We have to admit that the replica Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is one of the original sports fake watches. The oft-quoted origin story about this iconic rectangle is that it was the dusty polo fields of colonial India that gave birth to the reversible replica watch, which could be easily flipped to protect the delicate dial during the hard and tumble of the chukka. 
That was way back in 1931, and in the subsequent decades the perceptions of the Reverso have, much like its ingenious case, done an entire about-face. In 2017 the Reverso stands out as one of the default black-tie replica watches. Nowhere is that more apparent than with this Tribute Duoface, which looks completely stunning in pink gold. The case size is perfect- but by no means overwhelming – at 25.5mm wide by 42.9mm high.
The texture doesn’t end there, though: there’s a pleasant juxtaposition on the case itself. The non-polished sections, primarily in the architectural details of the main case body, are left seemingly raw, giving them a frosted finish. Then there’s the sunray engraving on the inside of the outer case, a detail you only see for a few seconds at a time, which makes the fact that JLC included it even more outstanding. The caseback is brushed, and fairly text-heavy, though there’s still room there for a personal inscription.
The one thing that shines brighter than the gold on this cheap watch is the clever and varied use of texture. Everywhere you look there’s another finish. The front dial is described by JLC as a slate grey, but I’d be much more inclined to refer to it as a silver stuff, with a rich eggshell texture. It looks perfect whatever you call it. The second dial is just as stunning, a velvety clous de Paris guilloche, that displays a second time zone, thanks to the clever manually wound calibre 854A/2. The dial textures are highlighted by the polished applied numerals and simple dauphine hands, and, in the case of the second dial, the matte finish of the inset dials. 
While the aim at the perfect timepiece is a far away from the rough-and-tumble Reversos of yore, there’s no mistaking the clarity line and shape that is a defining characteristic of the Reverso, and the combination of heritage style and precious metal in this Tribute Duoface makes for a potent combination.