FEATURE: The TAG Heuer Releases of 2025

 

At the start of the year I confidently (some might say foolishly) stated that this year things would be different and that I would write more about older watches, do more feature posts and generally write less about every single new release. Well.... that didn't exactly pan out like I hoped did it? I did avoid writing about a number of new watches, but TAG Heuer released so many watches this year (and so many limited editions) that it became almost impossible to keep things to a sensible balance. 

So once again I will have to have a long hard think over Christmas about exactly how I'm going to manage the blog in 2026. If TAG Heuer are going to continue to release 80, 90, 100 watches a year then I need to find a way to include more of them without giving each one a 'First Impressions' post and score. It's just not sustainable, especially as next year I want to focus (at least a little) on the 40th birthday of the Formula 1 - and as it happens I already have plans for that.

Maybe next year I will do a 'release round up' every month or two (which was an idea I pondered last year), I don't know... but I will come back to this soon. For now it's time to focus on the work that's already been done and the watches that have already been released...

Generally speaking it's been a bit of a 'meh' year from my perspective and there's been very few watches that have really caught my attention. In fact the only watches that I would really like to own have all been Monacos and sadly all three of those are too expensive for me to consider at present. Ah well, there's always next year - thank God TAG Heuer keep on moving, at least you know there's always the possibility of something exciting just around the corner!

But if the watches of 2025 have been a little disappointing, the blog itself has gone from strength to strength. I know I can't really trust the page view statistics (1.46m views over the last 12 months... for a single brand blog?) but I have seen a dramatic increase in comments left, so I know that more and more people are visiting, and that's really nice to see. Honestly this blog is a lot of work to keep up to date, maintain and improve and there's so much more I'd like to do if only I had the time... so thank you all for your comments and I hope I've helped people where I could.

Okay let's take a look at the 2025 watches and as you probably guessed there were no new Autavias or Links again this year. Honestly I don't know why they don't just dump the existing Links in the outlets and knock it on the head (or start again?), it's getting a little bit embarrassing at this point!

As usual, I've given you the scores for most of the watches but I've held back the top scorers for the big reveal on the 27th when this year's 'Council of Considered Opinion's Watch of the Year' will be announced.

FORMULA 1

It was of course a big year for the Formula 1 with the introduction of the new 38mm F1 Solargraphs (following on from the 35mm Kith editions of 2024). I was excited about these to start with, even debating between the all red and the black/yellow as to which one would end up on my wrist. 

Despite reservations over the pricing they seem to have been well received in the market, but personally I just can't get over the 'uncanny valleyness' of them. I thought making them bigger was a great idea, because 35mm is too small... but somehow it just doesn't work. The hands seem too small for the dial, the lume pots are just weird and the case (especially in bare metal) is a huge turn off for me. 

Ultimately I think my favourite is the purpley-blue one. I think one big reason for that is that it isn't trying to compete with the memory of an existing 80s/90s watch, and also because the strap and case are the same colour it helps hide that peculiar case design. So yeah, not for me these Solargraph F1s... not for me.

As for the new Calibre 16 chronographs, well I definitely prefer those, but £4k plus for a C16 F1 is just insane really, so if I do end up getting one at some point it will be after someone else has taken the depreciation hit! 

I wonder what TAG Heuer are planning for the 40th anniversary of the Formula 1? I mean it's going to be hard to top what they did this year isn't it? Assuming they are going to acknowledge it of course... because after all we know that generally speaking only 'Heuer' models get that kind of respect. But then this will be the first time a 'TAG Heuer' model has reached forty, so we'll have to wait and see.

(NB - TAG Heuer released another Formula 1 Solargraph (WBY111E.BA0042) after the COCO deadline. This will appear in the 'History of the Formula 1' as a 2025 watch, but will be included in the 2026 COCO Watch of the Year' voting.)

