The TAG Heuer Kirium was introduced in 1997 and essentially replaced the 4000 Series. The model is often thought of as a '90s' watch but for my money the essential '90s' TAG Heuer watch is surely the 'S/EL' and besides, the Kirium was in production in the 00s for much longer than it was in the 90s.
The Kirium was marketed as a watch inspired by 'liquid metal', a concept I never grasped until I saw and held a fully polished model, only then did it make sense and admittedly, while I'd always favoured the brushed models for practical reasons, the polished case really does give it a much more elegant and arty look.
My very first luxury watch was a Kirium CL111A.BA0700 in 2004, so I have a very strong affinity to the Kirium, and having just bought myself a third Kirium, now seemed like a good time to review the history of the model, not least because it means I don't have to knuckle down and make sense of the last two eras of the Formula 1 (not looking forward to that at all)!
Before we continue, I have to say the sizing of the Kirium is a bit of a nightmare. So much so that after wasting much time trying to establish the facts I have decided to completely remove the sizes from this post as I cannot be confident about them and I do not want to post false information. There's too much conflicting information about and the bracelet codes contradict the (claimed) case sizes all over the place. Believe me I tried very hard to bottom it out, but every time I thought I'd got there I'd find something else that messed it up.
I noticed in one of the TAG Heuer catalogues that they used cases sizes 1, 2 and 3 (although this might have been true at launch I believe another size was added along the way). I'm pretty sure that the second number in the part code indicates the size and this holds up to some degree, but it gets extremely confusing because a three hander with a 1 case size isn't the same as a chronograph with a 1 case size. And a three handed chronometer 1 isn't the same as a quartz. Hmm...
WL1110 and WL1116 (for example) are not the same size and for some reason WL1010 and WL1110 appear to be the same size. Can you see why I've given up?
The only thing I can say with any conviction is that all the models using the BA0709 and BA0710 bracelets and having 3 as their second number are 28mm lades pieces. This is fairly simple as they are all quartz three handers...
For what it's worth I can give you the following information about the bracelets:
BA0700 - Full size, brushed
BA0701 - Full size, polished centre link
BA0702 - Full size, polished
BA0704 - Mid size, brushed
BA0705 - Mid size, polished centre link
BA0706 - Mid size, polished
BA0709 - Ladies, brushed
BA0710 - Ladies, polished centre link
(Surprisingly there doesn't appear to be a 'fully polished' ladies bracelet.)
I realise that this gives the impression that there are only three 'sizes', I wish it was that simple! I think there may be 2 cases (possibly 35 and 36mm*) that use the mid size bracelets and that is where a lot of the confusion is coming. Also, third party sizing (eg Watchfinder, eBay, etc) is very unreliable perhaps in part because of the odd case shape. I've seen people claim 42mm without the crown, which may be true if you measure horizontally and include the case bulge on the left, but it's misleading to say the least.
*I've come to this conclusion because clearly there are three different sizes for the three hand quartz models, but the largest one (size 1) is 36mm, so I am assuming that size '2' in that range is 35mm - only because it could potentially use the same bracelet without looking wrong. But who knows?
Since the TAG Heuer catalogues don't offer any sizing whatsoever, I had to admit defeat there - which is a shame as it would be nice if this post could have been more definitive. If anyone out there can shed any light on the case sizes I would be very grateful, please leave a comment below!
1997/1998 CATALOGUE
The 1997/1998 TAG Heuer catalogue was the first to feature the Kirium with fifteen models included. Surprisingly though the Kirium range is thought of as being largely quartz, right from the start there were chronometer certified automatics available, alongside chronographs and three handers running on battery power.
Strangely I always assumed that the Kirium was launched with the Mercedes hands and was later updated to the 'Kirium' hand-set, but it seems that wasn't the case at all and both hands were used right from the start.
WL5211.BA0704: Black dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL5112.BA0701: Green dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL5115.FC6114: Silver dial, steel bezel on a red strap (chronometer)
WL5210.FC6118: Silver dial, steel bezel on a blue strap (chronometer)
WL5214.BA0705: Copper dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL1110.BA0700: White dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1316.BA0710: Ladies, blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1314.FC6124: Ladies, silver dial, steel bezel on a red strap (quartz)
CL1110.BA0700: Black dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
CL1112.BA0701: Blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
CL1113.BA0701: Plum dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
1999 CATALOGUE
The 1999 catalogue saw the new Kirium range continue to expand, with only three models duplicated from the 1997/98 catalogue. I wouldn't take that to mean the others were discontinued though, as some heads were presented on different strap / bracelet options.
