Just impulse bought one of these for £115 (using amazons 20% off code thing )
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81G57UzcPwL._SL1500_.jpg)
I've been without watch for a month or so after breaking mine so was after a temporary watch until I can justify something nice. Think this will fit my needs as long as its not too massive.
Thoughts / abuse?
Clean, nice watch :)
Peoples republic of china 200.
if thats a small photo, you have big wrists
They are nice looking watches in general, for the price you can't go wrong really.
So, interestingly a lot of people are reporting that the watches they are receiving (varion Tissot PRC200 models) directly from AMAZON S.A.R.L are fake. Amazon not confirming either way and just offering refunds. They have withdrawn them from sale.
Example: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B000B7MBHM/
Mine should be with me today and I'll take it to a watch shop to verify.
If true its shocking that Amazon are selling non-verified watches.
So, the results of my trip to Goldsmiths are ... Inconclusive.
Points that are NOT a sign of the watch being fake:
- The strap. I compared the strap to a current model leather strap and the markings are identical (no genuine leather sign, Tissot 1853 on each part and the model number on the longer side)
- The box. There was no obvious difference in box quality other than the fact that it looks like it has been roughly shipped around a lot resulting in some wear in normal places of the box. This ties up with it being from 2009. The assistant confirm that Tissot watches normally arrive to them all packed in and they unpack and organise the watches before sale.
- The warranty card. This looks genuine and isn't stamped because Amazon aren't an authorized dealer.
Signs that the watch MIGHT be fake:
- The numbers on the very outside of the watch are not vertically aligned on the beveled face. The official one I looked at were all perfectly centered. This is either a manufacturing defect by Tissot (these do happen) or a sign that its not official.
- The glow in the dark areas are light green instead of white, this could be correct and due to the different face colour of the watch I was comparing it to or it could be a sign the watch is fake.
The dealer phoned Tissot who could not confirm if its genuine as fakes often have valid serial numbers. They do however offer a free validation check if you sent them your watch. It takes up to 3 weeks and goldsmiths ask £20 to cover postage and insurance. I'll be sending my watch off on Tuesday to get it checked then return to amazon if its a fake and claiming my £20 from them.
Official watch (notice spacing of the 80 at the top center of the image is even above and below) Also notice glow in the dark strips are white.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7698099/Images/Tissot/Official_1.png)
Amazon watch (notice the 80 in the center of the image is right at the top of the bevel near the glass when it should be central). Also notice glow in the dark strips are slightly green.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7698099/Images/Tissot/Amazon_1.png)
Watches side by side
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7698099/Images/Tissot/Amazon_vs_Official_1.png)
If goldsmiths had official watches they knew were genuine, I'd have been tempted to pay them £5 to just take the backs of the cases off and compare the insides. Would have thought that potentially a fake might be quite different once you look at the bits not visible to the consumer?
A massive range of watches all use the same movement, so it's likely that even a good knock-off will have the same internals anyway. I guess for the sake of £20 (I hope you get a certificate!) it's worth getting it properly verified in case you ever choose to resell it, and if not you can return it like you said.
Good luck claiming your £20 back off amazon, do the glow in the dark bits actually glow in the dark?
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on August 23, 2013, 18:10:08 PM
A massive range of watches all use the same movement, so it's likely that even a good knock-off will have the same internals anyway. I guess for the sake of £20 (I hope you get a certificate!) it's worth getting it properly verified in case you ever choose to resell it, and if not you can return it like you said.
Do knock-offs use genuine movements though, or do they just use very cheap $.99 movements that are noticeably poorer quality than the $4.99 quartz movements the genuine watches use? I'd have thought they wouldn't waste their time polishing out the inside of the case or stamping the inside etc too potentially, something that Tissot might do to their watches.
Goldsmiths dont have instore "techs" and Tissot say they're the only ones who are re-certify the waterproofing so it would have had to go back.
As it happens I got talking to the manager about the blue watch in my pics above, it was a demonstrator that was going to be "written off" (auctioned apparently) as it an old model and couldn't be sold as new. Managed to negotiate 40% off the previous sale price and bought that instead.
Saves me waiting 3 weeks to find out if the amazon one is genuine or not. I've sent it back to amazon for a refund.
Comparing the boxes of my new one and the amazon one side by side there are many very subtle differences in quality so I'm more sure it was a fake. Different printing, different / missing embossing / different faux leather grain etc.