SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer's New £3500 Bracelet...

 

Well Watches & Wonders has arrived, and with it an absolute avalanche of new TAG Heuer releases (18 in total, can you believe that?) and understandably most of the attention has fallen on the new 38mm Formula 1 Solargraphs, but there were other releases... a bevvy of new 'in-house' Carrera Day/Dates, a rather odd looking teal-dialed Carrera GMT and a very limited edition white ceramic Monaco Rattrapante (which you almost certainly won't be able to afford even if you really wanted one).

As usual, we'll be getting to all these in due course (the Council of Considered Opinion has already begun musing over the non-limited edition Formula 1s), but something caught my eye while perusing the new releases on the TAG Heuer website. 

These two watches are identical, they are both WDA2111 heads, but the one on the right has a steel bracelet and the one on the left has small gold links in between the larger main links. And yet one costs £3500 more than the other. Is this a mistake? I mean, if you bought the steel watch and decided you wanted to upgrade to the two tone bracelet are they seriously going to charge you £3500 for a bracelet?

I'd like to think it was a mistake and that at some point someone would realise and correct the price, but I honestly don't think it is. Recently we saw a couple of 36mm Carreras with gold elements rocket in price (and I mean rocket, 40%!) for no real fathomable reason. Yes we know gold is expensive but it doesn't justify this kind of nonsense.

The TAG Heuer website doesn't actually tell us how much gold is in this bracelet, and it also doesn't show the back side of the bracelet either*, but I very much doubt these parts are solid gold. They are most likely capped, but even if they were solid I struggle to accept that any TAG Heuer bracelet can cost £3500. 

*The Watches of Switzerland website does however, and the back is steel, so definitely not solid.

A standard steel bracelet usually costs somewhere between £180-£300, while a titanium bracelet for the Aquaracer Solargraph costs about £500... if I was to guess the price for this bracelet I might have said £750, or maybe £1000 if I was feeling really generous, but this is hilarious. 

PRICE LIST: TAG Heuer Price List 2016/2017

BUYING EXPERIENCE: Wrist Envy Sailcloth Strap

 

You probably haven't noticed (because why would you), but I am not a fan of aftermarket straps. I know a lot of people are, they see a new release and they can't wait to buy it and switch it out onto ten different straps... (all of which look absolutely terrible to me - especially those suede looking things with the sideways stitches near the lugs, 🤮), but that ain't me. 

No, I tend to think the manufacturers know best and even on the rare occasions when they don't I still think it's best to stick with other straps from the same product/model range, hence I bought the black rubber strap for my Aquaracer WAY208C from TAG Heuer and of course it fits and fills the lugs perfectly.

So with all that said, why on Earth am I talking to you about an aftermarket strap I bought from 'Wrist Envy'? Well, it's a long story... and that story tarts way back in 2019, when I spied this CV2A80 Carrera Calibre 16 in TAG Heuer's Bicester Outlet store.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer S/EL Quartz Midsize Watch by Birth Year Watches

 

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Solargraph & Formula 1 Calibre 16 Chronograph

 

TAG Heuer Boutique / Meadowhall, Sheffield 15th March 2025

Just a brief visit to the TAG Heuer boutique today as there really wasn't much new that I hadn't already seen (we're in the calm before the storm period right now, with Watches and Wonders just a week away), but I was interested to see the latest addition to the 40mm Aquaracer Solargraph range with its 'Ice Blue' dial and titanium case and bracelet.

When I first clapped eyes on this latest model it immediately brought to mind the quartz chronograph version that came out back in January 2023. But having seen them side by side I can confidently say that while the chrono version had a definite lilac tint to it, the new version is much more of a pure blue colour (and all the better for it, honestly).

