PRICE LIST: TAG Heuer Price List (June 2024)

 

Once again it's time to scour the TAG Heuer website (and beyond) to bring you an update on the pricing situation and also a quick look at what's new and what's been deleted. As usual, prices in blue have changed since the January price list, and models coloured red are new additions. This time I've included a few items without prices; these are generally non-UK limited editions such as the Qatar and Kuwait Carreras and the Australia and Shanghai Carrera tourbillons, this is just to note their existence really, in case at some point someone uses these price lists for reference.

As far as what has been removed from the website, perhaps most notable are the black and silver Aquaracer quartz chronographs. I can't say I'm that surprised as they never seemed likely to be that popular. You can still get them in the blue and lilac/blue dial variants though. Also the black DLC Autavia flyback seems to have gone, the base 43mm Aquaracers (to make way for the new 42mm models obviously) and also the not that old really white/blue bezel GMT Aquaracers. Again, not sure anyone will miss those...

The yellow highlighted CBN2A1H Porsche Racing Carrera has gone too, as have both the 42mm Year of the Dragon Carreras and the previous 44mm Year of the Rabbit Carrera. Obviously the 2023 Indy 500 has made way for the new version and the Super Mario Formula 1 Tourbillon has also disappeared. Finally, not surprisingly, the limited edition CBL2181 'Night Driver' Monaco has gone too... 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Calibre 5 Watch by Shah Lusso

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre TH31-03 COSC GMT Watches

 

I actually saw and tried these on last week, but I didn't revise my 'First Impressions' post as I think it's more interesting to document how opinions can change once you go 'hands on'. An 'On the Wrist' post for these (with pictures) will follow in July.

Last week we looked at the new Aquaracer three handers, I guess we could have included these in the same post but I think eight watches at once is a bit much, especially when it comes to organizing the comments from the Council of Considered Opinion. 

So like the three handers these new GMTs are also a chronometer certified and share the same new 42mm diameter / 48mm lug-to-lug case. They also have the new 'draped fabric looking wavy dials' (© Aquagraph), albeit the tones are a little darker here than on the three simple three handed versions.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Carrera Dato 'Green' Calibre TH20-07 Chronograph

FEATURE: The WAJ Series Aquaracers

You know, at the start of the year I really hoped to write a lot more posts about the 'History' of the Aquaracer, but unfortunately we're in June already and aside from the top tens this is the first one I've managed to find time to complete. The funny thing is that I made the header above months ago, and naturally I chose the WAJ that I owned to illustrate the series... but since then I've actually sold that one and now have an almost identical WAJ with an orange dial. Seeing it here it makes me miss it a little, probably the first time that's ever happened when I've sold a watch, but I really couldn't keep both no matter how cool the WAJ Aquaracers are.

VIDEO: Up Close With The 2024 TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph by Hodinkee

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Aquaracer 42mm Calibre TH31-00 COSC Dive Watches

 

Years ago I wondered if TAG Heuer would ever take the 'wavy' dial found on the ladies Aquaracer and put it in the 43mm models. I didn't think they ever would and one of the reasons for that was that I thought it looked quite 'feminine'. So I was quite surprised when the new 42mm Aquaracers came out a couple of weeks ago to see them sporting exactly that dial... well, surprised is perhaps putting it politely, because for me this is a MASSIVE wrong turn.

Allow me to explain. Regular readers may remember at the end of last year my wife bought a blue 'wavy dial' two-tone Aquaracer from Watchfinder; when it arrived she rang me at work to tell me and was very excited, saying it looked 'beautiful'. So when I got home I was put in the rather unfortunate position of opening the box and thinking 'Naaaah'. Not only did I not like it much, I really didn't think it was a watch that my wife would like, so I was confused by her excitement. But what could I say...? She seemingly loved it, my job was to inspect the watch for faults not to question her judgment (a no-win situation is what I call that!).

VIDEO: I Bought My First TAG Heuer by Britt Pearce

 

OWNED: TAG Heuer Kirium Quartz Chronograph

 

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Aside from a few photos (back when I was regularly posting photos here on the blog) I've only written one post about my beautiful plum-dial Kirium that I bought all the way back in December 2020. As is so often the way with me, I buy a watch and then it sits in the box for a 'long time' before I become comfortable with the idea of wearing it. I don't know why that is, but it's a common recurring theme, particularly with new watches or old watches that are in 'as-new' condition, which this certainly was.

I think I am getting a little better as it only took me about six months to start wearing my green dial Aquaracer regularly, even though it annoys me that the clasp is already marked and the polished centre links are already showing signs of desk rash. If only I could be more like our Swedish friend Jim Dollares who lives for today and to hell with tomorrow... and who loves to taunt me by sending photos of his scratched up clasps (as if it's something to be proud of).

