VIDEO: TAG Heuer 1500 Series Quartz by Birth Year Watches

 

OWNED: TAG Heuer 1500 GMT Quartz Watch

 

As I've mentioned recently, I'm still in the process of trying to reduce my TAG Heuer collection to something approaching a 'sensible' size (20 would be perfect, really) and that obviously means selling more watches. That's fine, but obviously the further I go with that the harder it's going to get to convince myself to let go of watches that I've collected, especially watches that have been with me for some time and which (to me at least) represent the 'best' of a particular model line. 

And that's exactly how I feel about this GMT variant of the 1500 Series, at 40mm it is the perfect size for me and much better than the vast majority of 1500 Series models which are 37mm in diameter. As such, me selling this is basically ruling the 1500 Series out of my future collection because I'm not going to buy an inferior piece or buy another one of these again, so unless I win the lottery and money no longer matters, this is it. 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer 1500 Series by Joseph Cooper Watch Repair

FEATURE: Keeping Track of Wrist Time 2022

 

Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to 2023. We start the year with everybody's favourite post... 'Keeping Track of Wrist Time' (I jest of course, it doesn't get any more self-indulgent than this!), in which I reveal which watches I wore the most (and least) during the year of our Lord Jean Claude Biver 2022. 

I know, it's a LOT, just keep calm and we'll get through this together! Haha.

Now if you've already read my 'Another Crazy Year of Watch Buying' post that went up a few days ago, you'll know that there's been a fair bit of coming and going this year. Actually a lot more going than coming... which is a good thing, because looking back it's clear that I had (and still have, truthfully) far too many watches to actually wear them all. In fact I'd be somewhat surprised if I'd worn my Microtimer more than 25 times since I bought it back in 2017. And given it cost me £85 for a new battery last year, that isn't a good ratio!

GALLERY: TAG Heuer 1500 Series GMT Quartz Watch

 

GALLERY: TAG Heuer 1500 Series Quartz GMT Watch

 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer 1500 Series Quartz Watch by Birth Year Watches

 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer 1500 Series & 6000 Series Quartz Watches by The Time Bombardier

 

GALLERY: TAG Heuer 1500 Series Quartz GMT Watch

 

FEATURE: My Top Five 1500 Series

The 1500 Series is a frustratingly simple one, indeed when I compiled my 'History of the 1500 Series' post I was quite taken aback by just how few there were and how this whittled down even further when you took into account mild variations and duplicates available in different sizes. In fact, it was quite hard to pick five pieces to fill out this post since there are barely more than five distinct models in total. But pick them I did and so, without further ado, here are my top five 1500 Series models...

#5. WD1120.BB0607 (925.206M)

This was the last piece to be picked, and really I went with the two tone version just because it gave a bit of life to what is otherwise a fairly humdrum model. The 1500 Series was marketed by TAG Heuer (believe it or not) as the 'basic' sportswatch. Can you imagine a Swiss Watch Manufacturer using the word 'basic' in 2021? I think not... but I find it rather refreshing. No bullshit story, no paying homage to something that came out 40 years ago, here it is, bish-bash-bosh - our basic watch, do you want one or not? If only life was still so pure and simple!

#4. WD1212.BA0610 (929.113M)

This is the first of two watches on this list that I would like to own, but probably never will. This is the rather desirable 'full lume' 1500 Series, and while you might be forgiven for thinking it's the price that puts me off, unfortunately it's something far less 'negotiable'. It's the size; this was only available in the mid-size which means it's probably about 34/35mm, fine for a plastic Formula 1 but not a steel watch on a bracelet for me, sorry it's not going to happen. Pity...

#3. WD1111.BA0606 (959.706M)

In many ways the 959.706M (later renumbered as WD1111.BA0606) is the quintessential 1500 and carries the one feature utterly unique to this range - the granite dial. The dial seemingly remains tremendously popular with collectors and as such these watches command much higher prices than you might otherwise imagine. One day I'll get one though, it's just a matter of time.

