ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Red Bull' Limited Edition Quartz Chronograph

Berry's Jewellers / Nottingham, 12th November 2024

I recently spent a day in Nottingham and was very much looking forward to visiting the TAG Heuer boutique there. Last time I visited the town I had a nice chat with a guy called Brad and I got to try on a 160th Anniversary 'Montreal' Carrera that was still (rather unexpectedly) knocking about. I couldn't quite remember where the store was (Clumber Street it transpired) but when I eventually stumbled on its location it turned out that it had been closed down two months ago. 

I found this quite surprising at the time, but then again we know the watch market has softened considerably lately and so I guess when the lease comes up on these boutiques perhaps WOS/Goldsmiths have to think twice before recommitting to another long lease. I've always thought perhaps they got a bit carried away with all these single brand stores, was there really enough additional business to justify opening all these boutiques? 

Maybe a few here and there, but they seem to have been opening them willy-nilly over the last few years. I can see the logic of opening them in places like Meadowhall in Sheffield, a place with huge footfall, but I struggle to see the viability of opening one in Solihull (for example). I mean, yes there's probably lots of rich doctor types living nearby, but I'm sure they could have been served equally well by an AD.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Oracle Red Bull Racing' Limited Edition Quartz Chronograph

 

Way back in 2021 our good friend Jim Dollares wrote a post for this blog celebrating five years of Red Bull and TAG Heuer's collaboration. I can't believe it's that long ago already... and of course in the meantime there's been several more watches, so maybe that post needs an update Jim? 

Now, with Max Verstappen on the cusp of his fourth consecutive World Driver's Championship, it's time for the latest addition to this little collection (I wonder if anyone actually owns them all, that would be a cool set) and once again it's a 43mm Formula 1 quartz chronograph. 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Red Bull World Champions Edition' Quartz Chronograph

 

CAZ101AY.FC6591

You may remember back in March I wrote about a visit to the Red Bull Formula 1 factory in Milton Keynes that my wife treated me to for Valentine's Day. In it I mentioned that I had attempted and failed miserably to get hands on with one of these 'team only' watches, being told that no one actually wears them in the factory and that everyone had them safely locked away at home.

With little information and only a couple of not so great pictures available I decided to wait a while before writing about the watch and I'm glad I did because now not only do I have the part number for said watch but also some decent photographs to go with it.

FEATURE: Red Bull Racing Factory Visit

 

Now look, I know what you're thinking.... lucky old Rob got to go to the Red Bull factory as a guest of TAG Heuer or Red Bull or some other generous benefactor... isn't life just cushty as a super-famous and important watch influencer? Well, no... haha,  you couldn't be more wrong. Because in actual fact I got to go to the Red Bull factory today because my amazing wife bought me/us (the outrageously expensive) tickets for Valentine's Day. 

Yes indeed, my wife is awesome!

And so on the morning of the 18th of March we headed off to Milton Keynes for a few hours of bumbling around the MK centre. Annoyingly the Goldsmiths was shut for refurbishment, but at least the TAG Heuer boutique was open and they had both the watches we were interested in seeing in stock - namely the green dial Dato and the new 'Polar Blue' Solargraph. I will write about these separately (because I desperately need content and Watches & Wonders is still so, so far away), but the TL:DR is that the Solargraph was disappointing while the Dato wasn't actually as bad as I expected it to be. Go figure...

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Gulf and Red Bull Special Editions by AMJ Watches

SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer's 2022 Watch Releases (Year to Date)

 

Can you believe we're already approaching the middle of 2022? Bah... it will be Christmas again before we know it! With that in mind I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you a little recap of the TAG Heuer watch releases to date (spoiler, it's very Aquaracer heavy!).

Overall we've seen some interesting pieces and very little in the way of genuine duds, but I'm sure there's plenty more to come in the second half of the year and don't forget the watches will all be scored again come December, before we announce the C.O.C.O. Council 'Watch of the Year'.

So then, here we have all the watches released so far in 2022 and as a bonus I've included links to the original 'First Impressions' posts (which of course include the invaluable thoughts of the C.O.C.O. Council).

