What is your next purchase? / Wishlist?

imagwai · Sep 24, 2021

OttoWilliam
Baller choice Grand Seiko is !

on the other side of the spectrum, my first seiko will be arriving in 15 days. But i opted for Seiko Mods...a lot cheaper than Grand Seiko 😁

So much variety in the world of Seiko and Grand Seiko. Will be interested to see your modded watch.

Anthony. · Sep 24, 2021

imagwai
My first Grand Seiko is incoming! I haven't bought through eBay's authentication programme before - we've only just got it in the UK - so I suspect that will delay the arrival slightly, but will post pics when it arrives.

Which one did you opt for?

imagwai · Sep 24, 2021

Anthony.R
Which one did you opt for?

It's a very lightly used SBGW235. I shall probably put it on a nice strap instead of the beads of rice bracelet. Photo from Time & Tide.

OttoWilliam · Sep 24, 2021

imagwai
It's a very lightly used SBGW235. I shall probably put it on a nice strap instead of the beads of rice bracelet. Photo from Time & Tide.

Is this the manual winding one ? I really like something like this with manual winding

imagwai · Sep 24, 2021

OttoWilliam
Is this the manual winding one ? I really like something like this with manual winding

Yes, it's manual wind. 37.3mm diameter. 11.6mm thick.

Jim Dollares · Sep 24, 2021

imagwai
Yes, it's manual wind. 37.3mm diameter. 11.6mm thick.

Has the finest GS bracelet, sexy sexy movement with display caseback

imagwai · Sep 24, 2021

Jim Dollares
Has the finest GS bracelet, sexy sexy movement with display caseback

3 day power reserve as well! 👍

thingziliketoo · Sep 24, 2021

Congratulations, that GS is very nice. I just sold a watch through their authentication process and think its a good service. As a buyer you know you're not getting a fake and as a seller of a clean watch - there's no issues after the authenticator clears it. It takes a few days longer but is worth it to both parties.

imagwai · Sep 24, 2021

thingziliketoo
Congratulations, that GS is very nice. I just sold a watch through their authentication process and think its a good service. As a buyer you know you're not getting a fake and as a seller of a clean watch - there's no issues after the authenticator clears it. It takes a few days longer but is worth it to both parties.

Thank you.

In general, for most buyers and sellers, the authentication service is a good thing, but I think it protects eBay most of all as they can hold on to their money until they know a genuine watch is safely on the way.

For me personally, I am confident in this watch already and would have happily had it delivered straight to me. If the seller had scammed me somehow, or the watch turned out to be fake, I would have known (not many fakes can match GS levels of finishing!), and eBay would have had to refund me.

But now I have to wait patiently for a few extra days, hope that the authenticator doesn't scratch it or mislay the warranty card, plus the risk of losing the watch to Royal Mail is now doubled. Also, if I have a problem with the watch or the authenticator, eBay can simply say everything was in order and refuse my claim.

I am sure everything will work out fine, but I think I preferred the old way as a buyer. I might like it more as a seller perhaps.

TAGguyNYC823 · Sep 27, 2021

I really had my eye on some Aquaracers. Kind of looking on a good shape used one. Hard though, even with the serial number look up, not all watches were registered so it is hard to know what is real and what is not. I mean some are very obvious but some are almost exact. I really like the CAY111A.BA0927

Yago · Sep 27, 2021

imagwai
It's a very lightly used SBGW235. I shall probably put it on a nice strap instead of the beads of rice bracelet. Photo from Time & Tide.

Wow really nice watch, well done!

imagwai · Sep 27, 2021

Yago
Wow really nice watch, well done!

Thanks. It's passed eBay's authenticity check and will hopefully be arriving tomorrow afternoon.

OttoWilliam · Sep 27, 2021

TAGguyNYC823
I really had my eye on some Aquaracers. Kind of looking on a good shape used one. Hard though, even with the serial number look up, not all watches were registered so it is hard to know what is real and what is not. I mean some are very obvious but some are almost exact. I really like the CAY111A.BA0927

When in doubt, try to buy from authorized dealer 👍. It can be very tricky with Aquaracer.

Or maybe some forum member here got an experience already with the eBay's authenticity check ?

TAGguyNYC823 · Sep 28, 2021

OttoWilliam
When in doubt, try to buy from authorized dealer 👍. It can be very tricky with Aquaracer.

Or maybe some forum member here got an experience already with the eBay's authenticity check ?

The watch in question when you look up it's serial number it comes up on the TAG website. The warranty just expired. Looks like in good condition for $949.00. Not sure if that is a good or bad price

imagwai · Sep 28, 2021

TAGguyNYC823
The watch in question when you look up it's serial number it comes up on the TAG website. The warranty just expired. Looks like in good condition for $949.00. Not sure if that is a good or bad price

I think the chronograph Aquaracers are less likely to be fake. However, I would not be happy to judge the watch based on those photos. They are very poor resolution and it's impossible to tell much about the quality of that watch. It looks like it's had a tough life, though. I also note that the seller has a feedback saying he sold a fake watch, which is also a red flag. I would look for a better one personally, even if it meant spending slightly more.

Jim Dollares · Sep 28, 2021

TAGguyNYC823
The watch in question when you look up it's serial number it comes up on the TAG website. The warranty just expired. Looks like in good condition for $949.00. Not sure if that is a good or bad price

Haven't looked too closely but I call fake on this one. Bad photo and looks off, first gut feeling was "this looks like a fakke", lume pip looks like a classic Aquaracer fake. Ask for high resolution photos and upload them and we can give you more input.

Personally I would never ever buy Aquaracer on ebay, Amazon or any similar criminal haven. The Aquaracer models are faked A LOT

Jim Dollares · Sep 28, 2021

imagwai
also note that the seller has a feedback saying he sold a fake watch, which is also a red flag.

Wow, that alone says stay away!

TAGguyNYC823 · Sep 28, 2021

Jim Dollares
Wow, that alone says stay away!

I did not see that at first. Yes staying away!!! Thanks all

TAGguyNYC823 · Sep 28, 2021

I see a lot of people got their watches from Jomashop. What is the deal with them? I know they are a grey market dealer

Jim Dollares · Sep 28, 2021

TAGguyNYC823
I see a lot of people got their watches from Jomashop. What is the deal with them? I know they are a grey market dealer

In general it should be fine, but no guarantee that an Aquaracer might not be a very "good" fake. I think it was Otto who said, only buy AR from AD unless you 100% trust the seller and can trace the history of the watch. You dont want to end up having the voice in your head asking you on a regular basis "what if this is a fake?". We have seen examples of AD's confirming fakes to be real. In Sweden where I live I have seen two examples of the biggest auction house of luxury goods confirming fakes to be genuine in their "proof of authenticity service".

Since Aquaracer is such a popular entry level luxury diver, popular all over the world, with a mass produced sellita or ETA movement, it has become convenient, easy and popular also for the filthy criminals to produce many many fakes of it.