Is this Tag serial number checker reliable - been had?

[Ken Figenus]

Bought a Tag Formula 1 Chrono for a good price with full buyer protection.















Have been checking it out all day with big zoom in shots (does it still have a plastic film on the glass - looks a bit murky and i can see marks in some of the above pics, but can't seem to find any edge...)! Looks very authentic to me (even has beveled tip on hands and the larger number markers ) and after I got over the fact that the bezel does NOT rotate on these and that they do misspell 'Saphire' on the back of them all - but then found its me - SaPPhire!!!

BUT I stuck its serial number in here https://www.was.tagheuer.com/AfterSalesService/Cus...

and it comes up as a Black 2017 Aquamaster not a blue 2020 F1!



Seriously looks legit otherwise...

Any thoughts much more experienced gents?

Thanks

[bigandclever]

Not an expert, just googling.

I don’t think the strap matches either. Quick search for caz1014.ba8042 (which I think is the correct bracelet) gets you looooads of results. caz1014.faa074 gets you 2 results, both old sales adverts. You might already know that!

Just to try and ascertain whether the Tag database is ‘right’, looking for serial wbc0492 brings back the correct watch. This is the serial number of the watch used on the Mappin&Webb sales site at .. https://www.mappinandwebb.com/TAG-Heuer-Formula-1-...

So I’m afraid I’d be thinking things aren’t adding up.

Edited by bigandclever on Wednesday 7th October 21:57

[Ken Figenus]

Good info mate. Thanks.

[bigandclever]

Hopefully it gives you a couple of pointers anyway. Like I say, only google-fu, but there are a few tag specific fora out there

[bristolbaron]

Tag site must have been having a funny 5 minutes, all came up okay for me?

bigandclever said:

Not an expert, just googling.

I don’t think the strap matches either. Quick search for caz1014.ba8042 (which I think is the correct bracelet) gets you looooads of results. caz1014.faa074 gets you 2 results, both old sales adverts. You might already know that!

Just to try and ascertain whether the Tag database is ‘right’, looking for serial wbc0492 brings back the correct watch. This is the serial number of the watch used on the Mappin&Webb sales site at .. https://www.mappinandwebb.com/TAG-Heuer-Formula-1-...

So I’m afraid I’d be thinking things aren’t adding up.

Edited by bigandclever on Wednesday 7th October 21:57

The part number on the clasp is for the clasp.
The bracelet part number is separate to this. Everything adds up.

[Ken Figenus]

That's the Mappin and Webb serial mate. Mine comes up as a black non chromo Aquamaster. Is that all I need to know - fake? Immense copy if it is!

[bigandclever]

bristolbaron said:

The part number on the clasp is for the clasp.
The bracelet part number is separate to this. Everything adds up.

Live and learn

[bristolbaron]

Ken Figenus said:

That's the Mappin and Webb serial mate. Mine comes up as a black non chromo Aquamaster. Is that all I need to know - fake? Immense copy if it is!

Hmm.. that was based on the RHH5401 on your OP. Send over the full watch back and guarantee card details via pm and I’ll take a closer look if you like.

[bigandclever]

bristolbaron said:

Hmm.. that was based on the RHH5401 on your OP. Send over the full watch back and guarantee card details via pm and I’ll take a closer look if you like.

I hope this all works out well for the OP.

For me, why does the serial number in your screengrab read WBC0492? And not RHH5401? I assume it’s the wrong grab, if you can get the right details for the OP’s watch. If you look at one of the ‘replica’ sites you can find a version with serial RHH2755 which has ‘No results found’ in the tag database, at least the way I’m searching for it. Looking at a couple of other knockoff watches on there, they do come up with entries but, as with the OP, against a different real watch model. I’m guessing I’m doing something wrong!

Edited by bigandclever on Thursday 8th October 00:14

[Ken Figenus]

bristolbaron said:

Hmm.. that was based on the RHH5401 on your OP. Send over the full watch back and guarantee card details via pm and I’ll take a closer look if you like.

Thanks! There was no guarantee card - hence a good deal I guess - but just need to check it through, and thanks for your help. It does not look legit from the actual serial RHH5401- this is registered as a totally different model older watch 3 years ago... There would only be one serial number issued globally I'm sure which would never be repeated. Fake?

[Ken Figenus]

This seems to be the strap number guys:



Google only reveals a 32mm ladies Aquaracer - this watch is 43mm...

Edited by Ken Figenus on Thursday 8th October 09:22

[anonymous-user]

I’ve got the same watch and just checked and have the same strap number. Purchased in store at Mappin and Webb.

Never liked the watch in photos or window shopping but felt right when I tried it on. Had it over a year now and regularly swap between that and my 2008 red dial F1. Don’t get all the Tag hate on here.

[romeodelta]

Looks legit to me (have an F1 and Monaco), but interested to know how it all pans out.

Maybe take it into a TAG dealer and get them to check the records?

Best of luck.

[Ken Figenus]

zj2016 said:

I’ve got the same watch and just checked and have the same strap number. Purchased in store at Mappin and Webb.

Never liked the watch in photos or window shopping but felt right when I tried it on. Had it over a year now and regularly swap between that and my 2008 red dial F1. Don’t get all the Tag hate on here.

Can you check the 2nd (running seconds - right hand top) chrono dial scale with yours mate? I think this may be the key to it being fake...

[anonymous-user]

Ken Figenus said:

zj2016 said:

I’ve got the same watch and just checked and have the same strap number. Purchased in store at Mappin and Webb.

Never liked the watch in photos or window shopping but felt right when I tried it on. Had it over a year now and regularly swap between that and my 2008 red dial F1. Don’t get all the Tag hate on here.

Can you check the 2nd (running seconds - right hand top) chrono dial scale with yours mate? I think this may be the key to it being fake...

Yeah, photos attached. Definitely an extra marker between 15 and 30 secs that I don’t have.

[anonymous-user]

[Ken Figenus]

And there we have it mate... Where they screwed up! Its already on its way back and thanks for confirming.

Sometimes you can bag a bargain, but I think watches are a minefield!!!

[randlemarcus]

Ken Figenus said:

And there we have it mate... Where they screwed up! Its already on its way back and thanks for confirming.

Sometimes you can bag a bargain, but I think watches are a minefield!!!

While "its on its way back" is the shortest and best path to your money back, it doesn't stop these vendors from selling - a report to the selling platform as an intentional fake might have had your money coming back sooner, and given you the pleasure of taking a hammer to it

[bigandclever]

Sorry it’s a duff one

I didn’t post this last night, because (as said) I’m only a googler so didn’t want to commit, but if you have a look at this replica site you can see what you’re up against.

This example has serial RHH2755 with fits correctly in a range on the tag database, but this specific serial is ‘No record found’. I checked the QR code in the tags; they come up with the correct watch model too.

Yet the dial is incorrect (the same extra marker in the top-right subdial), and the Formula 1 text doesn’t follow the lower subdial closely enough. The “1” is also not as pronounced a shape as it should be. All of which, to my eye, appear on the OP’s watch. The date wheel is wonky in the replica too, hard to tell on OP’s watch.

https://chinareplica01.com/product/replica-tag-heu...

PS Mods, I accept it’s a replica watch site and we shouldn’t *really* be posting links to them, but it helps to illustrate.

[AJB88]

Woah they have a replica of my Tudor GMT on there! for 10% of the price haha.