WBY1160.FT8085: (6.3/10) F1 Solargraph Limited Edition

WBY1161.FT8086: (X.X/10) F1 Solargraph

WBY1162.FT8105: (6.8/10) F1 Solargraph Singapore GP Limited Edition

WBY111A.FT8106: (6.4/10) F1 Solargraph Barcelona GP Limited Edition

WBY1111.BA0042: (X.X/10) F1 Solargraph

WBY1112.BA0042: (X.X/10) F1 Solargraph

WBY1113.BA0042: (6.9/10) F1 Solargraph Silverstone GP Limited Edition

WBY1114.FT8084: (X.X/10) F1 Solargraph Miami GP Limited Edition

WBY1117.FT8087: (6.6/10) F1 Solargraph Mexican GP Limited Edition

CBZ2084.FT8097: (6.3/10) F1 Calibre 16 Beaverbrooks Exclusive

CBZ2085.FT8093: (6.3/10) F1 Calibre 16

CBZ2086.FT8098: (6.0/10) F1 Calibre 16 Goldsmiths Exclusive

CBZ2082.FT8096: (6.1/10) F1 Calibre 16

CBZ2080.FT8091: (5.8/10) F1 Calibre 16 Red Bull Special Edition

CAZ1014.FT8099: (5.9/10) F1 Quartz UK Exclusive

WAZ1010.FT8099: (5.6/10) F1 Quartz UK Exclusive

CBZ2080.BF0009: (5.8/10) F1 Calibre 16 Red Bull Special Edition

CBZ2082.BF0009: (6.3/10) F1 Calibre 16 

CAZ101AX.BA0637: (5.7/10) F1 Quartz Ayrton Senna Limited Edition

CBZ2081.FT8092: (6.6/10) F1 Calibre 16 Ayrton Senna Special Edition

CBZ2087.FT8107: (6.7/10) F1 Calibre 16 Qatar GP Limited Edition

WBY111D.FT8084: (X.X/10) F1 Solargraph Qatar GP Limited Edition

WBY111E.BA0042: (?.?/10) F1 Solargraph 

XXXXXXX.XXXXXX: (6.9/10) F1 Solargraph Box Set of Nine Original Models

AQUARACER

An extremely subdued year for the Aquaracer this year, with the main focus being new 36mm and 34mm models and a bevy of two tone watches being reissued with bracelets. Oh and they put the Titanium Solargraph on a NATO. Be still my beating heart.  

WBP231N.BA0618: (6.4/10) Calibre 5 Automatic

WBP1182.BF0000: (6.2/10) Solargraph Quartz

WBP2450.BA0622: (5.0/10) Calibre 7 Automatic

WBP2451.BA0622: (4.8/10) Calibre 7 Automatic

WBP2150.BA0627: (6.0/10) Calibre 5 Automatic

WBP2151.BA0627: (5.8/10) Calibre 5 Automatic

WBP231L.BA0618: (5.2/10) Calibre 5 Automatic

WBP231N.FT6234: (6.4/10) Calibre 5 Automatic

WBP231M.BA0618: (6.0/10) Calibre 5 Automatic

WBP1323.BB0004: (5.0/10) Solargraph Quartz

WBP1324.BB0005: (5.3/10) Solargraph Quartz

WBP1318.BA0005: (5.7/10) Solargraph Quartz

WBP1180.FN8027: (X.X/10) Solargraph Quartz Titanium

WBP1319.BA0005: (5.5/10) Solargraph Quartz Beaverbrooks Exclusive

WBP1325.BA0005: (4.7/10) Solargraph Quartz UK Limited Edition

CARRERA

On the contrary, the Carrera had another bumper year, with what seemed like an endless stream of glassboxes coming one after another after another. Indeed we started the year with the Porsche Chronosprint glasbox and ended it with the 'Australian' glassbox, two of the nicest second generation glassboxes so far, but then we also had the hilariously awful Osaka Exhibition glassbox*, which kinda evened things out a little bit! 🤣

*Now officially the lowest scoring watch ever (followed closely by the diamond bezel Las Vegas tourbillon, ouch!).

On top of that we also had the gloriously bonkers Mexican 'Luche Libre' tourbillon, the ultra cool Shanghai tourbillon, the gloriously tacky Las Vegas tourbillon (replete with a baguette diamond bezel), the gold bezelled F1 75 Years tourbillon, the purple dial tourbillon and the carbon hairspring tourbillon. That's a lot of tourbillons, especially considering they bumped the prices up on those by 40% in January this year!

