It's getting on for half way through this year already and we've had a busy time of it since the end of March. Looking back over this year's releases it's amazing how quickly some of them slip through your memory, especially with all the limited edition shenanigans going on this year. So I thought I would give you a little recap of what's been happening so far in 2021 and provide links to the original 'First Impressions' posts and subsequent 'C.O.C.O. Council' mutterings...
CBN2A1F.FC6492
TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 02 'Porsche' Special Edition
The first TAG Heuer release of the year came in early February with this limited edition Porsche Carrera Heuer 02. Opinion was divided on this one with the 'Council of Considered Opinion' laying into it pretty hard and scoring it a fairly lacklustre 5.7/10 on the leather strap and an even weaker 5.4/10 on the stainless steel bracelet.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS POST / C.O.C.O COMMENTS:
CAZ101AG.FC8304 CAZ101AH.BA0842
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Chronographs
It was barely a week later that TAG Heuer hit us again with a double dose of citrus-dialed Formula 1 action. Much grumbling ensued from the 'C.O.C.O.' about 'overuse' of the asphalt dial and unfortunately these scored even worse than the divisive 'Porsche' Carrera with the council.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS POST / C.O.C.O COMMENTS:
CBK221D.FC6479
Fuelled by Hodinkeefever, this Carrera Dato 45 sold out in double quick time and will surely be a contender for the C.O.C.O. Council 'Watch of the Year 2021' award come December time. Personally, while I don't dislike it as a whole, that date window is just plain wrong.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS / C.O.C.O. COMMENTS:
CAR5A8C.BF0707
TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 02T Titanium Tourbillon Limited Edition
If I asked you to recall the TAG Heuer releases of 2021 so far, this is the one I think most people would struggle to recall. Again the council was massively divided, but the watch managed a fairly respectable 6.4/10... pity about the £17,000 price tag and the £3000 premium for the titanium case and bracelet...
FIRST IMPRESSIONS POST / C.O.C.O COMMENTS:
CAZ101AC.BA0843
TAG Heuer Formula1 Quartz Chronograph (Online Exclusive)
A re-release this one, that didn't merit the full on C.O.C.O. Council conflab. Branded a 'limited edition' but actually just one of last year's watches on a different bracelet... this was none-the-less a great improvement in my eyes.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS POST:
WAZ101A.FC8305
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Watch
In the dying days of March, TAG Heuer unleashed what is clearly the watch of the year so far and indeed the best new Formula 1 since the original Red Bull F1! For once the council got their heads together and scored it properly, awarding it a very handsome 7.1/10... which is pretty amazing considering it's a quartz watch! FIRST IMPRESSIONS POST / C.O.C.O. COMMENTS:
http://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2021/03/first-impressions-tag-heuer-formula-1_30.html
BUYING EXPERIENCE POST:
WBP201B.BA0632 WBP201C.BA0632 WBP201A.BA0632 WBP208B.BF0631
TAG Heuer 2021 Aquaracer Calibre 5 Range
The new Aquaracer was always going to divide opinions and the C.O.C.O had rather a lot to say about these. The major bone of contention was the new placement of the date and on top of that the round cyclops placed above the square date window.... it will be interesting to see how these score come the end of the year, I think they will probably improve with age, but then again... maybe not!FIRST IMPRESSIONS POST / C.O.C.O. COMMENTS:
http://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2021/04/first-impressions-tag-heuer-2021.html
WBP208C.FT6201
TAG Heuer Aquaracer 'Tribute to 844' Calibre 5 Limited Edition
One 2021 Aquaracer hit the mark and proved the clear favourite with the curmudgeonly council, and even I thought it was the pick of the bunch - despite the dreaded fauxtina and octagonal overload!FIRST IMPRESSIONS POST
CBL2116.FC6497
TAG Heuer Monaco Heuer 02 Limited Edition
Nothing divides opinion like a Monaco, but despite some negative comments and a particularly lowly score from our Swedish friend Jim Dollares, for the most part the limited edition green dial Monaco Heuer 02 impressed the council, bagging a very respectable 7.1/10 along the way.FIRST IMPRESSIONS POST / C.O.C.O COMMENTS:
WAR201P.FC6485
TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 Limited Edition
A parts bin special it may well be, but I thought this red accent / blue dial Carrera looked rather smart. Typically a good portion of the COCO council thought otherwise, with one particularly loopy member even giving it a score of 1/10!FIRST IMPRESSIONS POST / C.O.C.O. COMMENTS:
TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 16 Bahrain Limited Edition
#4= CAZ101A.FC8305 (Orange dial Formula 1) - 7.1 / 10
CBK2117.FC6266
For me at least, the first misfire of the 2021 season... the COCO council, though divided as ever, were more forgiving than I of this one. It's always seemed that red dial watches are hard to get right and for me this one showed exactly why that is. Whoever put this picture on the website should be shot though, I'm sure it must look better than this (and even if not they should still have sorted out the bottom sub-dial hand...).