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Superdiver Calibre TH30-00 by The 1916 Company

 

BUYING EXPERIENCE: TAG Heuer Kirium Chronometer

Well I guess this had an air of inevitability about it didn't it? Delighted as I was with my last purchase (my Aquaracer Regatta Calibre S, way back in... January) it clearly also reignited a desire in me to finally pick up that WL511A Kirium chronometer I've wanted for I don't know how long. But of course, I couldn't find one and the ones I did find with 'SOLD' on them seemed to go for more than I really wanted to pay... considering, you know, I already have three Kiriums. So, deeply disappointed, I saved my eBay search and waited for the email. 

Well I didn't have to wait long, just a week or two passed and then there it was, looking mighty fine and starting cheap at £199, which would have been awesome, but highly unlikely. So I debated... should I place a bid at £199 to stop anyone using the £400 'BUY IT NOW' feature, or should I just buy it now myself?

VIDEO: TAG Heuer x Porsche Carrera Chronosprint Rallye Limited Edition by Doug FNJ

 

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer x Porsche Carrera Chronosprint Rallye

 

TAG Heuer Boutique / Milton Keynes, 1st February 2025

On the same day that I got to try on the first three new Formula 1 Calibre 16 Chronographs, I was also able to get my hands on this recent limited edition Porsche Carrera Chronosprint Rallye. Limited to 911 pieces (because, Porsche) and coming in at a hefty £8950 this one costs a notable £900 more than the original (unlimited) Porsche Chronosprint.

Oddly, despite 'knowing' that this is a 42mm model, I still had to check with the guy in the boutique because it just doesn't look it. Once I put it against one of the 39mm models in the case I could see the difference, but even with a bracelet this watch wears nothing like a 42mm. I'm not crazy about the bracelet actually, it looks like a slightly melted version of the old Grand Carrera bracelet and just like those it has no micro adjustment, which is a shame in a watch at this price point. Saying that I've never had a problem with my Grand Carreras just using the half links, so it's probably not a massive dealbreaker. 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Calibre 16 Chronographs by Time & Tide

 

INSTRUCTIONS: TAG Heuer Golf Battery Change

This may sound a little silly, but I've been dreading the day when my Golf needed a battery change... because not only does it have four tiny screws holding down the square caseback, but I was also concerned that once the screws were removed and the backplate was removed, what would happen with the buttons that hold the folding parts of the watch together? Would they just ping out and I'd be left with a mess of parts in a bag to take to my local watch repairman?

Well thankfully no. As you can see they are still held firmly in place, which is logical... but then you can't always assume everything will be okay with watches just because it makes sense in your head. The only problem I actually encountered was that I had never come across a 315 battery before (very thin that one) so it wasn't one I had in stock. I was also slightly confused about the lack of a gasket, but then the watch is only rated to 50M, in other words 'not very waterproof'. 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Carrera H01 & H02 Rose Gold Stunners by Swiss Watch Expo

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Solargraphs

TAG Heuer continue to roll out their Aquaracer Solargraphs with two new pieces, a dusky pink 34mm and an 'Ice Blue' 40mm. You may remember that TAG Heuer released an 'Ice Blue' quartz chronograph a couple of years ago (actually I thought they had been discontinued, but the mid-blue and ice blue versions are still available on the TH website; oddly it was the silver and black dial models that were deleted) and this looks like the sun-powered, three handed version of that. 

From the pictures we've seen so far though, this looks like it might be the first coloured-dial Solargraph that actually looks better than it's non-solar equivalent. The chronograph had a definite lilac edge to it in person, whereas this looks like more of a pure blue. I hope so anyway, I guess we'll have to wait until it hits the stores to be sure. 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox Panda by Bruce Williams

 

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronographs

 

TAG Heuer Boutique, Milton Keynes 1st February 2025

As I've said before, one of the things I truly love about TAG Heuer is that periodically they re-invent their products, which keeps things fresh and exciting... but doesn't always work for you. So it was with a little apprehension that I headed into the TAG Heuer boutique to try on the brand new Calibre 16 Formula 1 chronographs. After all, this was a big change in design and while I liked the photos I saw, we're all aware by now that the only way to 'know for sure' is to get them on the wrist.