#2. WD1214.BA0607

This blue dial / blue bezel 1500 is a fine looking watch (I'm sure you'll agree) but unfortunately like the 'lume dial' variant shown earlier, again this is only available in 34/35mm which is such a shame. I think, honestly, that there are some watches I could get over being that small, such as the Airline, but that's because there's absolutely no alternative - if you want an Airline they are only available in 35mm, but with the 1500 Series you have them available in 37mm and even 40mm, but not in this cool blue scheme. Arrrrrgh; damn you TAG Heuer!!!

#1. WS1111,BA0606 (159.006M)

Perhaps unsurprisingly, my number one choice for the 1500 Series is the only one that I actually own, that being the 'jumbo' sized 40mm GMT. I really like this watch, and actually I think this was the watch that changed my mind about white dials; I used to think they were quite dull and boring, but this one provides the perfect background for the creamy-yellow hour markers, the green and red TAG Heuer shield and the super cool red GMT hand. I don't know what it's made of, but bizarrely it looks like 'paper' or 'card'. I mean, I'm sure it isn't, but that really is what it looks like...

Well there are folks, a brief look at my favourite 1500 Series pieces. Usually at this point I would be bringing up some real stinkers as a counterpoint, but there really aren't any. These five watches pretty much give a comprehensive overview of the range, and if you don't like these there's probably nothing to be gained by looking further.

If you'd like to know more about the 1500 range, please visit my 'History of the 1500 Series' post by clicking the link below:

http://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2021/04/history-tag-heuer-1500-series-1991-1997.html

GALLERY: TAG Heuer 1500 Series GMT Quartz Watch

 

HISTORY: TAG Heuer 1500 Series (1990-1997)

Perhaps surprisingly described by TAG Heuer themselves as 'the basic sportswatch', when you think about it... it actually kind of makes sense. There are no chronographs for a start and nor are there any 'automatic' models. Dial colours are extremely limited too, with just five options available throughout the range: white, black, blue and granite, plus one 'full-lume' piece which was rather annoyingly only offered as a midsize option!

The range is actually smaller than it first appears, largely because the vast majority of models were given two numbers (pre and post 1992) and when you take those duplications out of the equation suddenly you realise there really aren't all that many 1500s to look at. 

So this post will be shorter than some, but hopefully educationally worthwhile - it certainly opened my eyes to what the 1500 series has to offer.

1991 CATALOGUE

The 1500 Series arrives in 1990 and first appears in the 1991catalogue, frustratingly just one year before TAG Heuer decided to renumber every watch in their range. Somewhat similarly to the 4000 Series, the range arrives en-masse, with 20 models shown in the catalogue.

Since every watch has a post 1992 number, I am using that as the main number. I will also include a chart at the bottom of the page cross-referencing everything.

For your reference, the second number in the post 1992 model number indicates the size: 1 = full size, 2 = mid size and 4 = ladies. However, I believe the GMT full size was 40mm, whereas regular models were 37mm and midsize 35mm. Ladies were approximately 27mm. Presumably then '3' would have related to the old '15' size that TAG Heuer were using in the late 1980s?

WD1221.BC0633 (955.713/633/C): Midsize, granite dial, two tone bezel/case on brown leather

WD1411.BA0614 (959.708/614/M): Ladies, granite dial, steel bezel/case on a bracelet

WD1211.BA0610 (959.713/610/M): Midsize, granite dial, steel bezel/case on a bracelet

WD1111.BA0606 (959.706/606/M): Full size, granite dial, steel bezel/case on a bracelet

WD1111.BC0620 (959.706/620/C): Full size, granite dial, steel bezel/case on black leather

WD1211.BC0630 (959.713/630/C): Mid size, granite dial, steel bezel/case on black leather

WD1120.BB0607 (925.206/607/M): Full size, black dial. two tone bezel/case and bracelet

WD1220.BB0611 (925.213/611/M): Mid size, black dial, two tone bezel/case and bracelet

WD1420.BB0615 (925.208/615/M): Ladies, black dial, two tone bezel/case and bracelet

WD1120.BC0623 (925.206/623/C): Full size, black dial, two tone bezel on brown leather

WD1220.BC0633 (925.213/633/C): Mid size, black dial, two tone bezel on brown leather

