TAG HEUER ENTHUSIAST: Lady Formula 1

Showing posts with label Lady Formula 1. Show all posts

Saturday, 7 August 2021

SPOTLIGHT ON: New Arrivals at TAG Heuer Bicester Village

Call the store on (01869) 249008

As expected given their disappearance from the TAG Heuer website recently, the discontinued ladies Formula 1 range is starting to show up at the outlet. Here is a selection of what is on offer along with some other nice pieces for the gentlemen...

Please note, the 41mm Carrera Calibre 16 is also available in the Limited Edition 'Indy 500' variant, though it costs an additional £300 (on a black leather strap) over the basic version. It's worth the extra though if like me you have an aversion to 'fauxtina' as the Indy version has plain white lume on the hands.

WBJ1416.BA0664

32mm Formula 1 quartz

List Price - £1700

Offer Price - £1200

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Ladies Quartz Watch Overview by SimontheWatchGuy

Monday, 24 August 2020

BUYING EXPERIENCE: TAG Heuer 2012 Formula 1 Catalogue ++

I don't know how many times I've seen this red catalogue on eBay, and it's always described simply as a 2012 'catalogue'. Since I have the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 catalogues I've always kind of assumed that it was just one of those two with a different coloured cover, as such I didn't really fancy spending a lot of money to find out it was something I already had.

But then I came across this bundle of catalogues on eBay, comprising the aforementioned red catalogue, the 'Art of Manufacturing' catalogue (which I already have) and a 'Connected' booklet... which I don't have all that much interest in to be honest!

I think the bundle was a 'Buy it Now' for £6.50 or something like that, but as I was feeling particularly stingy that day I decided to make an offer instead and managed to get the lot for £5. Plus £4.10 postage... bargain! Well, bargain if it wasn't the same catalogue with a different cover!

As it turns out, the red catalogue is not one of those other catalogues with a different cover, it's actually a 2012 Formula 1 collection catalogue which I definitely don't already have. There's nothing particularly exciting or unique in there but at the price I paid I can't really grumble can I? Interestingly, I never knew Jessica Machibata was a TAG Heuer ambassador, maybe Jenson just got her a photoshoot?

Friday, 17 July 2020

FEATURE: Five Women's Watches I'd Like to See in Men's Sizes...

When TAG took over the Heuer watch company it didn't really inherit much in the way of women's watches... in fact women's watches were basically smaller versions of the watches on offer to men. Or if you want to look at it another way, most of the range was of a 'unisex' design. While that continues today in some areas, most notably the Aquaracer, for the most part men's and women's watches have split into two distinct and easily recognisable product ranges. Which makes total sense if you think about it; for all that gender is a taboo word these days there's probably not many guys pining for a man-sized white ceramic Formula 1 with a diamond bezel, just as there's probably not too many ladies hoping for a 27mm Aquaracer 500M in black PVD with a rubber strap and lime green detailing!

But there are exceptions. My wife wanted a ladies Carrera Heuer 01 skeleton so much that she ended up buying an Oris Atelier Skeleton because TAG Heuer didn't make anything even remotely similar for ladies (I know right, an ORIS! It disgusts me that that thing is even in my house! I'm joking, it's actually very nice... ), similarly I've seen ladies watches that I've thought 'Now, why don't they make that just a little bit bigger?' So here are five TAG Heuer watches that I would like to see made in men's sizes...

WAH1210.BA0859

My wife owns one of these, but hers has the diamond hour markers. That wouldn't bother me, but for the sake of argument let's assume it would be better to go without. Every time I have to change the date on this for her it always strikes me as a lovely looking watch, but it's very small at 32mm. This version (WAH1210) is actually 37mm, which is bigger than my resin Formula 1 and around the same size as some of my 1990s TAG Heuers, but I think it needs to be bigger to determine that it is in fact a man's watch, cos guys are sensitive about stuff like that! They do make a much larger chronograph version, but I really don't like it all that much, I want this, exactly as it is, but 41mm please.

WBK1314.FC8261

This one may be a surprise, but I'm not set on it having to be purple (although why not if you can carry it off?). The reason this one gets the nod is mainly because of the textured dial; why haven't we seen this in the men's range? In black or blue this would look great, all they need to do is straighten up that date window and make it 39-41mm.

WAY1355.BH0716

Back in the 80s TAG Heuer used to make a men's 3000 Series that wasn't a million miles away from this (see the top of the page). It wasn't ceramic of course, and that would be a massive plus given the state of the PVD on those vintage watches! Unlike the purple Carrera this one doesn't look overtly feminine and merely scaling the whole thing up to 41mm would be perfect. No doubt it wouldn't be cheap, but I'd certainly be interested!