I didn't honestly expect the Milton Keynes boutique to have all five models, and indeed neither the blue or the lime green/yellow (we really can't be sure yet) were available. In fact it seems like both of those watches are 'coming soon' and I was told that the blue one will only be sold in the UK via Beaverbrooks and Beaverbrooks owned TAG Heuer boutiques, while the yellow/lime green one will only be sold by Goldsmith/WOS/WOS owned TAG Heuer boutiques. 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Bright Black Edition Smartwatch by A Blog ToWatch

 

SPOTLIGHT ON: Watches of Switzerland Exclusive Formula 1s

Hard to believe but back in 2016 TAG Heuer launched the first Max Verstappen limited edition Formula 1 chronograph to celebrate the Dutchman's very first win. Kinda crazy when you think about that, eh, it's almost like they KNEW he was going to be the next Lewis Hamilton. I mean who the hell gets a watch to celebrate their first win? Their first WDC maybe... but for whatever reason (could it be Max's huge and vociferous Dutch fanbase?) TAG Heuer decided a run of 500 would be a good way to turn a quick buck and as far as I can tell they pretty much never saw the inside of a shop window.

Since 2019 (at least) TAG Heuer have been selling the CAZ1014 paired with the bright orange FT8028 strap that came on Max's CAZ101B and more recently I noticed they've also been selling the WAZ1010 on that same strap too. Maybe they've been selling it for a while and I just haven't come across it, but that's not really important because everything I've said so far is only to serve as preamble to (and to slightly pad out, let's be honest) what promises to be quite a short post... 

PRICE LIST: TAG Heuer Price List 2018/2019

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer x Hodinkee Carrera 'Seafarer' Calibre TH20-00 Limited Edition Chronograph

TAG Heuer Boutique / Meadowhall, Sheffield, 30th November 2024 

I'll be completely honest... when the Hodinkee Seafarer was announced I didn't want to like it. 'Here we go,' I thought, another bloody vintage-inspired Carrera that's guaranteed to find favour with the Council of Considered Opinion... and a dead cert for the Watch of the Year! 

And yet, to my immense surprise, it turned out not to be as popular with the Council as I presumed it would and as we all now know the Seafarer ultimately lost out to the 'Time & Tide' Limited Edition Aquaracer. Praise be; finally a WOTY that wasn't a Carrera... and a solar quartz at that!

I know. As the organiser I really should be more 'neutral' shouldn't I? And I can't pretend I wasn't happy when the Time & Tide Aquaracer took the crown, but clearly my influence has little to no effect, you only have to look at the previous years' results to see that!

VIDEO: TAG Heuer 6000 Series Copper Dial Chronometer by Birth Year Watches

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Diamond Dial Carreras

And so we come to the final four watches that were released at the '2025 LVMH Watch Week'. We've already looked at the five new Formula 1 Calibre 16 chronographs, the latest iterations of the Porsche Chronosprint glassbox and most recently the purple glass box chronograph and tourbillon, so now it's the turn of these four, umm... Carreras.

Now, some time ago I gave the illustrious 'Council' the choice to opt 'in' or 'out' of voting on women's watches, because I noticed that some members routinely gave everything a four (unless it was truly heinous) and I just thought it was better to give them the option to 'ignore' them rather than drag the scores down because they just weren't interested.

But the problem is you see, with women's watches getting bigger, and men's watches getting smaller, it's getting harder and harder to define what is a man's watch and what is a woman's watch. In the past it was clear; 27mm with diamonds and a mother of pearl dial, clearly for ladies... 43mm with a rubber strap that looks like a tyre tread; clearly for men. Simples!

SPOTLIGHT ON: GrandPrixWatches.com

 

I was recently contacted by Daniel from GrandPrixWatches.com about doing an interview for his website, which I was more than happy to do. Daniel has combined his passions to create GrandPrixWatches.com which he's billing as a 'Historical Resource for Formula 1 and Moto GP Watches'. I know some of you watch enthusiasts out there love the connection to F1 (in particular) so I'm sure you will find some interesting reading there.. there's certainly a lot of brands that I've never heard of before! 