WD1110.BC0620 (929.206/620/C):  Full size, black dial, steel bezel on black leather

WD1212.BA0610 (929.113/610/M): Mid size, lume dial, steel bezel/case and bracelet

WD1110.BA0606 (929.206/606/M): Full size, black dial, steel bezel/case and bracelet

WD1210.BA0610 (929.213/610/M): Mid size, black dial, steel bezel/case and bracelet

WD1410.BA0614 (929.208/614/M): Ladies, black dial, steel bezel/case and bracelet

WD1221.BB0611 (955.713/611/M): Mid size, granite dial, two tone bezel and bracelet

WD1121.BB0607 (955.706/607/M): Full size, granite dial, two tone bezel and bracelet

WD1421.BB0615 (955.708/615/M): Ladies, white dial, two tone bezel and bracelet

WD1121.BC0623 (955.706/623/C): Full size, white dial, two tone bezel on brown leather

1992-1993 SELECTION

The 1992/3 selection catalogue added a couple of new pieces to the range.

WS1110.BC0620 (159.306/620/C): Full size, black dial GMT, steel bezel on black leather

WS1120.BB0607 (155.706/607/M): Full size, white dial GMT, two tone bezel and bracelet

1995-1996 CATALOGUE

Hard to believe, but the 1500 Series is already heading for the out-door. As is often the case, TAG Heuer decide to give it a boost in the arm to keep it ticking over for a few more years.

WD1210.BC0630: (929.213/630/C): Mid size, black dial, steel bezel/case on black leather

WD1213.BA0610: Mid size, white dial, steel/black bezel on a bracelet

WD1413.BC0640: Ladies, white dial, steel/black bezel on a bracelet

WD1222.BB0611: Mid size, white dial, two tone bezel and bracelet

WD1422.BC0643: Ladies, white dial, two tone bezel on brown leather

WD1423.BB0615: Ladies, blue dial, two tone bezel and bracelet

WD1223.BC0633: Mid size, blue dial, two tone bezel on brown leather

1996 CATALOGUE

Just one new piece added to the range in this catalogue.

WD1214.BA0610: Mid size, blue dial, steel bezel/case and bracelet

1997 CATALOGUE

The last outing for the 1500 Series, no new models were added in this catalogue

NON CATALOGUE MODELS

These are the 1500 Series pieces I have managed to find that didn't appear in any of the catalogues above.

WS1120.BC0623 (155.706/623/C): Full size, white dial GMT, gold bezel on brown leather

WS1111.BA0606 (159.006/606/M): Full size, white dial GMT, steel bezel on a bracelet

WS1110.BA0606 (159.306/606/M): Full size, black dial GMT, steel bezel and bracelet

WS1111.BC0620 (159.006/620/C): Full size, white dial GMT, steel bezel on black leather 

WD1210-DO: Mid size, black '33rd Super Bowl' dial, steel case, black leather strap

WD1410: Ladies, black '33rd Super Bowl' dial, steel case, black leather strap

WD1214.BA0607: Mid size, blue dial, steel bezel on a bracelet with polished midlinks

WD1422.BB0615: Ladies, white dial, two tone bezel and bracelet

WD1414.BA0614: Ladies, blue dial, steel bezel and bracelet

WD1200-00: Men's, black 'Mickey Mouse' dial, black bezel, steel case and bracelet

WD1410: Ladies, black 'Mickey Mouse' dial, black bezel, steel case and bracelet

WD1221.BB0611DIS: Men's, white 'Mickey Mouse' dial, two tone bezel, case and bracelet

WD1421.BB0615DIS: Ladies, white 'Mickey Mouse' dial, two tone bezel, case and bracelet

The 1500 Series is a bit of an odd one really and for some reason it seems rather biased towards the mid-sized models. Not only is the (always desirable) full-lume dial only available in a 35mm case, but the blue dials/bezels are also only available in 35 and 27mm too. 

For a full size chap like me the GMT is the best option at 40mm (actually I already own a 159.006 on a bracelet) but those aside you only really have a choice of four different watches, albeit with each of those having either bracelets or leather straps.

