Is my TAG Heuer Authentic? All questions here please

jamesbizs
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imagwai imagwai
Or if you want to avoid the risk, just buy new from an AD. Or, whilst not quite risk-free, buy from a seller who can provide some sort of provenance for the watch you're buying (such as a believable origin, original sales receipt, stamped warranty card, past sales history, etc.).
would be ideal, sure. But how many people actually have all that, from 20-30-40 years ago? Sending to tag is free and easy. I just sure as hell hope they actually bother to put effort into this, and not just look at a few easy things, like the movement. You can grab every single Serial number of every single watch shown, search them, and not a single one will come back. But they can just claim it's gray market. At least when I was with a company before that bought their watches from Tag, or from AD's getting rid of inventory, they scratched off the numbers.
 
Aquagraph
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imagwai imagwai
Or if you want to avoid the risk, just buy new from an AD. Or, whilst not quite risk-free, buy from a seller who can provide some sort of provenance for the watch you're buying (such as a believable origin, original sales receipt, stamped warranty card, past sales history, etc.).

Nice idea, but of the 24 watches I have bought pre-owned, I believe I have only been offered a receipt once. Some people don't even keep the spare links... and getting a nice S/EL from a AD isn't really an option is it?
 
imagwai
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jamesbizs jamesbizs
I said I was over reacting and emotional about it, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong
Stop twisting the facts. I never said you were wrong.

This is the last post I'm going to make on this.
 
jamesbizs
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imagwai imagwai
Stop twisting the facts. I never said you were wrong.

This is the last post I'm going to make on this.
ugh... ... wrong about my feelings of the situation and why I was reacting....
 
jamesbizs
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
Nice idea, but of the 24 watches I have bought pre-owned, I believe I have only been offered a receipt once. Some people don't even keep the spare links... and getting a nice S/EL from a AD isn't really an option is it?
I've never run into a fake SEL with the correct style links tho. So that's something, at least...
 
El Matarife
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jamesbizs jamesbizs
I'm also on the tracks of another scam, but this one is brand new Formula 1's and Aquaracers. All posted for auction at low prices. All brand new with tags and boxes. All have clear plastic wrap around the bracelets.

Can anyone confirm the real ones come with clear plastic wrap? I don't think that to be the case. But I don't buy retail... so....
I have the details of one of these sellers, pulling this exact Formula 1 and Aquaracer scam. Distributing internationally via anonymous shared warehouse addresses.

AFAIK, the clear plastic wrapping is wrong, they do not come like this from boutiques. The most I have seen used is a small square of clear plastic, placed on the crystal to protect the sapphire during shipping.

Re. the red dial 1000s, my limited experience is that all old Tritium lume appears 'furry' when looked at under a loupe. These fakes all have lume that looks like flat paint.
 
jamesbizs
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El Matarife El Matarife
I have the details of one of these sellers, pulling this exact Formula 1 and Aquaracer scam. Distributing internationally via anonymous shared warehouse addresses.

AFAIK, the clear plastic wrapping is wrong, they do not come like this from boutiques. The most I have seen used is a small square of clear plastic, placed on the crystal to protect the sapphire during shipping.

Re. the red dial 1000s, my limited experience is that all old Tritium lume appears 'furry' when looked at under a loupe. These fakes all have lume that looks like flat paint.
There seems to be a few dozen of these sellers. Not sure what to do about them. Thanks for confirming the clear plastic. I had a feeling that to be the case.
 
imagwai
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jamesbizs jamesbizs
There seems to be a few dozen of these sellers. Not sure what to do about them. Thanks for confirming the clear plastic. I had a feeling that to be the case.
My experience with plastic on new watches is that the caseback and crystal will typically have a clear sticker, and certain parts of the bracelet clasp will have small blue peel-offs. But the whole bracelet being wrapped in clear plastic is often a sign of a fake.
 
Aquagraph
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Is it true that sending back to TAG for authentication is free? It seems unlikely.... I thought watch companies were like Archie Luxury (they don't do **** for free...).
 
Aquagraph
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Well apparently they do, I've had it confirmed by TAG that they do not charge to authenticate watches and that it takes about 2 weeks.👍
 
Jim Dollares
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
Well apparently they do, I've had it confirmed by TAG that they do not charge to authenticate watches and that it takes about 2 weeks.👍
Really good service!
 
J
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
Well apparently they do, I've had it confirmed by TAG that they do not charge to authenticate watches and that it takes about 2 weeks.👍

I can confirm.
They will even provide packing materials and postage.
My watch will arrive with them tomorrow for authentication
 
El Matarife
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What happens if a watch is found to be fake? Do they return it or do they destroy it?
 
J
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El Matarife El Matarife
What happens if a watch is found to be fake? Do they return it or do they destroy it?

They return it. I made sure of that first.
 
Aquagraph
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Apparently they test the steel for one thing, and they take precise measurements... there's also some 'tell tale' marks they look for.
 
jamesbizs
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
Well apparently they do, I've had it confirmed by TAG that they do not charge to authenticate watches and that it takes about 2 weeks.👍
The only cost, is shipping to them. Or you can stop by an AD. And you get a nice travel box out of it in the end lol. Mine just arrived this morning. Curious when they will start. The tell tale marks, require them to take the watch apart. So.... we will see.... After hours of research, I can now spot these fakes just from pictures. But I doubt the tech at Tag can, because why would they care that much about some cheap old tags?


And they BETTER return the watch!. Tho legally, they could keep it, and destroy it, and you wouldn't have a recourse. But then how would I start my collection?

Another one that I bought around the same time, just got shipped. It's coming from Austria, even tho I bought it from India from a small seller? So I guess they are all connected.... Ugh. Just ugh.
 
Jim Dollares
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jamesbizs jamesbizs
But I doubt the tech at Tag can, because why would they care that much about some cheap old tags?
Because if word got out that they are confirming fakes as genuine it would DESTROY their credibility as a luxury brand?
 
jamesbizs
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Jim Dollares Jim Dollares
Because if word got out that they are confirming fakes as genuine it would DESTROY their credibility as a luxury brand?
Considering they are hardly lifting a finger about the 1000's of ultra fakes currently on the market, which actually would DESTROY their credibility, far more than confirming a few 30 year old watches as real, then forgive me for having my doubts about the effort they'd put in for this.

Not to mention, all the grey market watches, that they wash their hands of. I love Tag, but I don't hold them up as high as some. Especially after doing QC for a distributor, and seeing just what garbage they are willing to release into the market.
 
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