How To Spot A Fake Tissot Watch

how to spot a fake tissot watchHow To Spot A Fake Tissot Watch

In this article you will learn some basic tips to help you spot a fake Tissot watch and keep from getting ripped off by a dishonest merchant.

Tissot is a swiss company that has been producing quality watches since 1853. Everyone knows that in general you get what you pay for and a genuine Tissot watch can range from the mid $200s into the thousands of dollars.

If you are going to use the internet to hunt for deals on Tissot watches you must be aware that there are many places where people will attempt to pawn off replica or fake Tissot watches as the genuine article.

When shopping for a Tissot watch on Amazon, Ebay or other watch shops on the internet the first thing you should do is check the price. If the price is lower than $200 it is your first indication that it is probably a replica.

The same logic applies if you are buying a watch in a shop in the real world. Just think of those guys you see in the streets of big cities selling “brand name” watches for $20.

You know that is a fake so apply the same logic when you see the price of the watch you are buying in the shop. Don’t get fooled by a slick sales pitch from the salesman.

If you are buying the watch in person make sure you ask the salesperson to let you handle the watch. Wind the watch and try to judge how smooth the movement feels in your hand. A genuine Tissot should have smooth movement without any “drag” from the winding mechanism.

After that take a close look at the crown. A genuine Tissot should have the letter T engraved directly into it. Make sure the T is engraved and not glued or stuck on.

Inspect the face of the watch for imperfections and telltale signs of cheap manufacturing like dust or hair on the surface of the watches face. Remember you are paying for a high quality, well manufactured watch and everything about the watch should be perfect.

The inset dials like the chronometer on the Tissot PRC200 Chronograph should be aligned perfectly. If you can print out a picture of the watch from Tissot’s website and bring it with you you should do this and take care to really look closely at the fine details of the watches face and dials.

The same rule applies for the the numbering and printing on the watches face. These should also be flawless and free of misspellings. Also inspect the back of the watch case for misspellings or cheap engraving.

If you are buying a model with a luminous dial and you can convince the shop owner to let you view it in a dark setting you should also do this.

If the shop owner has a problem with this or seems uneasy about letting you it’s a good indication he probably has something to hide. What he is hiding is the fact that he knows his replica watch will have poor quality or no luminosity at all. It’s a great test to see the honesty of who you are dealing with.

If it passes your tests and you go ahead with the purchase it never hurts to get a second opinion after you buy it from another Tissot dealer or jeweler who knows fine watches.

If you are buying a watch online I would stick with Tissot authorized distributor and only buy new watches from them not the used ones that may be available from people. Go to Tissot’s site and either call them or send them a contact email asking them who is authorized to sell their watches in your country via an online store. A reputable distributor should also issue you a full warranty for your watch of at least 2 years.

With these basic tips I hope you are better able to spot a fake Tissot watch. Nobody likes to get ripped off and be especially careful if you buy online since it is very difficult to get your money back once you do go ahead with the purchase. At least with a real world store you can go back to the merchant and press the issue with them to get your money back.

Related:

How to Spot a Fake Tissot PRC200 (WatchUSeek Forum)

Tissot PRC200 Chronograph Review

tissot prc200 chronograph watch

Tissot PRC200 Chronograph

Below you will find my review of the popular Tissot PRC200 Chronograph watch with model number T17.1.586.52.

This review is written to help provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about whether the PRC200 Chronograph is the right swiss watch  to meet your needs.

I have done extensive research and compiled my findings below so you can be aware of all the good and bad points about this watch before you make a purchasing decision.

If you are on the market for a Tissot PRC200 Chronograph I should start out by saying that it is critical that you research the vendor you will be buying your watch from extensively.

There are numerous sites selling fake Tissot watches for bargain prices and if you make the mistake of buying one of these counterfeits you will have little recourse when it comes to trying to return it. The old adage “if it looks too good to be true it probably is” definitely applies here so buyer beware.

That being said some of the best deals on these watches can be found online and to date the best deals I have found were on Amazon. There are other reputable vendors online but while compiling my research Amazon had the best deals by far.

>> Check Out  Best Deals On Tissot PRC200 Chronograph Watches <<

Tissot PRC200 Chronograph Review

The  PRC200 Chronograph is watch from Tissot’s T Sport Collection line of products. There are 30 different models of PRC200 men’s watches and the model numbers are very similar which can be confusing.