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Red Bull' 2022 Quartz Chronograph

 

CAZ101AL.BA0842

TAG Heuer Boutique / Beaverbrook, Milton Keynes, 5th March 2022

If you ever find yourself in the MK Centre be sure to take yourself along to the TAG Heuer boutique positioned on one of the less travelled 'crossways' (and also accessible via the Beaverbrooks store on the main thoroughfare). It's not a huge store but when I visited it had a pretty decent selection of pieces, including a good sprinkling of new releases and both versions of the new Formula 1 Red Bull Special Edition.

I actually saw the rubber strap version of this watch in a jeweller's window about a week after it was released, but it took me a few more weeks to actually get it on the wrist and to be honest I probably wouldn't have tried both on but for the fact that when I asked to see it I didn't specify which one I wanted and Louise (who was excellent by the way) pulled out the bracelet version first...

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Red Bull' Special Edition Quartz Chronograph

 

CAZ101AL.FT8052

You may remember that last year I finally got around to trying on the previous version of the Red Bull Formula 1 and came away very disappointed with it; the colours were very muted and it just didn't hang together well in my opinion. And interestingly that model doesn't seem to have had nearly the lifespan of the original (and still the best IMHO), and yet if there's one criticism that can be levelled at the original CAZ1018 it's that there's absolutely nothing 'Red Bull' about it. It's just a very good looking blue and white watch.

No such criticism can be thrown at the CAZ101AL, since this one clearly utilises all the key colours of the Red Bull F1 car, though whether it does so entirely successfully is a matter of some debate. Rarely have I seen such extremes of scoring from the COCO Council, with the watch scoring 9s and 10s, but also 2s and 3s!

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Red Bull' Special Edition Quartz Watch

 

CAZ101AK.BA0842

Ernest Jones / Leamington Spa, 16th October 2021

Way back in February last year I posted my first impressions of the 2020 edition of the Formula 1 Red Bull Special Edition and at the end of that post I said I would reserve judgement until I could get my hands on one... little did I know it would be over eighteen months until I actually got one on my wrist. Of course that was in large part due to the disruption caused by Covid 19, but the big question is was it worth the wait? After all its predecessor, the awesome CAZ1018 is a tough act to follow so the CAZ101AK had some HUGE shoes to fill.

But first, let's address the part number. Way back in February 2020 I commented (about the CAZ101AB) that it was unfortunate that the watch had been released just as Lawrence Stroll announced that he was buying the Racing Point Formula 1 team and therefore the tie up between Red Bull and Aston Martin would come to an end. 'Unfortunate' because the watch had a backplate which read 'Aston Martin Red Bull' and clearly that wasn't going to be acceptable once the parties had gone their separate ways.

GALLERY: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Red Bull Special Edition Quartz Watch by Jim Dollares

 

Instagram @ JimDollares

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 01 Red Bull Edition Chronograph

 

CAR2A1K.BA0703

TAG Heuer Boutique / Bicester Village, 19th April 2021

I can still remember the first time I saw a Red Bull Drive Timer Carrera Heuer 01; it was in a Goldsmiths in Milton Keynes (not too far away from the Red Bull Formula 1 Team factory - four or five kilometers according to Google maps) and my abiding memory is thinking 'I wish my Heuer 01 had those Arabic numerals on the dial'. Later that year TAG Heuer also released the 'Drive Timer' in red and black with those same markings and a black leather/rubber strap, which I tried on in a Goldsmiths on Oxford Street and very reluctantly handed back before I left.

For a long time I really wanted to pick up the red/black Drive Timer but it was always going to be too similar to the original Heuer 01 I already owned. This blue bezelled Red Bull was different enough to warrant consideration and made it onto my wants list for quite a long time... but then the opportunity for a Calibre16 titanium Carrera with a carbon dial and these same numerals presented itself and ultimately it was too good a deal to turn down. After that the Red Bull Carrera kind of fell off of my radar, until now...

One of the things I really love about visiting the TAG Heuer Outlet at Bicester Village is that you never know what you are going to find. Even on this visit, despite having recently been updated on the general stock, I came across the really cool Harrods Limited Edition Autavias which I didn't know they had in. And while yes it could be argued that a lot of the stock is what's 'left over' and thus not always the most desirable pieces... in fact there's plenty of good stuff there too that's just come to the end of its natural life cycle.

