Alright, folks, gather ’round, let me tell you about my latest project. I’ve been messing around with this Jaeger-LeCoultre JLC Reverso Tribute Monoface, trying to see if I can spot a fake. It’s been quite a ride, I gotta say.
First off, I started digging around for info on these watches. I found out that the serial number is key. It’s on the movement, either on the back or under the dial. And get this, the case’s production year might be a year or two behind the movement’s year. They might have slapped the case on later, you know, from a stack of finished movements.
Then, I went down the rabbit hole of online forums. Some folks were saying they got burned on Chrono24 with fakes. Mine came with the original paper, but no box. That got me thinking, could mine be a dud?
I kept reading, and someone mentioned that a real JLC will always have a serial number. That’s a good sign, but I wanted to be sure. So, I looked closer at mine. The movement and dial seemed legit, and the bracelet felt like the real deal. But, something still felt off.
I stumbled upon a comment about new JLCs. Apparently, there are only a handful of authorized dealers and boutiques that sell them, and they’re all listed on JLC’s website. Easy peasy for new ones, but mine wasn’t brand new.
Then I learned about the Caliber 822. It’s the manual-wind movement they use for non-duoface Reversos. Slim and sleek, they say. I popped open my watch, and sure enough, there it was. I guess mine had some good parts after all.
Someone on a forum said it would be a piece of cake for a factory to make a fake using a Swiss quartz movement and the right case. Apparently, they have some fakes that looks really convincing. Made me sweat a little, not gonna lie.
Here’s what I did to try to verify the watch:
- Checked the serial number: I looked all over the movement for that number, just like the info said.
- Inspected the movement: I compared it to pictures of the Caliber 822 online. Looked the same to my untrained eye.
- Examined the dial and hands: I made sure everything was aligned and the finishing was clean.
- Felt the bracelet: I checked the weight and the quality of the metal. Felt pretty solid, like it should.
- Did the “vibe check”: This is where the gut feeling comes in, just looking at it, feeling the weight of the watch, looking at how well finished it was, did it feel like it matched the price the seller wanted for it?
After all this, I’m still not 100% sure. It’s a tough call. But hey, I learned a lot about these watches. And you know what they say, “You will be happy with the Reverso.” Maybe I should just enjoy it and stop worrying so much, huh?
Anyway, that’s my story. It’s been a wild goose chase, but a fun one. Hope you folks found it interesting. Let me know if you’ve had any similar experiences or if you got any tips for spotting fake watches. Cheers!
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