Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph Day Date Bracelet Gen/Rep Comparison Photos

[SSTEEL]

Some of you may of noticed in my Carrera thread that I have decided to franken the hell out of it.  Why?  Because it's fun, and even though expensive, it still works out cheaper than a used gen.

 

In this thread I will be comparing the rep Carrera Bracelet along side the Genuine Carrera Bracelet.  Expect to pay around $450+ for a new bracelet, or around $250 for a used one.

 

The genuine bracelet featured in this thread was new, and advertised as such, but due to poor packing (bracelet loose in bubble envelope) it has gained a few minor scratches in transit, which show in the photos below.

 

Ok, before we go onto the photos, I would like to add, that the rep of this bracelet is very very close to the gen indeed, and the visual differences are minor, but the feel of the rep in the hand compared to the gen is that the gen is more smooth, refined, as you would expect of a high quality bracelet.  

 

The rep bracelet is identifiable with your eyes closed due to the unfinished edges, thus feeling somewhat sharper edges where as gen is butter smooth.  

 

Onto the photos. I will title each photo at the top of each photo so you can identify which is which easily.

 

Gen Right

Rep Left

 

 

Gen Top

Rep Bottom

 

Gen

 

Rep

 

Rep

 

Gen

 

Rep Closest to camera

Gen furthest away from Camera

 

Rep End Links (note the inner finishing compared to gen)

 

Gen End Links (note the finishing compared to rep)

 

Gen Left

Rep Right

 

Genuine Spring Bars (pair) Top

Replica Spring Bars (pair) Bottom

 

Clasp

 

Gen Top

Rep Bottom

Note the angle the rep lays (higher) off table top compared to gen

 

Gen still top

Rep Bottom

 

Gen (note the stamping FAA044 compared to rep)

 

Rep (FAAO44)

 

Rep

 

Gen

 

Conclusion:

 

The replica Carrera bracelet is a very close match, and its only the feel, and a few key details that tell it apart from the gen.  These are as follows..

 

1. Feel in the hand, the genuine feels better finished, and smoother than the rep.

 

2. Inner clasp "TAG Heuer" & "Stainless Steel" Stamping is deeper, and more refined on the Gen.

 

3. Gen has the following stamped on clasp "Y-M3" which is actually a lighter stamp than the "Y-L6" Rep stamping.

 

4. Gen has "FAA044" stamped whereas Rep a letter "O" instead of an actual number "0" in FAAO44" stamping.

 

5. Outer clasp "TAG Heuer" stamping, the gen's e's of Heuer are not rounded like the reps e's.  The reps e's almost look like small o's. Gen have correct open e's, with the middle horizontal line being inline with the horizonal of the capital letter H of Heuer.

 

6. End Links.  Whilst the rep is very close, its the fine detail, and finishing that tells them apart.

 

7. The Gen Carrera Bracelet is slightly heavier than the rep, but not by much (see below)..

 

Gen

 

Rep

 

That concludes my side by side comparison of the Tag Heuer Carrera Gen & Rep Bracelets.  

 

I hope this proves helpful to you all who may of often wondered about the differences.

Onto the weight of each Carrera Bracelet

[sgtguk]

Great comparison mate   it always amazes me how good the rep bracelets are now, a few tweaks here and there and they would be spot on. The 'feel' however can make all the difference when you wear them mind 

[Sparkal]

Nice work SS.

 

Really informative, look forward to more of the same high quality comparisons!

[SSTEEL]

Another difference between the gen and rep bracelets is the length of the central clasp bar with TAG Heuer seen below.  On the rep its longer..

 

 

Edited April 19, 2013 by SSTEEL

[ceejay]

Great review, many thanks!

 

How are you getting on with the watch? I have it on my hit list from either PC or TT.

 

Cheers