Such is the current situation with the Heuer 01 Carreras, there's plenty to choose from including special editions like this Red Bull and also Manchester United (three varieties of those if you are a follower), not to mention models with gold lugs and bezels and solid dial versions too. 43 and 45 mm models are available and of course the discounts ease the 'pain' of wearing last season's watches! Besides, where else can you buy a brand new TAG Heuer F1 Kirium or Kirium quartz chronograph with a two year warranty?

The Red Bull Carrera came in two configurations, either on a bracelet or on a leather/rubber strap, however they were not the same watch; the bracelet version is a CAR2A1K while the leather version is a CAR2A1N. Looking at photographs of the two, it's easy to see that while this one was entirely fabricated from stainless steel the CAR2A1N has a black PVD titanium case - as to whether the bracelet and strap are interchangeable I'm not sure, but the strap version has different (black) end links so I would have my doubts. 

I've always been rather anti 45mm Heuer 01 Carreras on bracelets, but I think time may have softened my stance. Previously I always found the 'step' from lug to bracelet too severe (something the strap works with, rather than against) but today I barely noticed it - perhaps I was too busy staring at the shiny blue ceramic bezel, the cool skeleton dial and always winning white lumed Arabic numerals?

Like all 45mm Carreras you will need a fairly sizeable wrist to carry this off (for reference my wrist is somewhere slightly north of 7.1/2") and if you are on the fence I would definitely take the strap as it definitely wears easier than the bracelet. That said, this felt just fine on me and if I'd had £2500 burning a hole in my pocket I might have felt inclined to take it home. Sadly I came home with a couple of new straps instead, but you know... maybe next time.

I know the skeleton dial Carreras are not everyone's cup of tea and that's fine, but I do find it slightly bizarre that people criticise them for being illegible. I've never had a problem reading mine and to me the hour and minute hands stick out a mile in these (admittedly not my best work) photos. And while this stainless steel version is surely heavier than the titanium alternative, again I didn't really notice the difference. It's certainly apparent you're wearing it but it's definitely no 'Aquagraph' in the weight department.

All in all then, despite reaching the end of it's cycle, the Red Bull Carrera Heuer 01 still has a lot to recommend it and I still really love that TAG Heuer refrained from putting anything on the dial to mark it out as a 'Red Bull' watch (if only they'd taken the same approach with their Manchester United watches...). It really doesn't need it, those in the know will spot it a mile off and to anyone else it's just a really nice looking watch with a cool blue ceramic bezel.

Currently this is in stock at the Bicester Village store reduced from £4950 down to £2500, if you are in the market please call the store on (01869) 249008 to check availability and/or arrange a UK delivery. I didn't notice the leather strap version in the store, but if you are interested they may be able to help you. It's always worth asking; someone enquired about the awesome looking but impossible to find WAY208C Aquaracer the other day and they managed to find one in Germany... if you don't ask, you don't get!

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Chronograph 'Red Bull Aston Martin' Special Edition by Bobzy Bounce

 

FEATURE: Five Years of TAG Heuer and Red Bull Racing

Today we have a guest post from our Swedish friend and general watch pest Jim Dollares!

Follow Jim on INSTAGRAM at 'jimdollares'.

Five years of TAG Heuer and Red Bull partnership

TAG Heuer (and Heuer) has a long history of sponsoring Formula 1, going back all the way to the early 1970’s when Jack Heuer made his famous deal with Ferrari. For a long time TAG Heuer was partnered with McLaren and today we take it for granted to see luxury watch brands associating themselves with Formula 1 and other prestigious sports. Still, that doesn't make it any less special in my eyes. I love the glamour around Formula 1 and seeing TAG Heuer, IWC and other reputable Swiss brands in Formula 1 environments just increases my desire for them. I am a total sucker for marketing, I know, but I couldn't care less.

