Thank you for this.. So I will only buy from an AD then. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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.

Really sorry this happened to you but glad you were made whole and thanks for warning others.

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.

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.

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...

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! Very informative. My favorite part is when you were holding the watch

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.

When I spend a lot of money on watches, I pay retail in store. I don’t flirt with the risk of walking away with a fake.

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.

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 :(

Did you ever count the clicks on the bezel ? I'm curious

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 ?

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 🤔

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.

2 Words - Authorized Dealer .....

great video!!! totally unbiased opinion

That is crazy! That looks legit as heck. I have the same watch, lucky it was checked before purchase.

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.

Thanks for the video. Now i’m convinced only to buy it from official store of Tag

I really appreciated your video it give me a big warning 😢 im about to buy a second hand TAG HEUER

He was very right about Tag's responsiveness, expect at least 4 to 8 weeks.

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".

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

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

Great video mate I nearly got stung myself same watch 😮 thanks 👍

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.

It’s probably like you said. A gray market repair with standard ETA mvmt. Either way, good eye on the date window..

Is it still working or stopped after few days of use

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...

Why didn't you remove the back and take a look see at the movement? Takes 30 seconds.

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!

That's why I only buy watches in the store physical and a real dealer store .

Did you swim in this watch? Interesting how good (unfortunately) fakes nowadays.

I was gifted a fake, and am embarrassed to tell my friend Thank you for sharing

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.

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 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.

when i heard private seller, that is where I knew it was a problem....

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....

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?

Scary that an AD couldn't even tell that it was a fake!

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?

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.

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.

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

Bro that’s wild that thing looks legit

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?

That is the BEST fake I have ever seen!!!!!!

Where do u get it ??

Thanks a lot for posting this video!

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.

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 think the real tag just uses an ETA movement, so it makes sense that the fake one seems to operate correctly

Beatifull watch tag heuer good Swiss watch the best wold quarz automatic good video

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?

Great vlog well done hope you get your money back. Enjoy

Good video. Scary but good, thanks

Shocked they are making Knockoff Aquaracers. BTW, you are correct about the Tag Service Center.

why would someone make a reproduction of a tag? they arent exactly super expensive to buy from a tag retailer

Wow 😮‍💨 Thank you very much for the Video

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.

Was the seller's Name: Sum Tyme Wong?

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.

The watch itself actually looks really nice......but not at the price you paid expecting a legitimate watch!

So is the 43 mm you have bought from Jomashop real or no? So curious and also suspicious about their authenticity

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.

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!

Thanks man for your review its very helpfull so we can be more careful 👍🏼

There are watches with the same serial numbers as the originals, and only one company, called Ziarex, sells them.

Experience is what you find when looking for something else.

The scary thing is this looks just like the one i ordered a fews days ago. i guess ill see in a few days

Crap, I need to look into my two watches now. One was from Joma so I should be ok.

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.

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.

The watch is pretty affordable so going to an AD dealer wouldn’t hurt, I would never buy from any private seller

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).

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?

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.

What kind of movement was in it?

While your Tag was at the service center, did you open a case with Chrono24?

Why you call it a piece of junk?

The spacing between the logo and the hour marker is also a giveaway. Too many damn scammers out there.

I was able to register my watch on the Tag Heuer website using the serial number and the last 4 characters of the warranty. Does this mean it's real or could it be fakealso?

Where did you buy it?

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.

Why would anyone fake a relatively cheap watch ??

I’m late, but that QR code reveals the number that you’re blocking with your thumb

AD/Boutique only! Hope lesson has been learned!

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...

u still have it ? wanr to sell it?

It's what you call a superclone!

Its getting hard to buy luxury watches online.

Do you like the 41 or 43 size better?