VIDEO: KITH Heuer Formula 1: Worth the Hype? by Casual Watch Reviews

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Chronograph

When the red, green and yellow versions of this watch were released back in September 2022 I can honestly say I didn't like them very much.... and unfortunately when I got to see them in the flesh I liked them even less. There's just something about the dials that looks cheap and tacky, and to my eyes those colours don't sit well with the black subdials either. All round they were a total fail for me and they didn't score that well with the C.O.C.O. either, collectively scoring in the mid 5's (which I thought was quite generous honestly). But I did like the rubber straps and until I got the bracelet for my orange dial Formula 1 I was waiting on them making a black one so that I could buy it for that (which they still haven't as it goes...).

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Carrera Twin Time by Random Rob

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Monaco 'Sparks' Calibre TH20-00 Chronograph

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Well the releases really are coming thick and fast now aren't they? I'll be doing a half year review soon and that's going to take a little while to pull together given we're already up to nearly fifty watches so far this year! Apologies for the lateness of this post, it should have been up first thing this morning but I'm a bit snowed under with decorating my house and last night I ended up going out and buying a watch - which seems like the best possible excuse I could ever have for not writing my post on time, haha. 

More on that anon, but today we are looking at the new Monaco 'Sparks' edition, which you may be slightly surprised to hear isn't a limited edition, or even a special edition - which definitely seems like a change of approach from TAG Heuer. Maybe the whole 'limited edition' thing has run its course now... though I'm sure you won't find these in every high street jeweller, more likely these will be reserved for the boutiques and possibly some of the higher end authorised distributors.

VIDEO: All Ten Kith Heuer Formula 1 Re-issues by Time & Tide

BUYING EXPERIENCE: TAG Heuer Aquaracer 'Orange Dial' Quartz Watch

 

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Well there I was minding my own business, wondering if Watches & Wonders was going to bring any surprises or indeed if I would actually buy any watches in 2024... when eBay sent me an email telling me to check out 127 new TAG Heuers on their website. Now this is hardly an uncommon event and I don't know what made me click on it this time, but half way down the page I spied something I hadn't been actively looking to buy, but which had always been at the back of my mind ever since I first saw it six or seven years ago. At the same time it was something I really wasn't prepared to pay top dollar for, simply because I already had the exact same watch but with a light grey dial (and let's not forget the 2021 orange dial Formula 1).

The auction had a couple of days to go and the watch was ridiculously low, like £250 or something. So I placed a cheeky bid of £290 and was outbid straight away. Okay, time to sit back and see how it plays out. I mean clearly this watch wasn't going to sell for £300 or anything close, but no sense in driving the price up too early.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Link Calibre 17 Chronograph by Watch Once Over

 

FEATURE: My Top Ten Aquaracers by Jim Dollares

Anyone who knows Jim Dollares knows that he LOVES the Aquaracer. I mean, really LOVES it. And so it makes me very happy today to be able to bring you Jim's top ten Aquaracers; a list that has been literally months in the making. Because you see, the Aquaracer is teh serious business and not something to be taken lightly.🤣 No but seriously, when it comes to the Aquaracer I don't think anyone is quite as invested as Jim, so this is definitely a labour of love. Take it away Jimbo...

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Aquaracer COSC Collection 2024 by Time and Tide

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre TH20-00 'Monaco Boutique' Limited Edition Chronograph

 

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When the Monaco skeletons came out last year I was more than a little surprised that they hadn't made a version of the 'red' highlighted one with a black case. I mean, it was a no-brainer wasn't it? So when I saw this the other day I wasn't exactly 'surprised' that they'd made it, but I was a little surprised that they'd wasted such an obvious winner on a fifty piece limited edition. Oh well... at EUR15,100 it's a little out of my price range anyway. 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Aquaracer 'Chronometer' Watch by Brent Miller Time

 

BUYING EXPERIENCE: TAG Heuer Aquaracer 'Two-Tone' Calibre 5 Watch by Jim Dollares

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Today we are joined by Sweden's number one Aquaracer enthusiast - Jim Dollares; a man who now counts two Aquaracers in his allegedly 'three-piece' watch collection... alongside his 160th Anniversary Carrera, his original Formula 1 Red Bull quartz, his Breitling Colt and several other less exotic pieces. But never mind all that, today Jim's here to tell you about his latest (and greatest?) purchase, the long anticipated WBD2120.

JIM: I've always had a soft spot for yellow gold two-tone watches with a blue dial and my first proper watch love was the TAG Heuer Aquaracer. It is no wonder why the WBD2120 turned into an obsession of mine after its release in 2020. For various reasons, mainly money, it took approximately four years for it to finally find a home in my three piece watch collection.