As always, writing this post made think 'Oh I bet I could pick up a granite dial 37mm for a few hundred quid no bother', but looking on eBay all the 1500s that aren't knackered seem to be up for more than you would expect - especially for a 'basic' sportswatch...

Next time we will be looking at the long and extensive history of the S/EL.

To visit the TAG Heuer History Page Menu, click HERE

GALLERY: TAG Heuer 1500 Series Quartz GMT Watch

 

GALLERY: TAG Heuer 1500 GMT Quartz

 

GALLERY: TAG Heuer 1500 GMT Quartz Watch

VIDEO: TAG Heuer 1500 Series Midsize Quartz Watch by Birth Year Watches

 

VIDEO: Value for Money Watches, Comparing TAG Heuer, Tudor and Rolex Quartz watches by The Watch Nerd

 

GALLERY: TAG Heuer 1500 GMT Quartz Watch

FEATURE: The Weight Issue

I've been meaning to do a post about 'weights' for a long time, but never quite got around to it... and then someone asked me what the weight of one particular watch was so I thought, right - let's get it done. Now obviously I don't expect everyone to be fascinated by what each of my watches weighs, but it could be useful if you are looking to buy something 'similar' to one of my watches and actually some of the results came as a bit of a surprise one way or the other.

According to YouTube watch guru Jody (at 'Just One More Watch', a channel I view regularly even though most of the watches are 'micro-brand fluff') the sweet spot for wristwatches is 150g. So I've decided to divide the watches into three categories, the lightweights (0-100gm), the light-middleweights (101-130gm), the middleweights (131-160gm) and the heavyweights (161gm+).

THE LIGHTWEIGHTS

Five of the twenty five watches I have available at the moment (3 of my watches are stuck in TAG Heuer limbo for the forseeable future) fall into the lightweight category.

01. Classic Formula 1 quartz with a resin case on a resin strap (35g)

02. 2000 Series Multigraph quartz on a rubber strap (72g)

03. 3000 Series quartz Steel on a bracelet (92g)

04. 3000 Series quartz Two-Tone on a bracelet (92g)

05. Aquaracer PVD Titanium Calibre 5 on a textile strap (95g)

THE LIGHT-MIDDLEWEIGHTS

06. 4000 Series quartz on a bracelet (105g)

07. Microtimer quartz on a rubber strap (106g)

08. S/EL quartz watch on a bracelet (108g)

09. Carrera Titanium Calibre 16 chronograph on a textile strap (110g)

10. Aquaracer Calibre S quartz chronograph on a rubber strap (113g)

11. 6000 Series quartz on a bracelet (115g)

12. 1500 GMT quartz on a bracelet (116g)

13. Classic Aquaracer quartz on a bracelet (123g)

14. S/EL Two-Tone quartz chronograph on a bracelet (125g)

THE MIDDLEWEIGHTS

15. 2000 Exclusive quartz on a bracelet (131g)

16. Aquagraph Calibre 60 chronograph on a rubber strap (133g)*

17. Pilot quartz chronograph on a bracelet (136g)

18. 6000 Series quartz chronograph on a bracelet (140g)

19. 2000 Exclusive quartz chronograph on a bracelet (143g)

20. Carrera Heuer 01 chronograph on a rubber strap (150g)

21. Kirium quartz chronograph on a bracelet (154g)

22. F1 Kirium quartz chronograph on a bracelet (156g)

THE HEAVYWEIGHTS

23. Link Searacer quartz chronograph on a bracelet (167g)

24. Aquaracer Chronotimer quartz chronograph on a bracelet (176g)

25. Aquaracer 500M quartz on a bracelet (189g)


*My Aquagraph is currently living on a rubber strap and accordingly weighs in at a relatively light 133g, but on the bracelet it would easily have been the heaviest watch here weighing in at a startling 225g, 50% up on the 150g 'sweet spot'.

I hope this post is useful to some of you and particularly to the person who asked about the Link Searacer - thanks for your interest.

GALLERY: TAG Heuer 1500 Series GMT Quartz