I bought a FAKE Aquaracer!!! (Buyer Beware Story)
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- čas přidán 8. 03. 2021
- 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
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Thank you for this.. So I will only buy from an AD then. 🤷🏻♂️
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.
@@jimsteen911 I never got scammed. I only buy from an AD. 👍
Buy from an AD and you'll pay top price. I think it's worth the risk of buying grey market.
@@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.
Really sorry this happened to you but glad you were made whole and thanks for warning others.
Thanks for the kind words!
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.
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.
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!"
you are right, pins of the real deal are special ones, fake ones of usual pins which are not working on these tag heuer
Wish I knew what you’re talking about.
Noted
Before selling fakes, invest in authentic pin tubes.
Ie..OK info...but don't judge authenticity of expensive watch on easily replaced pin tubes.
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.
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.
then buy a citizen eco drive.
Great video! Very informative. My favorite part is when you were holding the watch
😂 what’s up brotha
@Ezekiel Khalid no one. Literally no one, gives a damn, you fucken spammer scum bag
You could also bring it to a jewelry repair shop to check the movement. And you can also tell by the links and pin barrels if it's a fake.
The high quality fake aquaracers have legit sellita movements. Jewelers won't be able to identify those fakes.
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
great video!!! totally unbiased opinion
Thank God I watched your channel on this. I am about to do a purchase on a new same model like you are showing here.
Feel for you man.but thanks for sharing you experience so we may not suffer the same fate.good luck buddy. Subbed to the channel now...
That is crazy! That looks legit as heck. I have the same watch, lucky it was checked before purchase.
How did you checked it?
I have the same watch and cant believe how much this one looks like it!
2 Words - Authorized Dealer .....
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.
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
He was very right about Tag's responsiveness, expect at least 4 to 8 weeks.
Thanks for the video. Now i’m convinced only to buy it from official store of Tag
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!
@@watchyourstyle Correct
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.
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...
Great video mate I nearly got stung myself same watch 😮 thanks 👍
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 🤔
I really appreciated your video it give me a big warning 😢 im about to buy a second hand TAG HEUER
Did you ever count the clicks on the bezel ? I'm curious
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 :(
That's why I only buy watches in the store physical and a real dealer store .
It’s probably like you said. A gray market repair with standard ETA mvmt. Either way, good eye on the date window..
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.
Not really a ring. But, a gap. Real ones have a separate lume pip that is put INTO the bezel. Fakes have lume material filled into the bezel.
Beatifull watch tag heuer good Swiss watch the best wold quarz automatic good video
Thanks a lot for posting this video!
Glad you liked it!
Great vlog well done hope you get your money back. Enjoy
Thank you Mike!
@@watchyourstyle anytime
Good video. Scary but good, thanks
Thank you!
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 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!
when i heard private seller, that is where I knew it was a problem....
Shocked they are making Knockoff Aquaracers. BTW, you are correct about the Tag Service Center.
@@PepRex pretty cheap watch to begin with.
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.
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 would check the movement myself. Its the only way to find if the watch is authentic or not. I dont depend on card, boxes, manual etc etc.
Thats crazy! So close that its scary! I wonder if someone put a gen crystal and date wheel on this... That would be crazy hard to catch
Why would Tag send a counterfeit watch back to you? I can't believe they would allow this to be floating around the marketplace.
Wow 😮💨 Thank you very much for the Video
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.
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 just wondering why tag sent it back ? i had heard before that when a watch was fake they would keep it and destroy it as it is an illegal item ?
I was gifted a fake, and am embarrassed to tell my friend
Thank you for sharing
Scary that an AD couldn't even tell that it was a fake!
Usually the salespeople at the ADs don’t know for sure. Unless there’s a watchmaker on staff
Experience is what you find when looking for something else.
I think the real tag just uses an ETA movement, so it makes sense that the fake one seems to operate correctly
They use the SW 200-1 movement very cheap movement
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.
How did you identify the issue on the lume pip?
@@wasilqayyum It should have a surround which is missing on the one in this video
Hi May I ask who the seller of this watch was in chrono 24? I think I might have received a fake watch as 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....
Destroyed by who?
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
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.
The back plate gives it away as well. The writing, the tag logo and deep diver helmet aren't as deeply embossed into the plate.
AD/Boutique only! Hope lesson has been learned!
Thanks for sharing.
The lume pip doesn't look the same as a genuine one.
On a pukka AR the clasp on the bracelet is of a high standard.
Fakes have very good clasps too. I highly doubt you’d be able to pick out a fake from real from just the feel of it in your hand. Trust me.
Is it still working or stopped after few days of use
I dont know what Tag did but this one is 100% genuine. Doesnt look 1% replica.
I have just had a Tag F1 come back from the manufacturer stating it is non genuine. Everything as this video, box, warranty card (still in date). Bought over 12 months ago as a Christmas present for my son. As I paid by credit card the purchase is insured. Ebay, Police notified of fraud. I was shocked at how good fakes are nowadays.