This year will mark the five year anniversary of the most recent Formula 1 sponsorship for TAG Heuer, which is of course the one with Red Bull Racing. One of the first watches that really brought my attention to the brand was in fact the first watch released to celebrate this partnership, I'm talking obviously about the CAZ1018 Formula 1 model. TAG partnering up with Red Bull makes me very happy since my favourite watchmaker is TAG Heuer and my favourite driver happens to be Max Verstappen. Max has been driving for Red Bull since May 2016 when he made his debut, and won the race, in the Spanish Grand Prix on the 'Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya'. Funny detail is that the first F1 race I ever went to was in fact the Spanish Grand Prix on that same track and I just happened to be wearing my beloved CAZ1018 cheering for Max, what a lovely coincidence!

In the Formula 1 paddock we have seen some different TAG Heuer watches during the years and the drivers have been wearing both Formula 1 models and Carreras. During the 2019 season team principal Christian Horner was seen wearing the Autavia Heuer 02 chronograph (CBE2110) during most race weekends and during the 2020 season he was rocking a black dial calibre 16 Carrera in stainless steel.

THE WATCHES

Robert has already published some great coverage of the timepieces released from TAG Heuer under the Red Bull partnership (please find some links later on in case you missed any of these) but I wanted to give an overview of all Red Bull watches and share with you my personal thoughts on them.

CAZ1018.BA0842                                           CAZ1018.FC8213

2016 Tag Heuer Formula 1 Red Bull Racing (CAZ1018)

The first watch released to celebrate the new partnership between TAG Heuer and Red Bull Racing was this non limited special edition watch. It is no secret that this watch is one of my absolute favourite watches ever. With it’s matt blue dial and contrasting white sub dials combined with red details and a blue aluminium bezel, it gives off a sporty yet sophisticated impression. I think TAG Heuer made the right choice not to put any Red Bull logo on the dial and settled for making a special caseback with Red Bull Racing engraving. I am sure that this watch will age very well and be as sporty and good looking in 30 years as it is now.

CAZ101B.FT8028

2016 Tag Heuer Formula 1 Max Verstappen Special Edition (CAZ101B)

It did not take long for TAG Heuer to release their first Max Verstappen watch, which was an interesting move considering that Max at the time had only been in the sport for a couple of months when this watch was released. Sure, Max did win his first grand prix and looking back it was a brilliant move to produce special releases in Max’s name, since he is and has been one of the hottest names in Formula 1 for the last couple of years. 

Special characteristic of this watch is the orange 18 in the tachymeter scale, referring to Max’s age at the time. The orange strap and details on the watch are a tribute to the Netherlands, Max’s home country. This watch was only sold in the Dutch market, limited to 500 pieces and I imagine that there are many members of the “orange army” (common nickname for Max Verstappen’s fans wearing orange at the Formula 1 races) were quick to grab one. I just wish I would have had the sense to buy it myself.

CAZ101G.FT8030

2017 TAG Heuer Formula 1 No.33 Max Verstappen Limited Edition (CAZ101G)

Following the success of the first Max Verstappen release, TAG Heuer introduced this watch in 2017. Same recipe but different colours basically. A bit lazy and one can't help but thinking that this was just an easy and quick cash grab for TAG. Unique details on this watch are the red inner minute scale going to 33 minutes and a discrete black 33 printed next to it, this obviously a tribute to Max’s racing number 33. The 2017 edition was limited to 533 pieces and was only sold in the Netherlands. I can’t help but wonder if those who missed the first release and bought this one will always feel a bit sorry and wishing that they had the orange original instead?

CAR2A1K.BA0703                                        CAR2A1N.FT6100

2017 TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer01 Red Bull Limited Edition (CAR2A1K/CAR2A1N)

For those who want something a bit more bold and ‘in your face’, TAG Heuer released this 45 mm skeleton Carrera in 2017. It might be way too big for some of us but the design is great, especially on the unique blue leather strap with red stitching, designed specifically for this watch. The Heuer01 is a great modern movement that suits the spirit of this timepiece splendidly. For those of us following Formula 1, this Carrera has been seen many times worn by Max Verstappen during Formula 1 weekends, which to me, makes it extra special.

CAZ101U.BA0843

2018 TAG Heuer F1 Max Verstappen 33 Edition (CAZ101U)

The third Verstappen watch was limited to 1300 pieces but unlike the previous two it was not limited to the Dutch market. Obvious unique features of this one are the big 33 on the 6 o’clock subdial and the small stripe with the Dutch flag colours on the dial. This is probably my least favourite Verstappen edition. I found an old post I wrote when this watch was released where I said that “this feels like a cheap mix of old TAG Heuer stock designed by a little boy named Max”. 