WL5110.FT6000: Silver dial, steel bezel on a rubber strap (chronometer)
WL1211.BA0704: Grey dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1180.FT6000: Carbon dial, titanium bezel/case on a rubber strap (quartz)
CL2110.BA0700: Black dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (automatic)
CL2111.BA0700: Blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (automatic)
CL1211.BA0705: Blue dial, steel bezel on bracelet (quartz)
CL1210.BA0705: Silver dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1314.BA0709: Ladies, silver dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
CL1180.FT6000: Black dial, titanium bezel/case on a rubber strap (quartz)
2001 CATALOGUE
The 2001 catalogue is the first to acknowledge that the range presented is only a sample of what is actually available, as it shows dial colour options under each model displayed. Some models have two 'blue' options; blue, or 'translucent' blue.
In this catalogue we start to see the introduction of a new dial for the Kirium, with larger more 'modern' Arabic numbers at the '12' and '6' positions.
CL1181.FT6000: Carbon dial, titanium bezel/case on a rubber strap (quartz)
CL2110.FT6000: Black dial, steel bezel on a rubber strap (automatic)
WL111D.BA0700: Black dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL111G.BA0701: Grey dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL5110.BA0700: Silver dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL131F.BA0710: Ladies, blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
CL1213.BA0705: Plum dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL131E.BA0709: Ladies, silver dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL131H.BA0709: Ladies, mother of pearl dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
CL1212.BA0705: Black dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
2002/2003 CATALOGUE
The 2002/2003 saw the introduction of yet another new dial design, this time with even bolder numbers arranged in a very unusual 12-2-4-6-8-10 pattern (which I think I like, but I'm not 100% sure...).
WL111F.BA0701: Blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
CL5110.BA0700: Black dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL5118.BA0700: Silver dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL5119.BA0700: Black dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL511A.BA0701: Blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
CL1111.FT6000: Silver dial, steel bezel on a rubber strap (quartz)
CL111A.BA0700: Digital dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
CL111A.FT6000: Digital dial, steel bezel on a rubber strap (quartz)
WL121E.BA0704: Silver dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL121F.BA0705: Blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
2004 CATALOGUE
The 2004 catalogue followed a new design which abandoned the idea of having a selection of pieces towards the back, and while the Kirium did cover several pages no new models were highlighted. However, the 2004-2005 dealer catalogue did throw up one new model.
2005 CATALOGUE
With the 2005 catalogue the Kirium story comes to a rather abrupt halt, with all watches bar one being discontinued. The F1 Kirium lived on for a further three years, available on either a brushed bracelet or a plain black rubber strap, until it too was finally laid to rest.
NON-CATALOGUE MODELS
There are a substantial number of Kiriums which were never shown in any official catalogue, indeed we're only just over half way through! While some of these may look like models featured earlier, they are perhaps on different bracelets / straps or in some cases it may be that the cases are polished or brushed or a combination of both - I must admit there were a few times where I had to look very hard to see why what looked like the same watch had a completely different part number.
CL1151.BA0701: Silver dial, gold bezel on a steel bracelet (quartz)
CL1112.FT6000: Blue dial, steel bezel on a rubber strap (quartz)
CL1114.BA0701: Blue dial, steel bezel on a steel bracelet (quartz)
CL111C.FT6000: Digital dial, polished steel bezel on a rubber strap (quartz)
CL1182.FT6002: Carbon dial, steel bezel on a rubber strap - McLaren L/E (quartz)
CL1184.FT6002: Carbon dial, steel bezel on a rubber strap - Paddock Club L/E (quartz)
CL2112.FT6000: Silver dial, steel bezel on a black rubber strap (automatic)
CL5110.FT6000: Black dial, steel bezel on a black rubber strap (chronometer)
WL111E.FT6000: Silver dial, steel bezel on a black rubber strap (quartz)
WL111F.FT6000: Blue dial, steel bezel on a black rubber strap (quartz)
WL111G.FT6000: Grey dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL111H.BA0701: Blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1181.FT6000: Carbon dial, titanium bezel/case on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1116.BA0702: Blue dial, steel bezel on a polished bracelet (quartz)
WL1116.BA0701: Blue dial, steel bezel on a polished/brushed bracelet (quartz)
WL1116.FC6113: Blue dial, steel bezel on a blue leather strap (quartz)
WL1210.BA0704: White dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1212.BA0705: Black dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1213.BA0705: Blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1214.BA0705: Silver dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1216.BA0706: Blue dial, steel bezel on a polished bracelet (quartz)
