Short answer

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Small Seconds is a rectangular flip-case watch. A small seconds subdial sits at 6 o'clock. Replica copies come in three tiers: battery quartz, Asian manual-wind, and near-clone manual-wind. Price, case thickness, and the flip mechanism separate the tiers. Genuine Calibre 822/2 beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour and holds a 45-hour power reserve.

Genuine reference points

  • Movement: Calibre 822/2, manual wind, 21,600 vph, 21 jewels, 45 hours of reserve.
  • Case: steel or gold. Two sizes appear in the Classic line. Recorded figures are 40.1 x 24.4 mm and 45.6 x 27.4 mm. Thickness runs 7.6 mm to 10 mm.
  • Dial: silvered, blue, or black. Guilloche center. Baton hands. Small seconds at 6 o'clock.
  • Case back: metal, no display, flips inside the frame.

Dimensions differ by reference number. Match the reference before you compare numbers.

How the flip case works

The case body sits on a carriage. Two pins run in grooves cut into the outer frame. Slide the case up, turn it, and the solid back faces out. The mechanism is the first part sellers test. A copy that binds or sits crooked is a low-tier build.

Replica tiers

  1. Quartz, about $30 to $90. Battery movement. Center seconds or a frozen subdial. Case 6 mm to 8 mm thick. Stamped case back.
  2. Asian manual-wind, about $90 to $260. Seagull or Hangzhou movement with a working small seconds hand. Screw-in case back. Mineral glass.
  3. Clone grade, about $260 to $700. A copy of the 822 bridge layout, Cotes de Geneve stripes, engraved bridges, sapphire glass.

Replica dimensions drift. A listing at 46 x 27 mm can measure 47 x 28 mm in hand.

What to inspect

  • Subdial center. It should sit on the case midline at 6 o'clock.
  • Dial print. Genuine text is thin and sharp. Copies smear at the edges.
  • Hands. Steel batons with sharp bevels on the genuine.
  • Flip action. Light finger pressure, square stop.
  • Movement. The 822 has a distinct bridge shape and brand engraving.

Water resistance

Genuine Reverso Classic: 30 m. Replica gaskets vary and carry no test standard. Keep both out of the pool.

Genuine prices

Steel Reverso Classic Small Seconds models list near $5,000 to $7,000 used. Gold models sit higher. Replica asking prices are 1% to 5% of the genuine figure.

US legal note

Counterfeit watches carry trademarks owned by Jaeger-LeCoultre and Richemont. US Customs and Border Protection can seize imported counterfeits under 19 U.S.C. 1526. Domestic purchase is a civil matter. Import is a seizure risk.