Just make sure if you go to buy one that you check closely for the model number before you complete the purchase which in the Chronograph’s case is T17.1.586.52.

PRC200 Chronograph Features

Tissot PRC200 Chronograph 17.1.586.52This watch has full swiss quartz movement with an analog display. The case and bracelet are both made of 316L stainless steel and comes with a black colored dial and yellow accents. The glass material is Sapphire crystal which makes it nearly impervious to being scratched.

This model of PRC200 comes with a chronograph which allows for both timekeeping and stopwatch functions which can be a handy feature for people who like to exercise. This watch is also water resistant up to 200m so you can also use it for water sports.

Large And Thick “Manly” Watch

I found the Tissot PRC200 Chronograph to be quite a hefty watch. It is quite large in size and very thick which is a common style trend these days in men’s watches. When you are wearing it you will find it gives off a very masculine feel and it definitely attracts a lot of attention.

With sapphire crystal glass material it is pretty tough to scratch this watch. You can bang it around quite a bit without having to worry about the glass getting damaged or aging prematurely.

The stainless steel bracelet and casing are quite shiny. It looks a lot shinier in person than it does in it’s pictures online which can be a turn on or a turn off depending on what you prefer.

Unfortunately the bracelet is not as resistant to scratching as the glass material and can scuff if you play too rough with it. The bracelet is comfortable to wear however whether you wear it tight or loosely to suit your style.

If you have a thinner wrist you don’t have to worry about it looking too bulky on you. Tissot has done a good job of getting the dimensions of this watch just right. When you are buying a watch with a large casing  you definitely don’t want it to look clunky or awkward especially if you are spending some decent money to get it.

The PRC200 Chronograph Is A Versatile Watch

This is the only watch I have reviewed in this price range that can be used to time your laps while you take a swim in the morning then go to work with you in business or casual attire and yet still look good in a suit later that night at a dinner party.

If you are going to test out the water resistance of this watch make sure you tighten down the crown as it has a screw down crown. Water resistant or not if you don’t keep the crown tightened you will damage the watch if you try to do any water sports with it.

This Watch Will Get You Noticed

I find the pictures of the PRC200 Chronograph do not do it the justice it deserves. It looks much nicer in person and I find the black dial and yellow accents really make the face stand out and catch the eye.

The watch has a very refined look without looking like it is begging to be noticed and it definitely looks great upon a close inspection (which will happen trust me). It does not look like a cheap costume watch.

Swiss Quartz Movement Yet Affordable

This Tissot watch can normally be found priced in the low $300′s so it is not a high price to pay to get Swiss Quartz movement. I think this is a killer deal for a watch that looks this nice and has this level of quality craftsmanship.

Let’s be frank it is aimed at people who want a great looking, well made watch but do not want to spend $800 – $1000 to get it. I have seen watches by other brands such as TAG that cost twice the price as the SRC 200 that simply don’t deliver the same value for the money. Tissot has done a great job of making this watch look more expensive than it is.

Comments From Customers

I included a few snippets from people who have purchased the Tissot PRC 200 Chronograph that I found during my research:

“Sapphire crystal and 660ft water resistance…for $300!! If you aren’t going to buy this watch go ahead and check yourself into the nearest mental hospital.”

“Solid construction, gorgeous black face with white and a touch of yellow accents. It goes with jeans or a suit.”

“The watch looks great and works perfectly. Before buying it I have searched for more than a month and concluded this one was the best choice under 300USD.”

It’s Not All A Bed Of Roses

While researching for this review I found a few users had complained about the watch running 2 or 3 minutes slow per week which was not a problem I encountered personally.  Some people might be turned off by how heavy this watch can feel on your wrist.

Also, as I mentioned before the stainless steel bracelet can get scuffed if you are hard on it so it’s something to keep in mind depending on what activities you were hoping to participate in while using this watch. The bracelet is also much more shiny in person than it appears in pictures. Check out the video at the end of the review to get a real life look at what the watch looks like (turn down your speakers if you don’t like dance music).

Conclusions

The Tissot PRC200 Chronograph is an excellent entry level Swiss watch. For the price you pay this watch over delivers both in both looks and functionality. If you want a watch that looks great in any situation that won’t put you in the poor house the Tissot Men’s T17.1.586.52 PRC200 Chronograph watch is a great value.

>> Check Out  Best Deals On Tissot PRC200 Chronograph Watches <<

 

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