A bit harsh perhaps but I think there is too much going on with this one and it definitely looks as if TAG Heuer took Max to their warehouse and told him that ‘these are the spare parts we have available for your next watch, feel free to mix and match’. Max picked what he wanted and said that he would also like his number 33 on the dial. The chief designer might have been on vacation at the time so the design was approved and went into production. It would be interesting to know how quickly these sold but I guess it was not difficult to find 1300 hardcore Max Verstappen fans happy to cash up for this one just because of it being a Max Verstappen watch.

SBF8A8028.11EB0147

2018 TAG Heuer Connected Modular 45 Aston Martin Red Bull SE (SBF8A8028)

OK I have to say it. Smartwatches are definitely not my thing but we can’t cover TAG Heuer and Red Bull without mentioning this special edition of the Connected modular 45. From what I understand this one has a special digital Red Bull racing face that the user can use to showcase time on the display. It also comes on a very nice looking blue leather strap with red stitching, a bit similar to the one seen on the Heuer01 Red Bull Carrera. 

Besides this I think this smartwatch is similar to the other Connected Modular 45’s, meaning that you have to charge it every day, be careful not to use it too much to avoid running out of battery, configure the battery, never charge it unnecessarily long (remove charger as soon as it reaches 100% not to destroy the battery) and make sure to change watch faces daily to avoid so called screen burn. I think that pretty much says it all, do yourself a favour and get one of the other Red Bull watches to avoid hassle.

CAZ2018.BA0970

2019 TAG Heuer Formula 1 Calibre 16 Max Verstappen Special Edition (CAZ2018)

Enough about the digital computer watches. This one is a whole lot more interesting since it was TAG Heuer’s first mechanical watch made in collaboration with Max Verstappen. Being limited to only 333 pieces meant it sold out extremely fast. My absolute favourite feature of this watch is the red Max Verstappen engraving on the bezel, which looks superb. It is yet another sporty home run from TAG Heuer but it bothers me a bit that the caseback seems to be missing information about the watch being limited to 333 pieces, it only says “Max Verstappen 4th limited edition”. I know TAG Heuer has cheapened out on individually numbering most of their limited editions but why not even put the total number of limited pieces on it?

CAZ101AB.BA0842

2020 TAG Heuer Formula 1 Red Bull Racing Special Edition (CAZ101AB)

In 2020 we saw the release of the new Formula 1 replacing the beloved CAZ1018 and the new one is similar but yet very different. This time around the color scheme made more sense and seems to match Red Bull’s branding. Still I can't shake the feeling that the “original” CAZ1018 is the winner purely from a design perspective. The 2020 version has a very similar caseback but with an updated Red Bull Racing logotype, including the Aston Martin name. When I first saw photos of this one I was pretty certain that I would pick it up just because it would be cool to have both Red Bull Racing Formula 1’s but now when some time has passed I think I will skip this one. Getting a second one that is similar but a bit worse will probably not be something I wear very much anyway.

THE BOXES

We can’t cover TAG Heuer and Red Bull without talking about the boxes. Oh my, the boxes. These are incredibly nice and well made and I especially appreciate the steel plate with the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team logo engraved.

THE FUTURE

I really hope that the partnership between TAG Heuer and Red Bull will continue for many more years to come. Hopefully we get to see many good Red Bull Racing branded watches in the future and while I am at it wishing for things, please TAG give us another Max Verstappen homerun as awesome as the CAZ101B from 2016!

Jim Dollares

Read more posts about TAG Heuer Red Bull Racing watches:

https://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2020/02/first-impressions-tag-heuer-formula-1.html

http://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2019/10/first-impressions-tag-heuer-formula-1.html

http://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2017/07/first-impressions-formula-one-quartz.html

https://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2017/06/on-wrist-red-bull-edition-carrera-heuer.html

http://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2016/10/first-impressions-formula-one-quartz.html

http://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2016/10/first-impressions-formula-one-quartz_29.html

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Aston Martin Red Bull' Special Edition by Edgar the Jeweller

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Aston Martin Red Bull F1' Special Edition

CAZ101AB.BA0842

Those of you with an interest in Formula 1 will no doubt have heard the news last week that Lawrence Stroll, father of F1 driver Lance and owner of the 'Racing Point' (nee Force India, Stryker, Midland F1, Jordan, etc) racing team, purchased a significant interest in the Aston Martin car company recently and as such his F1 team will be branded 'Aston Martin' from 2021 onwards.