CBS2015.EB0381: (X.X/10) Carrera Porsche Rallye Chronosprint

CBS2041.EB0382: (X.X/10) Carrera Porsche Rallye Chronosprint

CBS2214.FC6567: (4.9/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00

CBS2215.FC6568: (4.1/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 Chronograph

CBS2219.FC6607: (6.6/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 Chronograph

CBS5017.FC6605: (5.4/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-09 Tourbillon

WBN231D.BA0001: (4.7/10) Carrera Calibre 7 Automatic

WBN2319.BA0001: (5.1/10) Carrera Calibre 7 Automatic

CBS2216.BA0048: (6.8/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 Chronograph

CBS2210.BA0048: (6.5/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 Chronograph

CBS2211.BA0048: (6.0/10) Carrera Carrera TH20-07 Chronograph

CBS2212.BA0048: (6.4/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 Chronograph

WDA2110.FC6614: (6.4/10) Carrera Calibre TH31-02 Day/Date

WDA2111.BA0043: (6.3/10) Carrera Calibre TH31-02 Day/Date

WDA2111.BD0001: (5.9/10) Carrera Calibre TH31-02 Day/Date

WDA2112.BA0043: (6.4/10) Carrera Calibre TH31-02 Day/Date

WDA2113.BA0043: (6.1/10) Carrera Calibre TH31-02 Day/Date

WDA2114.BA0043: (6.3/10) Carrera Calibre TH31-03 Twin Time

CBN2010-NS: (6.3/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 Goodwood Festival Limited Edition

CBU2081.BF0007: (4.9/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 Chronograph

CBU2082.BF0007: (4.6/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 Chronograph

WBX2110.BA0044: (6.5/10) Astronomer Calibre 7 Moonphase

WBX2111.BD0002: (5.6/10) Astronomer Calibre 7 Moonphase Limited Edition

WBX2112.FC6615: (6.4/10) Astronomer Calibre 7 Moonphase Limited Edition

CBS2043.EB0420: (6.7/10) Carrera Porsche 911 '1964' Chronosprint

CBS221C.FC6619: (2.5/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 Osaka Limited Edition

CBN201N.FC6620: (X.X/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 French Limited Edition

CBU2051.FT6273: (5.3/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 Chronograph

CBU2084.FT6297: (5.3/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-02 Twin Time

CBU5091.FT6035: (6.0/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-61 Carbon Limited Edition

CBU5082.FT6301: (5.8/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-09 Shanghai Limited Edition

CBU5084.FT6272: (5.2/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-09 Mexican Limited Edition

CBU5051.FT6272: (4.6/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-09 F1 75 Limited Edition

WDA2115.BA0043: (5.9/10) Carrera Calibre TH31-02 Day/Date

WBN2110.FC6623: (6.3/10) Carrera Calibre 5 Automatic

CBS221D.BA0048: (4.5/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-07 Chinese Horrorscope L/E

CBS2218.BA0048: (5.0/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 MEIA+UK Limited Edition

CBS221A.BA0048: (4.1/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 MEIA+UK Limited Edition

CBU2086.FT6272: (3.0/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 Las Vegas Limited Edition

CBU5083.EB0395: (2.7/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-09 Las Vegas Limited Edition

CBS221E.FC6613: (X.X/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 Australian Limited Edition

CBS221B.BA0045: (5.3/10) Carrera Calibre TH20-00 Fragment Limited Edition

MONACO

This has been a great year for the Monaco. Nowhere near as many references as the Carrera of course, but all four 'non-rattrapante' Monacos had a genuine shot at being COCO WOTY. As for the rattrapantes themselves, well... initially it was a case of 'Jesus that's bad!', followed by 'Mmmm okay', and finally with the 'Air 1' L/E 'Oooh, this is a lot better'. Hopefully we'll see an upward design trend for TAG Heuer's $150,000 Monaco in 2026.