Click the image at the top of the page to visit GRANDPRIXWATCHES.COM 

Or click the link below to read my interview.

https://www.grandprixwatches.com/2025/02/tag-heuer-enthusiast-interview-with-rob-aqua-g/

HISTORY: TAG Heuer Airline

Quite a short 'History' post for the Heuer/TAG Heuer Airline as there are only six watches in total. The Airline first appears in the 1985 (and penultimate) Heuer catalogue, with four models displayed. These appear again in the 1985-1986 catalogue and finally all six appear in the 1987-1988 catalogue (with TAG Heuer branded dials). 

I always liked the look of these, especially the cool black and gold version but once I realised that they were only available in mid-size (35mm) I reluctantly accepted that I was never going to own one. One thing I love about these is the wacky printed bracelets with the major cities and the time difference, I mean... talk about avant garde! 

Confusingly, only two of the original four Heuer models have 'GMT' bezels even though they all have GMT hands. So in the 1987-1988 catalogue TAG Heuer introduce 'GMT' versions of the watches that didn't have them before. These are then given a suffix 'GMT' which suggests all the others aren't... even though they are. 

All models are quartz powered.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Limited Edition by Monochrome Watches

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera 'Purple Dial' Glassbox & Tourbillon Chronographs

As the owner of a beautiful 'plum-wine-purpley/red-never-quite-sure-what-to-call-it' Kirium I am very open to unusual dial colours like these, and honestly this is the first time I've looked at one of these 39mm glassbox Carreras and not dismissed it as irrelevant. In fact, I think I actually quite like this one...!

Believe me, no one is more surprised than me, but there's something about the elegant purple dial and the domed crystal; it just looks like it was meant to be. Moser-ish even. Sure it looks kinda 'feminine', but not so much that I wouldn't want to wear it. I mean, I wouldn't want to wear it because these 39mm Carreras are too small for my wrist, but for the first time I'm looking at this and actually thinking it would be cool if they made it in a bigger size.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Aquaracer 300M by Bruce Williams

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer x Porsche Carrera Chronosprint Rallye

 

Before I start this post, I just want to apologize in advance to anyone who gets irritated by my use of the words Rally and Rallye... I tried to clarify which means what but it's very confusing. I figured maybe it's 'Rally Straps' but then I found loads of perforated straps called 'Rallye Straps'. Google AI suggests 'Rallye' indicates a motor race rather than a political 'Rally', but then elsewhere it's suggested that 'Rallye' is the plural of 'Rally' or indeed it might just be the French way of spelling 'Rally' (which obviously makes it sound much more luxurious). Anyway, sorry 'bout that...!

Believe it or not, someone on the THF Forum has already backed the Porsche Chronosprint Rallye for the '2025 COCO Watch of the Year'! Quite a statement when we're barely a third of the way through February... but let us not forget that the very first release of 2023 was the Carrera 60th Anniversary Panda, which absolutely annihilated the competition on its way to securing the crown.

But then the 'Panda' was always going to be a sure fire winner, which is precisely why it was the last of the old style 'glassbox' Carreras... and honestly why it was strange that it was one of the first new style 'glassbox' Carreras. After all, the watch industry very much operates on a policy of 'never quite give the people what they want because we might be able to sell them something else in the meantime'. 

Once you give them what they want, the theory goes, the customer is satisfied and will stop buying. Well, I don't know about that... most watch collectors will tend to find something 'else' they want regardless, but I suppose the principle is sound. 