FIRST IMPRESSIONS POST / C.O.C.O. COMMENTS:
CBK221F.FC6479
Heuer Carrera Heuer 02 Limited Edition
Proof, as if any were needed, that green is the flavour of the moment... but this Carrera confounded expectations (and it's own name) by having a dial not so much green in tone, as 'teal'. Regardless, this was another strong showing for the 39mm heritage Carrera, drawing plaudits and positivity from all and sundry (even that TAG Heuer hating knobber @Theo and Harris).
FIRST IMPRESSIONS POST / C.O.C.O. COMMENTS
CAW218B.FC6496
Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 'Titan' Limited Edition Chronograph
It might be rather soon to release another limited to 500 pieces Monaco, but nevertheless this one proved to be a real hit with just about everybody. For me the red '12' marker slightly tarnished an otherwise flawless release, but I seem to be in the minority there and the Titan emerged as a very strong early contender for C.O.C.O. 'Watch of the Year'.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS POST / C.O.C.O. COMMENTS
So there you have it folks, plenty more to come in the next six months I'm sure, but I have a feeling we've perhaps already seen the 2021 C.O.C.O. Watch of the Year in either the Dato 45 or the Titan Monaco. Remember, the Watch of the Year is not decided by scores, but one vote per member, so there's always the possibility for surprises... needless to say the C.O.C.O. Council will also be re-scoring this year's watches for the 'End of Year Round-Up' which is traditionally posted on Christmas Eve.
TAG HEUER 2021 (TO DATE) WATCH RELEASE LEAGUE TABLE
#1. CAW218B.FC6496 (Monaco 'Titan' Special Edition) - 8.1 / 10
#2. WBP208C.FT6201 ('Tribute to 844' Aquaracer L/E) - 7.3 / 10
#3. CBK221D.FC6479 (Hodinkee Dato 45 Limited Edition - 7.2 / 10
#4= CAZ101A.FC8305 (Orange dial Formula 1) - 7.1 / 10
#4= CBL2116.FC6497 (Green dial Monaco L/E) - 7.1 / 10
#6. CBK211F.FC6479 (Teal dial Carrera Heuer 02 L/E) - 7.0 / 10
#7. CAR5A8C.BF0707 (Blue dial Carrera Tourbillon) - 6.4 / 10
#8= WBP201A.BA0632 (Black dial Aquaracer on a bracelet) - 6.0 / 10
#8= WBP201B.BA0632 (Blue dial Aquaracer on a bracelet) - 6.0 / 10
#10. CBK2117.FC6266 (Red dial Carrera Bahrain Edition LE) - 5.9 / 10
#11= WBP201C.BA0632 (Silver dial Aquaracer on a bracelet) - 5.7 / 10
#11= WAR201P.FC6485 (Blue dial limited edition Carrera) - 5.7 / 10
#11= WBP208C.BF0631 (Green dial titanium Aquaracer on a bracelet) - 5.7 / 10
#11= CBN2A1F.FC6492 (Porsche Carrera H02 on a strap) - 5.7 / 10
#15= CBN2A1F.BA0643 (Porsche Carrera H02 on a bracelet) - 5.4 / 10
#15= CAZ101AG.FC8304 (Lime/Grey Formula 1 Quartz) - 5.4 / 10
#17. CAZ101AH.BA0842 (Orange/Grey Formula 1 Quartz) - 4.9 / 10
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