CBW2190.FC8356: (4.7/10) Monaco Calibre TH81-00 F1 75 Limited Edition 

CAW218F.FC6356: (X.X/10) Monaco Calibre 11 Stopwatch Limited Edition

CAW218G.EB0393: (X.X/10) Monaco Calibre 11 Gulf Limited Edition

CBW2185.FC8350: (6.4/10) Monaco Calibre TH81-00

CBL5190.FT6313: (X.X/10) Monaco Calibre TH20-61 Carbon Limited Edition

CBW218B.FT8124: (5.4/10) Monaco Calibre TH81-00 Air 1 Limited Edition

CBL218E.FT6312: (X.X/10) Monaco Calibre TH20-00 Las Vegas Limited Edition

Like I said, not exactly what I would call a 'Golden Year', but definitely a few fairly obvious standout pieces. That said we have three new watches propping up the bottom of the score table now... which is a bit unfair I feel - the Las Vegas Carreras didn't really deserve that. But the big question of course is which watch was voted 'the best of 2025'? 

Have a great Christmas and I'll see you back here on the 27th for the big reveal! 

Rob / Aqua G

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre TH20-00 'Australian' Limited Edition Chronograph

 

"Am I missing something?" asked my watch enthusiast (and COCO member) wife. "Is there supposed to be something here that I can't see, like a koala or a kangaroo or something?"

"Errr, no," I replied.

"Oh, so what's 'Australian' about this watch exactly?"

Here we go... I thought.

"Ah yes, well as it happens I can help you there, because I read an article about the watch on the Time & Tide website. So the design is basically a mash up of the vintage Ronnie Peterson Carrera and the Jo Siffert Autavia. The stripe on the dial is from the Carrera and the blue hands and black subdials are from the Autavia."

"Who are Ronnie Peterson and Jo Siffert?"

"They were Grand Prix drivers."

"Australian Grand Prix drivers?"

"Nope, Ronnie Peterson was Swedish and Jo Siffert was Swiss, they are both dead unfortunately. But when they were alive they were mates with Jack Heuer and Jo Siffert in particular used to buy watches from Jack and sell them to people in the pitlane, which helped create the bond between Heuer and F1."

"Okay... but what does that have to do with Australia?"

"I'm glad you asked, because again, according to the Time & Tide article this watch 'represents the bond of friendship'. And as everyone knows friendship is a big thing for Australians."

"I'm not really seeing the connection. Is friendship uniquely Australian?"

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre TH20-00 'Fragment' Limited Edition Chronograph

 

You know, some posts are a lot easier to write than others. This one I've already written twice and I'm still not happy with it... so here I am three hours before the publishing deadline trying yet again to finish it. Given how short of time I am, instead of tying myself in knots trying to be clever or sarcastic or whatever, I think instead I'm just going to be brutally honest. 

And okay, maybe a little sarcastic... (to be honest it's going to be hard not to be).

TLDR: I really don't like this watch. 

Don't get me wrong, it's not the worst watch I've ever seen, it's not even the worst TAG Heuer of 2025; that 'privilege' undoubtedly belongs to the godawful 'Osaka Expo' Carrera. But in a way it feels worse. Because while that watch is intrinsically flawed in its 'design', it at least feels kind of 'honest' in its 'execution'... whereas this one genuinely feels like a case of the Emperor's new clothes.

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Carrera Extreme Sports GMT Chrono & Lilac 36mm and 41mm Day/Date Carreras

 

TAG Heuer Boutique / Meadowhall, Sheffield 31st October 2025

A few weeks ago I stopped in at the Meadowhall boutique on the way to a concert in Sheffield, it's always nice to visit as the staff are great and there's a surprising amount of pieces in there that you don't find in AD's or most other TAG Heuer boutiques that I've been in! Sometimes things show up ages after you've forgotten they've come out and sometimes they surprise you with something that you only found out about a few days beforehand. One such example being the new Carrera Extreme Sports GMT in green and black pictured below.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Carrera Extreme Sports Chronograph by Hourstriker

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph & Calibre 16 Chronograph 'Qatar GP' Limited Edition

