A deceptively good fake of a TAG Heuer Aquaracer. Title says it all. Please be sure to like, comment, subscribe, and share! UPDATE 4/21/21: Disputed charge with bank successfully Follow me on Instagram: watch_your_style_channel
Did you get your money back? Hey you really didn’t do any research yourself. What are some of the tells of a fake, what are the ways of spotting it. Could have opened the back up yourself... the bracelet looks shit, at first glance. It also is missing shine and pop.
@@tancreddehauteville764 I can easily get 20% off from an AD for an Aquaracer. I mostly get deals on airports (duty free). Reputable grey market is also an option but I would never buy from craig's list or something. ☹
@@bigbrotherwatchesdannyboy306 I have an Aquaracer with a white dial. It runs at +3 seconds a day and looks 100% genuine but I can't prove that it is because it has no warranty card. Do I give a shit? Nope. To me it's genuine and that's all matters.
There is an easy way to check authenticity. The company that makes these fakes, always uses the cheap pin/tubes for the bracelet. The real ones have two indents spaced apart. And the pin will have one indent, but will not be in the center, and is meant to line up with either of the indents on the tube. The fake aquaracers have one indent on pin and one on tube, both in the center.
I'm a little confused here, so I'm not sure about the tag I just bought in ebay, so I took out a link to check the pin and it is the cheap looking one with only one I sent in the middle. Now that being said I asked on my friend that sells used watches and he said he believes that automatic aquaracers don't use the same pins as the quartz one . What do you think ?
@@downsouth1678 unfortunately, I do not know how it should be in quartz, but probably in the automatic and quartz there is the same bracelet. You'd better ask on the watchuseek forum in the topic "tag heuer and heuer fake busters thread: ask about authenticity in this thread!"
I have this exact same watch. Wow that's a great replica. But after reading some of the comments I've come to the conclusion that the lume pip on the bezel on mine is indeed slightly different from what your rep appears to look like. The lume on a real one appears to have a dark ring around it as if the hole was drilled first then the lume pip was placed into the bezel if that makes sense. Versus on the rep, it looks like the lume was filled in. Also the lume pip should touch all 3 sides on the triangle. Lastly the TAG logo is higher on yours than mine. The pointy bottom of the logo shield should almost touch the middle "R" in Aquaracer.
I also have realised that the second reference number and the dents on the cover look slightly different. But you can only see them side by side. I'm glad you had the feeling about it and found the truth.
These videos always fascinate me...they really all leave me with the same feeling. Watch values have very little to do with objective/intrinsic merit. You likely would have gone on, enjoying your new watch, perhaps for years to come, getting the exact same enjoyment out of it as if it were legit (assuming they centered the cyclops better). That's why I love microbrands, because I don't care a whole lot about names, but I do care a whole lot about design, materials, & execution. Aside from those pesky "in-house" movements, it's the execution that people used to be able to point to & say "that's why...that's why we pay 10-20 times more, it's for this sweet sweet case finishing", that gets trashed if you actually wear the watch. But now, you can buy a $700 - $1,500 microbrand, or even a grey market Oris, & you get an intrinsically equal to & often better than watch vs. a watch from one of the big boys. The finishing, a Swiss movement, often better & more nimble design, better materials, & better technology as well like the push-button/logo quick adjust on a Halios Fairwind for example. Yes, it sucks that you ended up with a fake, but what really sucks is that the genuine article is so hyper-inflated (I concede that this isn't the best example of a watch that is hyper-inflated, but you get my point)...& I don't want to hear about company history blah blah blah, I'll pay another 20% for that, but not 2,000% more. There are micros out there now with cosc certified & better than cosc movements...& isn't that what should really matter about a movement...how durable it is, how accurate it is, & the power reserve? Not that it's in-house.
Hyper inflated? These fakes just copy the designs after the genuine companies put a significant amount into design research and development. All fakes have to do is copy.
When comparing catalog pictures with the real watch, keep in mind that those images are renderings from the 3D modeling software, not real photos. So the geometry there is pixel-perfect. Real watches have small imperfections that come from the imperfection of the material or the metal/glass work. So pictures in a catalog are not the best benchmark.
