problem with new tag caliber 17

[ahmir]

Hi,
Just took delivery of my new tag grand carrera caliber 17 yesterday.
The watch is more chunky and slightly darker with a not so black dail than I thought. But that is not the problem.
The crystal glass front is not scratch proof.
I have already seen a few scratches on it. I don't know weather I ade them or it came like that. While trying to clean the glass with a cloth I noticed that the cloth was also putting scratches on the glass front. this proves that the class is not crystal but ordinary glass. I paid £260 for this watch and am a bit peed off. The watch was bought from Timmeshop. I will email them now but anybody got any ideas of what else I can do.
For all the hype of this watch it does not look like the original. The face in not as dark black, the colour of the metal is has a kind of champagne tint to it and the watch is thicker. Ideally If I could I would like a refund. Any ideas folks?

Ahmir

 

[I am Sam]

Ahmir, first thing first is you post pics. Secondly, are you sure you have removed the thin transparent plastic layer from the dial? Also post the specs that was on TS or better provide the link. If it say sapphire then it may not be coated with scratch resistent coating. But post the pics first and at the same time let TS know too.

 

[ahmir]

here are the links
sorry first ever attempt to take macro photos of watch

here is the link from where I got it from
http://www.timeshops.net/TG9155_-_T...ck_Dial_SS_-_Asia_7750_28800bph_2505-4071.htm

it says sapphire crystal double AR.. the AR is really bad nothing like my Accurist watch

 

[I am Sam]

It could be an scratch on the AR as sapphire is resistent to scratches naturally. I know one guy had done something about the scartch on the crystal. Gosh my memory is not good and search engine is not working well for me to pull up that thread. Anyway, did you contact TS? Is there a response from TS? Also when taking pics keep the pixels to its lowest but pics quality level to superfine.

 

[jm354]

If, as I am Sam suggested earlier, there is a plastic film over the crystal, this could lighten the look of the black face. I was looking at this very watch at an AD tonight and I don't remember the face being stark black.

 

[ahmir]

Timeshop not got back to yet. Mist probably as you say it's the ar coating. What can be done? Do you think the best thing may be to get the ar removed timeshop say it's double ar hopefully they are right so it should not effect the crystal too much. Just wondering will need to do it professionally - will it cost much?

 

[MadDogUK]

Hi Ahmir, I too received my calibre 17 today. I ordered the rose gold version. Although i expected it to be a little more yellow in appearance than the copper tint it has im very happy.

Regarding the thickness, the rep is about 5-6mm thicker than the original version. I remember reading this on another post and has something to do with the difference in movements. Im no watch expert but I believe this is the case with all the reps of this model.

As for the champagne tint, I cant say i see it in the photos you have posted. As of yet though i haven't had any of the scratch issues you mention so maybe this would be an AR issue as previously mentioned, there are people on this site that will fix that for you.

I agree that £260 is no spare change but it is considerably cheaper than the original, and for that reason you cant expect it to be a 'perfect' copy of the gen. In saying that the scratches would piss me off too.

Hope you get it sorted out fella.

 

[ahmir]

Thanks for the support mate. Yeah I expected it to be thicker but blimy this is very thick kind of bugs me all the time oh well what can I do. Also the champagne tint does not come out in any photo, the only reason I am annoyed is that I have seen the dial on the originals ad it's a beautiful black these expensive reps are suposed to be 1to1 copies. The least you could expect is the right colour bar everything else. I may end up selling it on the site and buy the slightly thinner caliber 6. What do you think, will the caliber 6 be very much thicker or not as thick as caliber 36?

 

[izebulon]

CNY is slowing things down for most dealers. Good to post the pics v the link that shows what you expected, but also try to work it out with TS and then report back.

It's a great design, hope you are able to get what you want out of it.

 

[ahmir]

Horror of horrors now I am really angry.
Today was the first time I wound it properly, the crown is stiff it's nearly impossible to access the date and after giving it 50 wounds it still is not working , shaking produces no result and to top it now I can't even close thecrown with ease. My fingers are killing me . Timeshop have not replied, this is quickly turning into a nightmare

 

[MadDogUK]

I dont know too much about the calibre 6 rep. The 36 though, i'd imagine that to be fairly thick also.

 

[fakemaster]

Pitfalls of double AR.

 

[I am Sam]

^ What do you mean by that FM?