The 2025 Qatar Grand Prix turned out to be rather 'dramatic' didn't it? And almost farcical in the way it set up Formula 1 for a three way finale in Abu Dhabi. Honestly, if this season was a film we'd all be tutting and saying it was 'far-fetched' wouldn't we? So perhaps it's only fitting that TAG Heuer released a pair of (slightly) 'dramatic' looking new Formula 1's in the days leading up to the race, following the pattern that's prevailed throughout the year of 'associating' new F1 Solargraphs with Grand Prix without going as far as explicitly naming them for the races. Maybe Liberty Media wanted even more money for that? 🤣

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera MEIA & UK Limited Edition Chronographs

 

As you may have noticed, I recently revamped the 'Part Number' index page with photo banners for each model instead of text. This not only makes the page look much nicer but is also easier to click on if you are viewing the blog on a phone (which I know a lot of you do). I also tidied up the text on the individual pages and increased the font size to make it easier to read. 

As I was doing this it occurred to me that I could write some posts about region specific 'Limited Editions' and the first one that I thought of was 'Middle East' L/Es. You might be surprised how many there have been, starting way back in the 1990s with a 'Saudi Arabian Equestrian Foundation' Formula 1 chronograph and most recently with these new glassbox Carreras. I will most likely post this in January, so look out for that, but for now let's investigate these new models further.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Monaco Rattrapante 'Air 1' Limited Edition

 

I'll admit I haven't exactly been complimentary about the previous Monaco Rattrapantes. Obviously I haven't seen one in person and it's entirely possible that they are one of those watches that just doesn't photograph well (much like the Grand Carrera), but until now I've found them spectacularly unappealing, despite several different colour combinations being released. But now TAG Heuer have given us this new $150,000 limited edition (30pcs) and if nothing else they've certainly improved it's kerb appeal.

But it's more than just a new colour combo (and black and gold is almost always a winner), because this one has been redesigned to mimic the look of an imaginary supercar, taking design cues from said car including all the grilles and shapes you'd expect to find on a Lamborghini cum Ferrari cum Aston Martin.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Monaco & Carrera Extreme Sports 'Las Vegas' Limited Edition Chronographs

 

Believe it or not we're pretty much set for 'First Impressions' posts all the way up to Christmas now. As you can see from the TAG Heuer Enthusiast Gallery we still have a ton of new watches to look at and I keep hearing there's still more to come. Quite why they've decided to release like TWENTY watches in November and December is beyond me! Anyway, we'll do what we can, and if I have to post more frequently to get through them all then that's what I'll do. So long as the Council get their fingers out and send me their scores fast enough of course! 🤣

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera 'Chinese Zodiac' Limited Edition Chronograph

I don't really understand these watches, or rather the release logic of these watches. Why did we have a 'Year of the Rat' Autavia for 2020, a 'Year of the Tiger' Carrera for 2022, a 'Year of the Rabbit' Carrera for 2023 and 'Year of the Dragon' Carreras (one steel and one solid gold) for 2024 but we missed out the Ox (2021, well okay, maybe Covid killed that one) and the Snake (2025)? 

In a way I can understand the Ox, because after all there's nothing sexy about an 'Ox', but then there's nothing particularly sexy about a rat either, and 2027 is the year of the goat (or sheep). I just can't imagine a Carrera with a goat on the back, can you? Oh I do hope they prove me wrong... a Carrera Tourbillon with a goat skull (and maybe a candle) on the back would probably sell well to affluent members of the Metal community at least. 🤣

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Monaco 'Las Vegas' Limited Edition Chronograph by Armbanduhren

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera 'Porsche 1964' Limited Edition Chronosprint

 

Way back at the start of the year TAG Heuer dropped two new Porsche Chronosprint models celebrating some race where Porsche came 2nd (or 5th, depending on how you read it) which I found very difficult to understand honestly. These watches were very popular though and the gold version sold out very quickly (albeit only 11 were made... because '911') so I suppose it's no great surprise to see this slightly different take on the same model coming out now. And it's surely indicative of the level of demand that this new rose gold version is limited to a slightly more accessible sixty four pieces (because 1964, of course.... do keep up).

