case size and how a copy wears
The Tribute Duoface measures about 47 mm from lug to lug and 28.3 mm wide. That rectangle covers more wrist than the numbers suggest, since the lugs sit at the corners. Anyone with a wrist under 6.5 inches should see the watch on a wrist before buying.
- Original Tribute: 47 x 28.3 mm, about 10 mm thick.
- Quartz copy: same footprint, often 8 mm to 9 mm thick.
- Automatic copy: 12 mm to 13 mm thick, which is why it sits tall on the wrist.
Why the Duoface attracts replica buyers
The Reverso shape is unlike any round watch, and the real Duoface sits in the five-figure range. A replica gives the same silhouette and the same two-face trick for a fraction of that. Buyers who want the look at a dinner table pick the Duoface over a round diver copy for that reason.
What do fake Reverso Tribute Duoface watches cost?
Most listings land between $80 and $300. A hand-wound super clone with a Swiss or Swiss-style movement runs $400 to $700, and gold-plated versions of the rose gold model add $50 to $100. Anything under $50 is a quartz watch with a printed caseback.
Frequently asked questions
Does a fake Reverso Tribute Duoface flip?
Some do. The flip is the hardest part to copy, so a seller who will not send a video of the case turning is a seller to skip.
Do both dials work on a replica?
On quartz and most automatic copies, no. The front dial tells time and the back dial is decoration, or a 24-hour disc that does not set.
Can a watchmaker service a replica Duoface?
Many will not touch a replica, and parts for the flip mechanism are not sold on their own. Treat a replica as a watch you replace, not a watch you repair.
Is the second time zone useful on a copy?
On hand-wound super clones, yes. Set the back dial to your home city and the front to where you are, and the day and night ring shows the hour in both places.
How to keep the flip mechanism smooth
Slide the case up and turn it with light pressure, since forcing it wears the rails. Wipe the rails with a dry cloth when dust builds at the corners. Keep the watch away from water, because most replicas have no gasket at the cradle edge.