WL5114.BA0701: Copper dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL5115.BA0700: Silver dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL5116.BA0700: Blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL5210.BA0704: Silver dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL5210.FC6119: Silver dial, steel bezel on a red leather strap (chronometer)
WL5211.FC6117: Black dial, steel bezel on a black leather strap (chronomoter)
WL5212.BA0705: Green dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL5215.BA0705: Green dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL1010.BA0700: White dial, steel bezel on a steel bracelet (quartz)
WL5213.BA0700: Blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (chronometer)
WL1011.BA0700: Grey dial, steel bezel on a steel bracelet (quartz)
WL1012.BA0701: Black dial, steel bezel on a steel bracelet (quartz)
WL1111.BA0704: Grey dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1111.FC6112: Grey dial, steel bezel on a black leather strap (quartz)
WL1114.BA0704: Silver dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1114.FC6114: Silver dial, steel bezel on a red leather strap (quartz)
WL1119.BA0705: Black dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1119.BA0705: Grey dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL1150.BA0705: Silver dial, gold bezel on a steel bracelet (quartz)
WL1153.BA0705: Silver dial, gold bezel on a steel bracelet (quartz)
WL1313.BA0709: Ladies, blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
WL121D.BA0704: Black dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
Finally.... we have two diamond bezel versions of the Kirium. I have seen another version, but to be honest it looks like it may be an aftermarket modification; in fact it looks like they took the standard bezel and half-dipped it in industrial diamond dust! You can still see half the bezel markers sticking out from underneath and I really can't believe TAG Heuer would allow something so badly done out of the factory. These two, by contrast, are pretty spectacular and I would be quite happy to wear either of them!
CL111B.FT6000: Digital dial, diamond bezel on a black rubber strap (quartz)
CL1183.FT6000: 38mm, carbon dial, diamond bezel / titanium case on a black rubber strap
I love how they mixed precious stones with rubber straps, pretty forward thinking for the mid 2000s!
Well, I hope you enjoyed this overview of the entire Kirium range, it really has taken me an enormous number of hours to put together, perhaps I should have split it into two or three parts? I will definitely do something less time consuming next, like the Golf or SLR or something equally short-lived! :)
Visit the 'HISTORY OF TAG HEUER' page by clicking HERE
This is a great history, thanks!
ReplyDeleteSo glad I found this! Invaluable information right here - Thanks so much
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!!! 🇭🇰
ReplyDeleteThanks for this interesting history
ReplyDeleteGreat read. Very well written. Very informative on a great model line.
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for your comment, much appreciated.
DeleteRob
I have a Kirium that shows kirium on dial not professional why I’s that ?
DeleteJust learned I have a counterfeit. I suspect you also may have one . I'm assuming that mine as well as yours could have been put together with pieces from other TAG HEUER watches.
ReplyDeleteFor example I have a display back and a sweep second hand that has a Luminescent dot. That was never a part of the men's line. That hand came from a women's Professional series.
That’s not how counterfeit works. That would be a Frankenstein watch. Assuming you’re right about the parts being wrong. Then again, tag heuer does some weird things sometimes
DeleteWell I certainly don't have any fakes or franken watches personally. It's possible you have a franken watch, the 36mm models appear to have lumed second hands. Are you saying yours has the 'Kirium' hands but still has a lumed second hand? And what is a 'Professional Series'? Professional is just what TAG used to put on the dial instead of quartz in the 00s.
DeleteRob
Hi, What year do you think this model was released?
ReplyDeleteWL111H.BA0701: Blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet (quartz)
Thanks
What is the difference between the two plum dial variants?
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for your question. The CL1113 is a 38mm 'full size' watch. The CL1212 is a mid-size (probably 35-36mm). Rob
Deletewill tag heuer continue to support (repair,spare parts9 these watches?
ReplyDeleteI would hope so, but who knows. The movement is fairly generic though so that shouldn't be too much of an issue.
DeleteRob
Hi there. Great history.
DeleteBut I think you missed one.
WL5213. Auto chronometer. 200m. Bought new at Tag, Geneva Airport in Jan 2000. 2025 Swiss francs, circa 810 quid.
Great post! I've got the WL1012.BA0701: Black dial, steel bezel on a steel bracelet (quartz). Do you have any idea what the current re-sale price would be? It's in pretty good condition.
ReplyDeleteHi if you were selling on eBay or the like then probably about £3-400, Watchfinder would probably sell for about £595
DeleteRob