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraphs by Brent Miller Time

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Senna' Quartz & Calibre 16 Chronographs

TAG Heuer Boutique / Milton Keynes, 10th November 2025

A few years ago I did a post about all the Ayrton Senna watches that TAG Heuer had produced, which included a poll of the C.O.C.O. and pronounced the Ayrton Senna designed (WH1114) 6000 Series the pick of the bunch. Since then we've seen last year's (oddly) predominantly blue tourbillon version... and now these slightly more accessible 'Formula 1' models (for those of us operating on slightly more real-world budgets). As luck would have it I visited the TAG Heuer boutique in Milton Keynes a few days ago and these two both happened to be in the store; as such this post is really not so much of a 'First Impression's' post for me, but since we all love to read what the Council's first impressions are I didn't want to skip to a full 'On the Wrist' post either.   

I must admit, despite the fact that I personally own a 'Senna' branded Formula 1 (the 2nd placed WAZ1014), every time I hear about a new watch coming out I roll my eyes. There's been so many of them (these are the twenty fourth and twenty fifth models in fact), which I suppose is quite incredible really and if nothing else illustrates the enduing power of the Senna brand. 

I know, I know... 'celebrity' endorsements are best treated with a degree of scepticism, but Ayrton did have a genuine connection to TAG Heuer, having driven for the McLaren F1 team (owned by then TAG Heuer shareholder Ron Dennis) and he continued to wear the brand even when he left to drive for Williams in the ill-fated 1994 season. Sure, if he'd lived and continued to drive for Williams it's possible that he could have switched to another watch brand (if say Williams had attracted a watch sponsor), but given that he did work with TAG Heuer to design the first 'Senna' 6000 Series, we can at least attribute a little more authenticity to the collaboration than say the ones with Chris Hemsworth, Bella Hadid or indeed Steve McQueen.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Full Collection Tour by Vintage Vega

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport I F1® 75th Anniversary Limited Edition

TAG Heuer are really doubling down on the Extreme Carreras aren't they? Clearly, someone, somewhere must be buying them... and so after the splendidly exotic 'Lucha Libre' limited edition launched a couple of weeks ago, we now have this 'F1 75 Anniversary' tourbillon. Oddly, my first thought was, doesn't it look like a Connected? And my second thought...? It looks way better than that terrible white ceramic Monaco Ratrapante with 'Lights Out and Away We Go' on the dial.

Surely there's no arguing with that, is there?

And yet, true to form the Council of Considered Opinion are laying into this one as well. It's funny, it seems that they are prepared to accept a certain amount of tomfoolery when it comes to Monacos; they might not really like it, but they'll let it slide a bit, but when it comes to Carreras... that's a different story. Because after all, Jack Heuer's original idea was to make a chronograph that was supremely legible on the wrist even when fishtailing through the Parabolica, and that's as relevant today as it was in 1963. Suuuuuuuuuuuure it is. 🤣

PRICE LIST: TAG Heuer Price List 2014/2015

 

FEATURE: Don't Trust AI to Tell You if a Watch is Genuine or Even If It Exists at All!

Quite regularly now I receive emails from people asking me to advise whether the watch they are thinking of purchasing is genuine or not. Of course I don't mind helping if I can, but honestly most of the time your best option is to join the THF forum and post the pictures there as there are much more fake-savvy people there who can advise you far better than I can. If a watch is obviously fake or it's an older model and I can be pretty sure it's pukka then I will give my opinion, but for anything recent, especially Formula 1 or Aquaracers, I generally can't say with any certainty.

However, when you get a watch like this 'TAG Heuer USA Air Force F-16 A/R Limited Edition' I don't really need to think too hard because this is clearly not a genuine TAG Heuer because this model simply doesn't exist!

But what if you don't know much about watches? Maybe you just think it looks cool? Some parts of it do look pretty cool I guess, if you like Breitlings... 

SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Max Verstappen Red Bull Champions' Limited Edition Quartz Chronograph

 

CAZ101AY.FC6591

A few weeks ago I got an email from a guy who told me that he was an ex employee of the Red Bull Formula1 Racing Team, he said he wasn't a watch enthusiast but he had received one of the 'Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing Champions' watches and in researching what it might be worth he had discovered my blog and found it interesting reading my thoughts on his watch.