This was obviously bound to have consequences for Aston Martin's association with the Red Bull team (and by extension of course TAG Heuer) and sure enough, it was announced pretty much straight away that Aston Martin's involvement with Red Bull would come to an end at the close of the 2020 Formula 1 season. Now I'm not sure if TAG Heuer's involvement with Aston Martin is entirely dependent on the Red Bull tie up or not, after all there have been 'Aston Martin' Formula 1 and Carrera watches released over the last couple of years which had seemingly nothing to do with Red Bull; but if Racing Point have a watch sponsor or if Red Bull attract another car maker it could certainly complicate things going forward. 

Strangely, barely a few days after this bombshell dropped, we now see the launch of the 2020 'Aston Martin Red Bull Formula 1' quartz chronograph, which could of course be entirely coincidental I suppose... but which does somehow feel a little forced. And while I say the 'launch' of the CAZ101AB... it doesn't seem to have launched so much as just appeared overnight on several watch sites alongside another new Formula 1 and a brown dial Aquaracer, which seems a bit odd really given the high profile of the TAG Heuer / Red Bull sponsorship deal.

Could it perhaps be that Mr Stroll's investment and subsequent announcement has caught TAG Heuer off guard and the imminent end of the Aston Martin deal means they need to shift these watches pronto before the deal expires and they have to stop selling them? I guess that rather depends on what is engraved on the back plate, does it say Red Bull Formula 1 or does it say Aston Martin Red Bull F1? I guess we'll find out once some pictures of the backplate surface, but at present I can't find any. 

CAZ1018.BA0842

Okay, before we look at the new watch it's worth mentioning the piece it effectively replaces, the venerable CAZ1018.BA0842. Hard as it is to believe, that watch is now nearly four years old and truthfully I would have been happy if they had just kept on making it. I think it's one of the best looking TAG Heuer Formula 1s of recent years and I have considered buying one on several occasions, albeit as yet it has not come to pass. Actually, I found one at an incredible price (£650) a few months ago on the Est1897 website but I was too slow and somebody else snagged it instead, which was a real shame. 

I recall writing a post where I floated the idea of buying a CAZ1018 and paring it with the 'Link' bracelet found on the Senna CAZ1015; I think that would look fantastic... but obviously it's not something TAG Heuer are likely to put together as they strongly associate the Link bracelet (through it's S/EL heritage) with Ayrton Senna and as such it wouldn't be right for them to put it on a Red Bull watch (but that doesn't mean you or I can't).

So the CAZ101AB has a tough act to follow and while the two watches give an impression of looking quite different, when you look at the details they haven't really changed all that much. It's still the same 43mm case, with a quartz chronograph movement and the main difference is that they've substituted black subdials for the white ones on the original and made the white outer ring around the dial blue; they've also made the 'Tachymetre' text on the bezel red instead of white and given the watch a bright yellow second hand, which may or may not have anything to do with Aston Martin... I've already seen it called 'Aston Martin' yellow in the marketing blurb on a jeweller's website, but the truth is that Red Bull have always had yellow trim on their racing cars so that may be somewhat open to interpretation if you ask me!

Black and blue is a bit of a strange colour combination, it can work, especially if the blue is on the lighter end of the spectrum but we have seen a couple of F1's with a similar colour combination in recent times (one of which was a very limited edition piece) and they did look okay. I think it's a bit of an acquired taste though and I don't think it will have the obvious appeal of the previous watch. Maybe that zing of yellow will help though... 