Thanks man for your review its very helpfull so we can be more careful 👍🏼
Anytime! Thanks for the support 😊 happy watch hunting!
The spacing between the logo and the hour marker is also a giveaway. Too many damn scammers out there.
Very true
Crap, I need to look into my two watches now. One was from Joma so I should be ok.
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.
The watch is pretty affordable so going to an AD dealer wouldn’t hurt, I would never buy from any private seller
It's what you call a superclone!
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).
Where do u get it ??
Did you swim in this watch? Interesting how good (unfortunately) fakes nowadays.
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.
That is the BEST fake I have ever seen!!!!!!
He’s wanting too much from a fake watch!
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 watch itself actually looks really nice......but not at the price you paid expecting a legitimate watch!
The luminous material usually sucks on clones......
There are watches with the same serial numbers as the originals, and only one company, called Ziarex, sells them.
gussl’s Franck Muller replica shows extraordinary attention to detail.
I'm not really a TH fan but I have to watch this video. I didn't know they made fakes.
Yeah it’s scary how close the fakes are becoming.
Why didn't you remove the back and take a look see at the movement? Takes 30 seconds.
Нормально!! Выглядит отлично.. не парься!! Там внутри одно и тоже.. ета или selita )
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?
So is the 43 mm you have bought from Jomashop real or no?
So curious and also suspicious about their authenticity
Yes, the 43mm is real! Joma is legit, although you do forego the manufacturer’s warranty
What kind of movement was in it?
sw200
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.
I noticed this also: can you confirm that the missing black ring EQUALS a probably fake? Thanks
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.
The scary thing is this looks just like the one i ordered a fews days ago. i guess ill see in a few days
He is a Agent for the ADs
Replica watches really tweak me off. I have had 2 in 30 plus years. One was a 18K Rolex Daytona the other was an AP Offshore.
So the next time I purchased a Daytona I made sure it was real by getting it verified immediately. The AP Offshore I purchased later was new in a well known store in NYC.
But I feel your pain. It took forever to get reimbursed for the replica Daytona. It only took a couple of days for the replica AP.
But that Daytona was such a back and forth battle right up to when I had him served. Total waste of time. Like we all have that kind of money just lying around. It took me some serious saving to be able to finally afford one. It it turned out to be a fake.
The real 18K that I have now actually was also purchased off of Chrono 24. They are a pretty decent group of folks and what happen to you is kinda rare IMHO.
“Like we all have that kind of money laying around”
We’ll you obviously do if you’re spending it on jewelry, lol. Nobody spends money they actually need on watches unless they have some kind of spending addiction.
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?
LoL
This comment really cracked me up
Same issue with mine but checked it to watchmaker no bad issue
@@HAYABUSA4EVER Is it an Aquaracer as well?
You can see it on the G on the box and the warranty
Thank you
Anytime!
Beatifull watch tag heuer good watch same quality omega good video auttomatic o quarz
I feel for you bro. That’s exactly why I can’t buy watches from anyone that’s not reputable. I bought my Aquaracer from Macy’s and I never even think about it being fake. I seen a lot of “nice” watches on that site, and thank God I didn’t. I would be heart broken if mine were fake. It would become psychological; every time you even think about it, or put it on, you’ll know it’s fake.
Great points bro! I get super ocd about it too - just can’t go on wearing a piece knowing it isn’t authentic or that I got ripped off. Good call on buying yours from an authorized retailer such as Macy’s. Wear it in good health. Thanks for tuning in and cheers!!
What if someone bought it from Macy’s swapped it out for a fake which they return. Macy’s would have no idea and then pass it on to you.
@@Nick-cs9dt ? Statically, it would be real from Macy’s.
@@SKI1333 statistically I agree. Statistically is 51 times out of a 100. A little different to ‘never needing to think about it being fake’. Good to be aware that this is a possibility, even from a main dealer and to exercise due diligence.
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...
that’s scary. I have that exact watch but in 41mm. Bought mine on Joma Shop, hoping it's legit after seeing this quality of fake.
Joma should be legit! I’ve bought watches from them. They are a recognized “grey” dealer. Thanks for watching!
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.
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.
Something similar just happened to me! I took delivery of an Aquaracer 41mm just this morning (slightly older model with cyclops date & steel bezel, otherwise largely the same watch) and the packaging/warranty info gave away the fake before the watch itself even came into play. Bezel is so loose it can be spun with one finger, finishing all around is rougher than other new TAGs I've seen/worn, and warranty card's QR code directs to someone's near-blank social media pages (nothing in English, French or German ofc). All this from a reputable eBay seller out of Japan with stellar reviews and ratings. I've already got the return request submitted but it seems like these watches are too easy to fake and the fakes are getting too good - DEFINITELY do your due diligence with these on the secondhand market, and make sure if you buy from anyone other than TAG-Heuer themselves that you can get your money back via arbitration if things go sideways.
What seller on eBay did you buy from?
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!
I am looking for too!
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!