And now my wife has seen this, she wants one... at least she has the choice!

WBG1313.FT6117

This is one from the recent Bicester Village stock list which I showed to my wife; she didn't like it much (probably because it doesn't have any diamonds on it) and said it looks more like a man's watch. I have to say I agree. I think I did try this on and it was almost wearable, but it's still a bit small. Scaled up from 36mm to 40mm+ this would look absolutely fantastic.

WAY1390.BH0716

Finally... it's another ceramic Aquaracer. I did toy with the idea of including the Alter Ego, but I don't think that would fly in 2020 and it's a very old model now. Besides, the Alter Ego was quite a feminine watch, although a Calibre 11 forum member claims to have a 'man-sized' prototype case in his possession (pics please James!).

Back in February I came across a diamond bezel version of this Aquaracer at the Bicester Village store. I couldn't actually get it over my hand to try it on (which is another issue when it comes to possibly wearing smaller watches with deployments), but it looked stunning with a polished bezel base and full ceramic bracelet. Personally I'd be quite happy to go for an upsized version of that, but for the sake of conservatism, let's go with the ceramic bezel in lieu of the sparkles.

Again this one is only 35mm, but at 41mm it would make a perfect pair with the gold bezel version and offer something a little less flamboyant. They could even go for a full ceramic bezel... which rather begs the question why haven't we had a full black ceramic men's Aquaracer yet?

Well, I hope you enjoyed my suggestions, if you have any of your own you could always leave me a comment. My wife suggested we should look at men's watches that she'd like to see in women's sizes, so that may be a post for the future!

Saturday, 11 July 2020

SPOTLIGHT ON: New Arrivals at TAG Heuer Bicester Village (Part 3 of 3)

Phone the store on (01869) 249008

Finally we come to the third and final part of this epic stock update; 50 watches in total, a phenomenal intake of new pieces - I can't wait to pay a visit myself! Apologies to my overseas readers, for whom this is a little bit meaningless - normal service will be resumed tomorrow, thank you for your patience.

For those of you in the UK, if you've seen something which takes your fancy, please contact the store before travelling as numbers may be very limited...

CAS2111.FC6292

41mm Carrera Calibre 16 Automatic

List Price: £3950

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £2765

CR2080.FC6375

42mm Monza 40th Anniversary Calibre 17 Automatic

List Price: £4395

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £3075

CAR201T.FC6406

43mm Carrera Heuer 01 Skeleton

List Price: £4450

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £2670

CAR2090.BH0729

43mm Carrera Heuer 01 Ceramic Skeleton

List Price: £5150

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £3090

*(Currently on sale, pre-owned at Watchfinder for £3950!)*

CAR2A1T.FT6052

45mm Carrera Heuer 01 Skeleton

List Price: £4395

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £2635

CAR2A5B.FT6044

45mm Carrera Heuer 01 Gold Skeleton

List Price: £10550

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £6330

CAZ1111.BA0878

42mm Formula 1 Ceramic Quartz

List Price: £1695

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £1185

WAH1212.BA0859

37mm Formula 1 Quartz with Diamonds

List Price: £1950

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £1365

WAT1313.BA0956

34mm Link Quartz with Diamonds

List Price: £1950

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £1395

WAY1313.BA0915

32mm Aquaracer Quartz with Diamonds

List Price: £1795

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £1255

WAY1351.BD0917

35mm Aquaracer Quartz with Diamonds

List Price: £3395

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £2375

WAY2113.BA0928

41mm Aquaracer Calibre 5 Automatic

List Price: £1795

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £1255

WBD2111.BA0928

41mm Aquaracer Calibre 5 Automatic

List Price: £1795

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £1255

CAR2A91.FT6121

45mm Carrera Heuer 01 Ceramic Skeleton

List Price: £5195

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £3115

CAR2A8A.FT6072

45mm Carrera Heuer 01 Skeleton

List Price: £5150

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £3090

WAR215C.FC6336

39mm Carrera Calibre 5 Automatic

List Price: £2895

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £2025

SBF818001.11FT8041

41mm Connected Smart Watch

List Price: £1095

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £765

SBF8A8014.11FT6081

45mm Connected Smart Watch

List Price: £1250

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE: £875

Friday, 10 July 2020

SPOTLIGHT ON: New Arrivals at TAG Heuer Bicester Village (Part 2 of 3)

Phone the store on (01869) 249008

As I revealed yesterday, TAG Heuer Bicester Village has received a humongous deliver of new stock this week and here, as promised, is the second part of the stock update for your perusal. Some fantastic stuff in store right now, especially the Heuer 01 Carreras at superb prices and one in particular in this post that I would love to get my hands on!