"It looks so douchebaggy. In a good way!"

Yes, this was what I told the sales person in London last year, when I was able to try it on. Afterwards I regretted deeply that I hadn't purchased it then and there but budget wise I had not calculated to spend that amount at that point. Plus, a couple of months prior I had just bought another Aquaracer, the Ice Diver (WBP201C).

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Monaco Heuer 02 by Average Joe Watch Reviews

 

BUYING EXPERIENCE: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Quartz Ladies Watch

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Way back in 2021 my wife and I visited the TAG Heuer outlet at Bicester Village and she tried on a WAY1355 Aquaracer. She absolutely loved it, but she had some reservations about the highly polished rose gold bezel and how resilient it might be. In addition, at that time the watch was on sale for about £2100, which was probably reduced from about a list price of about £3000/3200 - undoubtedly a very decent discount, but still a lot of money to spend on a diamondless quartz piece unless you're absolutely besotted. 

Fast forward three years and watch prices have gone crazy (although for how much longer I wonder?), TAG Heuer's website now shows this watch at £4350, though it is out of stock and, I presume, discontinued. However, the price of the watch at Bicester Village has actually dropped significantly to a frankly incredible £1300, which means it's basically being sold at 70% off the current website price. Some deals are truly too good to miss out on, and once I noticed this and I sent it to my wife to look at we quickly arranged a Saturday morning trip to the Bicester store.

VIDEO: Interview with Julien Tornare at Watches & Wonders 2024 by Watch Advisor

 

ON THE WRIST: KITH Heuer Formula 1 Re-Issue Quartz Watch

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TAG Heuer Outlet / Bicester Village, 11th May 2024

Now don't get excited... clearly they didn't have KITH Heuer Formula 1s for sale at the Bicester Village outlet store, but one of the staff there was wearing one and so luckily I managed to get a quick look at it. Unfortunately I couldn't actually try it on as it had been sized to fit the owner and it wouldn't go over my hand, but even so, it was great to actually see one in person and I feel like I can now make a much more informed judgement on the quality, etc.

To be honest, this particular model wasn't my favourite of the ten pieces released, but even so I can see that it's well made and I do think the 'eggshell' dial works even if it is 'pretending' to be a lume dial. The problem presumably is that back in the day these were tritium dials and of course they can't use tritium anymore. Could they have achieved the same effect with a creamy Superluminova? I guess, but then it would have cost more and the pricing structure would have been even more complicated than it already was, so maybe this was the best solution - even if it was a compromise.

VIDEO: KITH Heuer Formula One Box Set by Time & Tide

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 02 'ThreeC' Limited Edition

 

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Okay... hands up anyone who didn't immediately think 'Zenith Daytona' the second they clapped eyes on this one for the first time. Anyone? Didn't think so... but is that such a bad thing? The Zenith Chronomaster Sport is a fine looking watch after all and offers a very attractive (cheaper) alternative to the overpriced and under-sized Rolex Daytona. Perhaps we could say the same about this one?

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Carrera 'Skipper' Calibre TH20-06 Chronograph by Brent Miller Time

FEATURE: Are TAG Heuer About to Drop a New 'Senna' S/EL?

 

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Earlier this year Revolution Watches released a video interview with new TAG Heuer CEO Julien Tornare in which when asked about the 'Senna watch' he replied 'Yes, we're going to take care of that'. What, exactly, do we think was meant by that? 

Until recently I would have said any notion that TAG Heuer might be about to resurrect the S/EL was 'pie in the sky' at best, but following the pretty faithful re-release of the classic Formula 1... well why not? After all, the Link is a dead watch walking at this point, so maybe TAG Heuer does what the watch industry always does these days - looks backwards and releases a 'new' S/EL? Well maybe not, maybe that's pushing the idea a little far... surely it must be. But still the question remains, what was Julien alluding to when he made that comment?

VIDEO: TAG Heuer x Kith Formula 1 - Retro & Hot by Adrian Barker

 

ON THE WRIST: Heuer Autavia 'Viceroy' Heuer 02 Chronograph

 

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TAG Heuer Outlet / Bicester Village, 11th May 2024

The Heuer 02 Autavia was a funny old thing. Launched in 2017, the watch was warmly received but at 42mm it was probably a little large for the Heuer types it was aimed at, and it was also a bit on the thick side. Despite that the watch seemed to have a lot of fans and TAG Heuer released several variations in quick succession including the UAE L/E, the Watches of Switzerland L/E, the Orange Boy L/E and this particular one, the 'Viceroy' Edition.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Carrera Twin Time by The Watch Village

 

FEATURE: I Guess We Have 'Kithsteria' to Blame For This?

