The replica Reverso Tribute Duoface is a two-dial copy of Jaeger-LeCoultre's swiveling case watch, and the main thing to verify is whether the second dial works as a true second time zone. Cheap copies print two faces on one plate. Better copies run a single movement with a day and night indicator on the reverse. Inspect the swivel, the two time-setting crowns, and the caseback engraving before you pay.

What the Duoface Does

The original Duoface carries two dials in one case. The front reads local time. The back reads a second time zone, adjusted by a separate crown or slider, with a day and night display. On a replica, confirm that the rear dial moves by its own control and that the front time stays unchanged when you adjust the back.

Prerequisites

  • A bright desk lamp and a clean cloth
  • A loupe or a phone camera with macro mode
  • Time to flip the case at least ten times
  • A return policy in writing

Step-by-Step Inspection

  1. Place the watch on the cloth with the front dial facing up.
  2. Flip the case through 180 degrees and listen for a smooth click.
  3. Check that the case locks flat on both sides with no wobble.
  4. Turn the upper crown and watch the front hands move.
  5. Turn the lower crown or slide the corrector and watch the rear hands move alone.
  6. Look at the day and night indicator on the rear dial while you adjust the second zone.
  7. Hold the watch under the lamp and tilt it to read the guilloche pattern on both dials.
  8. Check the caseback screws and the engraving depth with the loupe.
  9. Set both dials to the same time and confirm they stay in sync after a full wind.
  10. Shake the watch near your ear and listen for rotor rattle or loose parts.

Case and Finish Checks

The Reverso case is a rectangle with straight sides and a slight curve at the lugs. Run a fingernail along each edge. A good replica has crisp, even lines. Polished surfaces should meet brushed surfaces at a clean boundary. Look at the crown slots, the lug holes, and the inner frame that holds each dial. Gaps and burrs show up here first.

Common Flaws to Reject

  • Rear dial hands that move when you set the front time
  • A swivel that stops halfway or feels loose
  • Printed dial texture that looks flat under a tilt
  • Caseback engraving that is shallow or uneven
  • Rotor noise that continues after a full wind

Setting Both Time Zones

  1. Wind the watch twenty turns with the upper crown.
  2. Pull the upper crown to the setting position and set local time.
  3. Push the crown home.
  4. Use the lower crown or corrector to set the second zone.
  5. Confirm the day and night indicator matches the hour on the rear dial.

Test the second zone twice. A working Duoface replica keeps the front time fixed while the rear dial moves. If both dials shift together, the watch is a single-movement copy with a decorative back, and you should pass on it.