I have a cal7 aquaracer and I had the very same issue of the scale not being perfectly centered. catalog pictures are perfectly centered but it didnt bother me until i saw this video just now. Now my mind is divided :S
Thank you for sharing your experience. I think you handled this very well. And, good to hear Chrono 24 is supporting resolution. We repeatedly hear shop the dealer, seller before you shop the watch. Your story is a serious reminder for all of us.
If I am able to buy direct from the maker, I WILL ALWAYS opt for that. This way, if it turns out fake, they will make it right. When spending upwards of 4k on a watch, it’s not worth saving money buying from a reseller. Just my opinion. Thanks for sharing.
Oh my sorry to hear that ! I bought recently an Tag heure 2005 aquaracer similar to your watch however my watch is classy and old version than comparing to 2018 ag heure aqua version watches luckily my watch is definetly authentic had it verfied to tag heure retail store, hope you found a better authentic watch for you
That's got to be the best counterfeit I've ever seen. One thing I wonder about is if it is grey market, and not authorized for sale in USA, hence the price difference and the response from the manufacturer of "counterfeit".
That’s actually what it probably is. Tag Heuer will only verify what was sold through their authorized dealers. So it could be a real watch but sold through outside channel so that’s why it can’t be verified.
It’s reputable for 2 reasons. The fact that Chrono holds the money in escrow before you decide it’s real. 2. You really should buy from businesses not private sellers.
I just got a Tag heuer 01 skeleton... its soooo beautiful and complicated and well made i cant imagine it could ever be fake without costing a tun to even make a fake one... but there is one part that kinda fits off in the face.. a little cosmic part around the inside bezel, it doesn't line up quite perfectly....i checked the warranty and it checked out, it was registered to this watch and everything at the correct time... do you think i should still actually send it in? How much did you have to pay? I really dont wanna spend anymore than i have too :(
Lume pip should have a dark ring around it. Most fakes are missing this detail. Also, the Tag Heuer emblem on the outside of the box as seen ar 1:10 looked off.
Good video. Should I be worried about jomashop? I purchased an OMEGA seamaster 300 white dial, recently I went to an OMEGA authorized dealer and the omega they had in display the lettering on the dial is slightly different, mine the lettering seems sharper the omega they have the lettering is a bit bolder 🤔
Just found your channel and like it. That said, Tag Aquaracers use bottom of the barrel Sellita movements which only cost a couple of hundred dollars. The fake watchmaker can absolutely purchase the same movement which would explain the quick date. Tag also holds the movement in plastic inside the case. The watch looks better than it runs.
Thank you for tuning in! Based on what you’re saying I guess it’s pretty darn easy to make a counterfeit Aquaracer. It’s scary how close these reps are these days!
my Tag Heuer formal 1 watch glass cracked accidentally from the side and i had to fix it at other dealers in the US, after the watch was repaired i found they took the original mechanics and some functions stopped and does not work well
I don't understand Chrono24 and their responsibility. They should have reimbursed you the watch and the settle the case with the seller. Also, the watch should have been destroyed in order to avoid that another one buys it thinking it is an genuine....
Even on a legit, bought from AD, the date wheel is not very centered. I bought one from Ben Bridge and the date closer to the left, they said it was normal and Tag confirms the watch is Authentic
I read a comment from someone mentioning that when a replica factory has a waiting list, its a sign that their products are superior to the originals. In this case, Swissarex is that factory.
I am astonished that they can produce such a good fake - and kind of surprised someone would bother. I mean, it must require a lot of tech and skill to do that - and how many can you sell this way? And I am disappointed that TAG did not detail what aspects of the watch were illegitimate. I can understand someone swapping out a cheap movement and the low chance of that being exposed, but to actually make a case or bezel or band - that requires high quality work!
Just go to your local AD, negotiate a bit on price, and buy it directly from them. They get to make a few bucks, you know its authentic, it has factory warranty, and you get to enjoy the experience of buying.
