Is my TAG Heuer Authentic? All questions here please

Jim Dollares
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akong71 akong71
@Paul0211 - Is it just me, or should the WAY211C (41mm AR ceramic) have the older TAG Heuer logo? The larger 43 mm versions (e.g. WAY201B) have the new logo. Also, the WAY211C should have a blue bezel and dial with orange text and second hand. Yours looks black. Could be the lighting???

FYI - the WAY211C should look like this:

https://www.tagheuer.com/en-us/watches/aquaracer-calibre-5-automatic-watch-41-mm-way211c-ba0928

Well spotted and yes you are correct! Could it be that the caseback has been changed? On the other hand, the diver helmet looks quite poorly executed... Here is another one from one of David's articles and when you compare the two it looks like the one on @Paul0211 watch is poorly manufactured or has been scratched/beaten up quite badly along the lines of the diver helmet.

2016-TAG-Heuer-Aquaracer-Calibre-5-43mm-Caseback.jpg

I also think it looks black and I can't remember ever seeing a black/orange combo like that but it is most likely just the light in the photos making the blue look black?

I vote high quality fake since it is yet another person showing up as new member asking if a watch is genuine or not...
 
Yago
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A mismatched logo on dial and caseback, dubious quality of caseback, Ebay purchase, lume dot looks off, number 5 on bezel looks off, etc. Was it priced well below market? Did it include boxes, booklets, warranty card etc? I would take it to an AD and compare with a watch there. That should clear things up.
 
akong71
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@Paul0211 - one thing I've noted by being on these forums is that people have found very good replicas of the new Aquaracers. The fake ones I've seen have been mainly the 43 mm versions. They are surprisingly good fakes, unlike the the fake TAGs from the 1990's and early 2000's which look terrible. Maybe an inspection of the movement would confirm the authenticity of your watch. However, I've never seen the 41 mm ceramic versions of the WAY series autos to have the new logo. In fact, I prefer the older logo and that's one reason why I prefer the 41 mm versions over the 43 mm versions. Note: the 41 mm quartz versions (with aluminum bezel instead of ceramic) do have the new logo. These were manufactured sometime after the automatics first appeared.

I wish I could bring you better news. But I would definitely get this checked ASAP and/or return it. It's not worth the headache in my mind. then again - who knows? Perhaps TAG has started to use the new logo on older watches still being produced? Such variants usually were indicated with a "-#" following the model number. Does your model number have a "-#" (e.g. WAY211C-1)? For example, my Classic 2000 model number is WE1110-2 instead of just WE1110.

Good luck and let us know how you do.
 
Jim Dollares
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Paul0211 Paul0211
but if I open it and send you a picture you can tell if it's genuine or not?
Not necessarily, "premium" fakes with higher prices have sellita or eta movements and making a fake tag rotor would probably be quite easy, especially if the level of the manufacture skills is on the level we can see on your watch.

With that said, either return it or take it to a Tag watchmaker for verification of authenticity.

Should also be quite easy to just contact Tag to ask if this watch has ever been made with the new logo. Send them your pictures and ask...
 
Aquagraph
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I'd say fake, the warranty card should now be plastic with a bar code and it wouldn't have the factory address on it anyway.
 
akong71
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Paul0211 Paul0211
this is the response of tag

Dear Paul,


Thank you for your inquiry. This model was released with the white letter logo.




Best Regards,



TAG Heuer - Customer Service

U.S. 1-866-260-0460

Canada 1-877-444-0824




#DontCrackUnderPressure

Not a helpful response...
 
akong71
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Paul0211 Paul0211
watch out! I found another two from another seller! How is this reported?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-TAG-HE...612444&hash=item2acb3419ed:g:NmgAAOSwL1dchruK

Looking at the starting bid of $148 I'd say this is highly suspect and a significant red flag (to go along with the incorrect logo). What did you end up paying for your watch? If you don't want to give a specific number, how much (e.g. %) less did you pay from MSRP of $2550.00 USD?

You should be able to log into your ebay account, then report it to ebay. But I'd concentrate on getting a refund.
 
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Yago
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Crazy copies, same ‘quality’. The lume dot on the bezel is a dead giveaway though. They even stamp warranty cards...
 
akong71
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@Paul0211. We've established two things here:

1 - the watch is a fake (sorry)
2 - the person answering you from TAG Heuer Customer Service is not qualified to answer questions about their own models

Were you able to return the watch and get your money back? Good luck!
 
Yago
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The 2nd reply still isn't very helpful.
'asian 2824' signed with 'Tag Heuer Calibre 5'... This one has the new logo on the caseback.
Terrifying stuff, I might have to stick to vintage from now on.

I wonder if TH is having all these components made in China and that this would somehow facilitate copies. How would a counterfeit producer write off all these moulds for dials, cases, markers, hands, straps, movement components, etc. And they're probably selling em cheap into these counterfeit markets as well. This is A LOT more complex than copying handbags. It makes no sense unless they would sell a huge amount of them.
 
Jim Dollares
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I wonder if these "excellent" copies end up with grey market dealers from time to time. As an amateur customer, how would you know (until the day it is time for service)
 
Jim Dollares
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Concludes that we should buy from AD, next day goes watch hunting on Ebay 🙄😁
 
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