He said he had listed the watch on eBay for £3600, but perhaps unsurprisingly it did not sell and it was later relisted with a starting bid of £1025 and a buy it now price of £2800. Being that he wasn't into watches I tried to give him the best advice I could, but with a watch like this it's quite hard to advise on what he should expect because it's so difficult to assess.

First of all, who is likely to buy this watch? To me it's clear that it's probably more for a huge Max Verstappen fan than it is for a 'watch enthusiast'... much like the Alec Monopoly Formula 1s were, but this can work for and against you. A watch enthusiast is more likely to to be willing to pay 'thousands' for a wristwatch than a F1 fan who isn't really interested in wristwatches, but watch enthusiasts tend to be more invested in automatics than quartz pieces and with that rather clunky bezel this watch isn't exactly the best looking Formula 1 ever made either is it?

VIDEO: TAG Heuer 2000 Series Watch by You'reTerrific

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Extreme Sport Tourbillon 'Lucha Libre' Edition

 

Wow, well... this was unexpected (if four new Extreme Carrera skeletons in a row can be called 'unexpected') and rather refreshing if I'm truly honest. But look, I can tell you right now, before I even get the scores back from the 'Council of Conservative Opinions', that this is not going to score well. Why? Because look at it... it's wonderfully bonkers and colourful and fun and everything that watch collecting is supposed to be about, but actually isn't because what everyone actually wants is a boring, black dial, no date Submariner. There I said it! 🤣

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Carrera CBK221F Chronograph by The 1916 Company

NEW RELEASES: TAG Heuer Aquaracer LE, Carrera Extreme and the New Balance Collaboration

 

There's been a flurry of new releases of late, some of which the Council of Considered Opinion are currently mulling over... however there are also some which aren't really 'C.O.C.O.' worthy, but which are still worth bringing to your attention... and so I hit on the idea of combining them into a 'New Releases' post.

So the first thing I want to talk about today is the collaboration with New Balance that launched a few days ago. These are pretty cool looking trainers, but my personal experience of ordering New Balance online was that they were way smaller and way narrower than expected, which was a shame because I did find some really cool designs but unfortunately I was a bit late to the party and they didn't have them in bigger sizes for me to reorder. 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera Extreme Sports Calibre TH20-02 Twin Time Chronograph

Hey did you hear there's a new TAG Heuer skeleton dial Twin Time available? Guess what colour it is? Go on guess. Bet you can't guess. You'll never guess in a million years. Is it teal green? Of course it is! Sigh... 

I really liked that new Shanghai limited edition Extreme Sports Carrera we looked at last time and this one is 'okay' too (certainly better than some of the Extreme Sports models we've seen), but we already have a teal themed 'Twin Time' Carrera, why do we need another one? Yeah okay the 41mm Carrera Twin Time is green and white and this one is green and black, which IS better, but it still isn't really that cool a combination of colours in my opinion. Okay, they wanted to change because the last one had been around forever and just making a new blue/black (or 'Batman') GMT/Twin Time wasn't really going to inspire owners to upgrade, but this is pretty meh from where I'm sitting and I'm so done with green now, and especially this bloody teal colour.

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FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera Extreme Sports Calibre TH20-00 'Shanghai' Limited Edition Tourbillon

 

This year I've been fairly vocal about the fact that a lot of TAG Heuer's new releases are leaving me cold, but with the recent carbon Monaco and now this new ten piece limited edition for Shanghai I'd have to say things are looking up! Now, obviously both of these watches are out of my reach and it's also very unusual for me to find a tourbillon appealing, never mind an Extreme Sports Carrera... but it's nice to know that TAG Heuer can still excite me in unusual ways when they put their mind to it.

Now I get that this one is probably not going to be to everyone's taste, indeed when I was told that there was a new limited edition Extreme Sports Carrera that was red and blue (rather than red or blue) I imagined something fairly horrific. But that's because I (wrongly) assumed that the red and blue would be between the dial spokes like on the standard models. Thankfully the dial of this one has been kept black and grey and all the better for that, with the colours kept to a 'tasteful' band around the edge, the chrono second hand*, the crown and the tourbillon cage. 

*I hope the second hand red matches the red around the dial otherwise it will be minus at least one point for me!