Well, first off - sorry this happened to you. Glad things have most likely been cleared up. One thing that stuck me as odd was why were you buying a 41mm of the same make/model when you already had a 43mm?
Thanks for the kind words! I actually don’t have my 43 anymore, I sold it a while ago. I was sort of missing that watch so I decided to buy the 41 on the cheap. Turned out to be a terrible decision lol
Exact same thing just happened to me, though the watch was brand new from a jewelry store (not AD). Incorrect papers and the lume pip in the bezel were red flags, so I sent to Tag Heuer service centre and it was found to be not genuine. Working through the return process with Chrono24. The replicas are very good, the TAG retail staff claimed it was genuine before I sent it off for a proper inspection.
Thanks for video, chrono24 is fairly safe. I always buy from dealer from them, unless I pull trigger on something like Tissot, but recently bought TAG Formula1 Calibre5 and Speedmaster and all went smooth. Usually all you have to do is open back case. Even fakes r good, it will never be as good as original...
I have a cal7 aquaracer and I had the very same issue of the scale not being perfectly centered. catalog pictures are perfectly centered but it didnt bother me until i saw this video just now. Now my mind is divided :S
The obvious thing to me is the lume pip. Always the first port of call for these Aquaracers. For some reason the fakers forget the surround of the lume pip, it is just painted onto the bezel. Seen so many on eBay obviously missing this feature you can see on any genuine. Maybe some have it and are still fake, but the amount I see missing it suggests to me that it's a seriously common flaw, and looks to be the case here.
Beside watch. I was thinking that, premium brand do sell below market price to certain market to maintain their overhead and operation cost. Except they did not provide full privilege such as warranty and etc. Becoz, how can counterfeit can make 100% similar to the the genuine.What do you think?
Some premium watch companies dump their products to gray market retailers and sold well below cost but without factory warranty. Others, like Cartier just destroy their old stock.
That is a shockingly good fake. It looks beautiful. I suspect it is a frankenwatch. The movement is probably the same (2824/SW200 are easy to buy for $200), but the case and bracelet are going to be fake. They could buy real dial, bezel and hands. Such a watch would be very difficult to spot.
You wouldn't expect to find this a listing from Amazon and sold by Amazon not a third party seller but they had a TAG Heuer Aquaracer listed there for very low price. So if you can't trust Amazon to sell authentic watches who do you trust? I understand there are less than reputable sellers out there in the marketplace but Amazon selling under their own name? It seems odd and brings up the question of are all of their watches good or bad and how do you know the difference now?
How much tag heuer charge you to check the authenticity? And they only check the movement or everything like dial bracelet casing? Cuz as fast as i know counterfeit watches also uses original sellita sw-200 movements.
such an analysis can lead to insanity, considering that it may be a very good fake. I also see differences in the build quality of the box itself. In the original, the font on the lining is much thinner, more delicate and lighter, more brown than black. The wall thickness of the cream lining is thinner and tight, in the original there is no joining of the individual black packaging sections on the left side (in the corner of the box).
The logo is incorrect for the 41mm. If you look at the genuine one the bottom of the logo touches the 'R' on aquaracer. Black ring around the 12 o clock pip.
The watch in the video looks like a 43mm to me. The shuttered dial and date magnifier are only on the 43 AFAIK. I have the same watch. Looks like a pretty good fake to me. I wouldn’t have known other than checking the serial and the warranty card online and comparing to original proof of purchase.
I've had an Aquaracer 300m since May 2006 and to this day it still works perfectly. I dont know exactly why, but I had the curiosity to check the warranty and it showed me a Carrera of 2015. What should I do?
Tag Heuer tag it as unauthorized as serial and warranty wasnt probably registered and/or serial inquiry results probably produced 4+ yrs ago.They know it was in grey market. but to me it looks legit. I have same color 41mm with canvas band bought from Tag Heuer outlet in Vegas. I zoomed at your piece and could find anything off.
