What Is a Fake Rendez-Vous Back of the Moon Watch?
A fake Rendez-Vous back of the moon watch is a replica of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendez-Vous Moon, a dress watch with a moon-phase aperture on the dial and a moon motif engraved on the case back. "Back of the moon" is buyer shorthand for the two moon details people inspect first: the lunar disc on the front and the moon engraving on the back.
Replica versions come in three grades. Quartz copies run a printed disc tied to the hour hand. Mid-tier automatics use a working moon module. Top grades copy the dial printing, applied numerals, and case back text.
How a Moon-Phase Disc Works
A moon phase tracks the synodic month, which lasts about 29 days, 12 hours, and 44 minutes. The disc hides behind an aperture and turns once per cycle, so the visible shape moves from new moon to full moon and back.
- Real moon module. The disc advances once per lunar day through a reduction wheel. It runs for years between corrections.
- Day/night disc. A 24-hour wheel with a sun and a moon. It looks close to the original and repeats every day.
- Printed disc. A frozen moon that never moves. Common on cheap quartz copies.
Ask the seller which movement drives the disc. A 29.5-day module is the answer you want. A 24-hour wheel is a downgrade, even when the dial looks the same in photos.
What "Back of the Moon" Refers To on the Case Back
Flip the watch over and the interest moves to the back. Reference watches engrave the maker's name, a reference number, and a moon or star motif around the rim. Some dials also print a star chart or a cratered lunar surface, which is where the nickname comes from.
Replica case backs show quality faster than dials do. Thin laser etching looks grey and flat. Proper engraving has depth, sharp edges, and a polished floor.
- Check that the reference number matches the dial layout you ordered.
- Run a fingernail across the engraving. You should feel the cut.
- Check the exhibition window, if fitted. Soft mineral glass picks up scratches within weeks.
Movement Options in Replica Moon-Phase Watches
Most replicas use an Asian automatic with a bolted-on moon module. Common bases include the Miyota 9015 and the Seagull ST series, both of which take a decorative rotor and Geneva stripes on the bridges.
Higher grades add perlage, blued screws, and a rotor engraved with a moon. None of that changes timekeeping much, but it changes how the watch reads through the case back window.
A seller who claims a Swiss movement should send a photo of the balance wheel and the bridge markings. Swiss Made is a protected label with origin rules, and a replica does not qualify for it.
Quality Checklist Before You Pay
- Request a 10x loupe photo of the dial printing. Edges should be sharp, not blurred.
- Ask for the case thickness in millimeters. A moon module adds 1 to 2 mm over a plain three-hand movement.
- Confirm the lug width. An 18 mm strap on a 20 mm case looks wrong from the side.
- Ask how the moon phase sets. A pusher at 4 or 8 o'clock is right on most references. Crown-only setting is a shortcut.
- Request a video of the seconds hand. A sweep at 28,800 vph reads smooth. A 21,600 vph beat looks slower and choppier.
- Check the strap grain. A stamped alligator pattern repeats the same scale shape over and over. Embossed leather does not.
- Ask about water resistance. Dress replicas with an open moon aperture are splash resistant at best.
Red Flags on Cheap Copies
- The moon disc sits off-center inside the aperture.
- Applied numerals sit flat and cast no shadow.
- Case back text is spelled wrong, or the reference number does not match any real model.
- The watch feels light for a steel case, which points to a hollow body and a thin movement holder.
- Photos show the front only and never the back, where the flaws live.
Price Bands and What They Buy
Moon-phase replicas sell across a wide range. Quartz copies sit at the bottom. Asian automatics with a working lunar disc sit in the middle. Hand-finished automatics with a cloned dial layout and a deep-engraved case back sit at the top.
Spend on the movement and the dial. Those two parts decide whether the watch holds up on the wrist and under a loupe. The strap and box are the cheapest parts to swap later.
FAQ
Does the moon phase work on every replica Rendez-Vous?
No. Some discs advance once per lunar day, some once per calendar day, and some never move. Ask for the movement number and the moon wheel type before you order.
Can I correct the moon phase myself?
Yes, on most automatics. Use the setting pusher to advance the disc until the moon sits centered in the aperture. Avoid setting between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., when the date and moon wheels are engaged.
Is a "Swiss made" stamp on a replica meaningful?
No. Swiss Made is a protected origin label, and a replica does not meet its rules. Treat the stamp as dial decoration, not as proof of quality.
What is the far side of the moon?
The far side faces away from Earth and stays out of view because the Moon is tidally locked to our planet. Buyers say "back of the moon" when the dial art shows that cratered face instead of the familiar near side.