 

One of the COCO members drew my attention to this absolute garbage on eBay a couple of days ago. I can't quite believe it, but someone actually bought this for £955. It was listed as NOS, which is an absolute joke. There's damage to the bezel, there appears to be a chip in the glass above the date and another scuff on the left hand side over the minute hand. 

There's also a nice juicy scratch on the backplate and that strap... what the hell is that strap??? Some cheap garbage aftermarket strap with a scratched up buckle.

Jesus. They could have had my mint all black Formula 1 for half that money. 

FEATURE: My Top Ten Aquaracers by Abrod520

Today we are continuing our series dedicated to celebrating the wonderful TAG Heuer Aquaracer, and this time we have another COCO Council member (Abrod520/Adam) who has stepped up to the plate to declare his Top 10 Aquaracers. I was surprised to see that Adam didn't include the 'Tribute to 844' which I remembered him buying, but when I checked with him to see if he'd forgotten about it he said that he had sold it as the initial attraction wore off. Well, you know, it happens...

Here then is Adam's Top 10, sans the 'Tribute to 844'...

VIDEO: KITH Heuer Formula 1 is a Joke by Just One More Watch

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: KITH Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Re-Edition Watches

 

It's long been rumoured that TAG Heuer were going to release some kind of 'classic' Formula 1 piece this year and fair play to them they did an amazing job of keeping it under wraps until just a few days before release when it emerged that the new watch was going to be a collaboration with Ronnie Fieg's 'Kith' brand. Like most people on this side of the pond (I suspect), I'd never heard of them. But then as a 54 year old man living in the UK, who thinks £50 for a shirt is more than enough, I'm hardly their target customer!

In the wider watch community though the penny dropped and Hodinkee's recent 'Talking Watches' interview with Ronne Fieg was exposed as the thirty minute advertisment it surely was... and when you add in that LVMH has a stake in Hodinkee and Frederic Arnault and Ronnie are reportedly buddies, well... you can see exactly how all this came about; something that wasn't lost on the commentors on Hodinkee's Instagram post about the new watches incidentally.

Because of course this wasn't a 'watch' at all, but a series of ten watches inspired by (to varying degrees) the original Formula 1 watches which were produced between 1986 and 1996.

VIDEO: KITH Heuer Formula 1 Re-Issues by Escapement24

 

FEATURE: TAG Heuer at Watches & Wonder 2024 (with Jim Dollares)

 

Greetings dear readers and welcome to our annual round up of Watches & Wonders. As ever I have our delightful Swedish contributor Jim Dollares with me and well, I think it might be an understatement to say he's fired up and ready to talk...

ROB: Hi Jimbo, how's it going on this beautiful Monday morning?

JIM: Hi Rob, thanks for reaching out. Let me start out by saying that I have now calmed down a bit after my utter rage I felt seeing the very weak line up presented by TAG Heuer this year. Did I say weak? Yes you heard me!

ROB: Well, yes I must admit I wasn't exactly blown away by this year's W&W offerings, or indeed much of anything that's come out this year... in fact at this point in time I'm struggling to think what I can use my WOTY vote on. I mean, there's still a long way to go and I'm sure there's dozens of new watches due for release before we get to that point. But even so, it's been a fairly lacklustre start to Mr Tornare's reign (although you can hardly blame him as he's only been in the job for five minutes).

Okay, so where do you wanna start? How about the new Panda glassbox?

JIM: The panda glassbox in theory could have been something really nice. I mean, we saw with the 60th anniversary of the Carrera how exceptionally wonderful a perfectly executed glassbox panda can be. What TAG Heuer released this year though, is like the mentally challenged cousin of the CBK221H.

ROB: Yes, yet again everyone seems to love this latest glassbox and yet again I feel like there's something wrong with me because I honestly think it's pretty odd looking. I really don't understand where all this positivity comes from; you know, all these You Tube watch gurus making videos with titles like 'TAG is back' and 'TAG is smashing it out of the park with these new glassboxes'. And I mean I say everybody, but compare the COCO score for this new version with the 60th Anniversary - 6/10 V 8.7/10, that shows me that at least the COCO has it's collective head screwed on right!

VIDEO: The Most Iconic TAG Heuer Watch of All Time by Kevin O'Leary

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Calibre 16 Chronographs

 

After the hullabuloo (and disappointment, frankly) of Watches & Wonders 2024, it was refreshing to see TAG Heuer sneak out a couple of nice looking Calibre 16 Formula 1 chronographs just after the show ended. I don't really know why they weren't shown at W&W, but for me these are the best things TAG Heuer have released so far this year!

Luckily, I actually managed to try both the blue and green models on in the Regent Street branch of Watches of Switzerland so this post will serve as both a 'First Impressions' and an 'On the Wrist'.