It looks legit, but it’s my understanding that tag opens up the caseback and inspects everything. I don’t know what their threshold is for confirming the authenticity, but there were enough counterfeit parts on the watch for them to deem that it was indeed a fake
@@watchyourstyle It was VERY easy for tag heuer to see this watch is a fake. There are many very easily identifiable tell tale signs they can see just by holding the watch in their hands. You can put one in my hand, and I'll tell you almost instantly, and we are talking about people that handle 100's or 1000's of these watches.
According to the warranty card it is a quartz Aquaracer. According to the manual booklet it is a quartz chronograph Aquaracer. According to the plastic warranty card this watch does not exist... Maybe just the fault of the camera, but the color of the bezel is way too light for a black ceramic...
Tag may have declared "not ours" simply because it was a gray market watch, but not necessarily fake. The fact that it was sent to be authenticated in particular may have forced them to disown the gray market watch.
Hmm.. I can see where you’re coming from in terms of manufacturers disapproving of the grey market. But in this case I think they were really looking at whether the parts of the watch, I.e. exterior, movement were authentic
@@watchyourstyle I wonder, if hypothetically the watch was sent for some movement service without any particular note on its authenticity, would they have come back and said fake? Moroever, shouldnt they have confiscated the watch if it was indeed counterfeit?
@@greekysshawarma2107 no, because that would be stealing. And yes, tag will see very quickly it’s a fake. I’ve sent them a few, and I’ve never mentioned fake. They always come to that conclusion themselves.
Do you mind sharing some information about the seller? I'm looking at an Aquaracer now that appears to have similar characteristics to what you've described. Don't want to make the same mistake!
Hi! Unfortunately I don’t have any info on the seller anymore… it was a while back and I didn’t retain any info. I would recommend buying through an AD or a trusted grey marker dealer such as Joma whenever possible and if not, definitely make sure there’s an authenticity guarantee such as the one that eBay offers. Hope this helps!
I just ordered aquaracer on ebay. Serial number on the caseback checks out. Only thing worrying me, on some aquaracer pictures, minute arm seems just a milimetre or two longer... but its ebay, paid with paypal, so if tag says its fake, im pretty sure my money is safe.
Thanks for sharing. Just purchased a new 43mm aquaracer on ebay and waiting for delivery. The price was too good to be true but I bought anyways knowing ebay has guarantee protection. The seller says the serial number can be verified online by TH but as I did some research, it says fakes can be stamped with real serial numbers. I have another 43mm aquaracer so I'll use that as a reference to check with my untrained eye but it sounds like the best bet is to send to TH for verification. Can I ask how much it cost for TH to verify?
I believe you’re in good hands with the eBay authentication. If you want even more reassurance you can drop off the watch at your closest TH AD (must be owned by TAG) and they can send it in to be verified free of charge. If the watch is real the service center might send you a quote for a brief touch-up. Hope this helps!
I tried to get my money back but they wouldn’t honor it, terrible experience for me personally. I had to dispute the transaction with my credit card company
The Chrono24 guarantee of authenticity looks good at first glance but they only give you 14 days to complain. It could take a lot longer to get an authoritative verdict on a watch. They sort of imply their system will eliminate risk, but you have a big fat data point showing that it does not.
Exactly! 14 days isn’t close to enough. It’s more of a “buy at your own risk” model imo. They leave it up to the buyer to authenticate if it looks suspicious. Many first time buyers wouldn’t even know what to look out for.
I learned how to tell the difference between a vsf submariner (the highest quality clone ever made in many people’s opinion) and a genuine submariner after minimal research. If you can’t tell that your watch is fake after 14 days then you didn’t do your due diligence.
I think this is NOT fake watch, this is a quality of Tag Heuer:) a lot of people say about that. Why? I have also automatic Aquaracer but 43mm. The cyclops lens is also not perfectly centered. My watch was in a original servis of Tag Haeuer in Germany after two years exploatation and they said nothing about fake parts or fake watch. I looked also on others Aquaracers in a jewelery store and some watches have this same problem. So Tag Heuer is not perfectly accurate.