The white lume on the hands certainly stands out though, perhaps giving this watch the legibility edge over it's predecessor, and I must admit I do like that (very clearly visible) chronograph second hand. The central metallic blue dial looks a little more 'luxurious' than the flat blue of the CAZ1018 as well, which is ironic really given the Red Bull Racing team's choice to use matt paint on their cars! It's always been a pet niggle of mine actually, that the blue on the Red Bull watches (and that absolutely includes the Heuer 01 Carrera) isn't really the right blue at all, admittedly this new one looks like it's moving in the right direction, but it still needs a touch more purple in it and it needs to be a few tones darker too if you ask me.

Price for this one (according to the websites that do have it) is £1350; I know our CAZ1018 owning Swedish friend Jim Dollares is already weighing up the possibility of adding this to his collection... and I guess it would make a nice little 2 piece set after all; but for me I think I will reserve judgement until I get to see one close up, you just never know until you get it on the wrist.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Review by Edinburgh Watch Company

VIDEO: 2016 Formula One Red Bull Special Edition Review by Doug Hindman

VIDEO: Formula One Red Bull Special Edition Review by Govberg Watches

ON THE WRIST: Red Bull Edition Carrera Heuer 01 Chronograph

CAR2A1N.FT6100

Goldsmiths / Milton Keynes 15th June 2017

Another surprise for me today, was seeing the brand new Red Bull edition Heuer 01 Carreras in Goldsmiths. The salesman in the shop told me they were the second place in the country to get them, don't know if that's true or not but I haven't seen them anywhere else yet and I noticed they also had the Tudor Pelagos LHD in the window which is as rare as rocking horse poo (my friend Rich has one) so Goldsmiths at the MK must be the place to be!

I tried on both the leather/rubber strap version and the bracelet and I would say that my initial impression from the original photographs holds up, the leather strap is definitely my choice, and it looks even nicer than I thought it would. Indeed, I thought it could go either way in the flesh, but it's a lovely looking strap and the blue much better compliments the bezel whereas the bracelet comes off a little bland to my eyes.

CAR2A1K.BA0703

As with all bracelet versions of the Heuer 01 Carrera, there's that clunky 'step' transition to deal with as well, and it doesn't look any better here than on any of the others. The leather strap follows the contoured approach of the original rubber and blends in to the case in a much more aesthetically pleasing manner, I can't see why anyone would choose the bracelet personally.

The dial looks great, the white numerals really give the watch a completely different look to the original skeleton, but I have to say the lack of a border around the date is perplexing. Compare with my (original) Heuer 01 and the date is much less clear at a glance. Such a simple thing, it's almost as if they 'forgot' to put one on - surely not?

It's easy to think that these two watches are the same piece on two different straps, but clearly they are not. The leather strap version is titanium and features the same black coated case and red line as on the original skeleton watch. The bracelet version is steel all over and I have to say I don't think the silver case does it any favours either, it just seems rather dull in comparison. Also the pushers on the titanium version look better to me as well, but that could just be because it looks more like my watch.

Both watches are 45mm and the bracelet version retails at £4550, while the leather version is offered at £4400. I would take the leather version even if those prices were reversed to be honest, it just seems by far the more exciting watch and the blue bezel just works so much better with the black case and leather strap.

CAV511A.BA0902

I spent a good half an hour in Goldsmiths chatting to the salesman, who for once actually knew what he was talking about. I mean he didn't know that the black case meant it was titanium - but he knew the difference between a Grand Carrera and Microtimer, He also owns a Kirium so he can't be all bad! He also told me never to buy a Monaco Sixty Nine because they are impossible to service without scratching them and the rubber on the back case leaves marks on the glass... so now you know!

Out of the blue he asked if I had a Grand Carrera, and then produced a pre-owned CAV511A on a bracelet, the very watch I've been bleating on about these last few months (the one that's in my local jewellers) which was being sold for £2850 or thereabouts. And do you know what, I tried it on and I really didn't like it at all. How bizarre. Completely gone off it, which leaves me wondering what my next purchase will be because I had pretty much sold myself on that watch and now I don't know what it might be...

Or even if it will be a TAG Heuer. I'm flirting with Breitling, and while I haven't settled on a piece that is to my taste and price bracket as yet, I did leave Milton Keynes with two Breitling catalogues courtesy of a nice lady in Leslie Davies. Not sure the Breitling for Bentleys are for me though.