Anyhoo... following on from my 'Top 10 TAG Heuer x Porsche' watch post a few weeks back, here we have two more to add to the collection... if they are in contention for the WOTY come December I wonder which one will come out on top, or will they split the vote allowing something else to sneak past like some sort of horological Kimi Raikkonnen. 🤣

PRICE LIST: TAG Heuer Price List 2019-2020

 

SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer 2000 Series 244.006 Quartz Watch

It's funny, I don't really look at eBay very often these days, but every now and then I click on one of those emails they send you heralding '327 new TAG Heuers' and occasionally it throws up something interesting. Of course, every third listing is suspicious as all hell, but now that eBay are utilising the wonderful and totally infallible 'AI' to check listings I guess we can all sleep safe in our beds.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  

Sorry, I can't help it. Ebay is a complete joke and I would love to know exactly how 'AI' is checking the authenticity of listings? How is it programmed to do that? I mean, it's probably no more completely useless than a real person who doesn't know their arse from their elbow - but I guess they can now point to using 'AI' and everyone will be reassured. 

Jesus Christ. I'm glad my eBay days are largely behind me. But anyway...

VIDEO: How to Set the Time on a TAG Heuer F1 Kirium by OBR Horology

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Calibre 16 Chronographs

 

Over the last few years it has become painfully obvious that TAG Heuer's 'Formula 1' range was starting to get a little tired. The current WAZ/CAZ case was introduced way back in 2015, and while there have been numerous updates and minor refreshes it really was starting to feel like it needed a proper overhaul. Last year's collaboration with the American clothing brand 'Kith' caused a whole lot of interest in the 'classic' Formula 1 and it feels like TAG Heuer have jumped at the opportunity to update with a new 'classic' 38mm three handed Solargraph expected at April's Watches & Wonders alongside this line up of Calibre 16 chronographs which was revealed about ten days ago.

While I did praise last year's Calibre 16 F1 chronographs as nice looking watches, the truth is they were incredibly safe and simply didn't have that certain something 'extra' to make them a 'must-buy' rather than another 'nice' watch in a sea of 'nice' watches. Thankfully it seems TAG Heuer have taken the plunge and produced something genuinely new here, which is absolutely to be applauded. After all the watch world is absolutely drowning in 'heritage' this and 'vintage' that and the Formula 1 was never supposed to be anything but fresh and forward looking. 

Yes, I know... the irony!

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Indy 500 Quartz Chronograph by Random Rob

 

BUYING EXPERIENCE: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre S Regatta Chronograph

 

While it's a noble endeavour of mine to try to turn my rather large collection of (mostly) cheaper TAG Heuers into a smaller collection of 'less cheaper' TAG Heuers, it does rather take the fun out of the experience. Sure I was a little slow to cotton on to the fact that watches are not inanimate objects and they are liable to break and need repairing, but sometimes I really miss those heady days of 2019-2022 when every other month brought at least one new Ebay bargain to my door. Sigh...

Now, having sold approximately half of my collection, I have used most of that money to buy some nicer watches like my Grand Carrera Caliper Calibre 36, my Grand Carrera Chronograph Calibre 17, my SLR Calibre S and my Aquaracer Solargraph and I don't regret doing that, however I still get the urge to buy 'something cheaper' now and again. Truthfully, spending big money* on watches is still not something I am really comfortable doing, and since I only really like one watch brand most of the things I end up looking at are usually variations of things I already own or things that are still a bit out of my comfort-zone price-wise, even when pre-owned.

*My idea of 'big money' being anything over £2000 honestly...

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Calibre 16 2025 Chronographs by Monochrome Watches

 

NB: The video states there are four new Calibre 16 Formula 1s, but actually there are five. There is also another DLC coated model with lime yellow highlights.

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Monaco 'Las Vegas' Monaco Calibre TH20-00 Chronograph

TAG Heuer Boutique / Meadowhall, Sheffield, 30th November 2024 

Another fruitful visit to the TAG Heuer boutique in Sheffield on this November morning, not only did I get to try on this 'Las Vegas' Monaco and the Porsche 963 Extreme Sports Carrera, but I also got to handle the limited edition Hodinkee Carrera Seafarer. More on that another time though... today we will concentrate on this DLC coated Monaco, and well if you've tried on any recent black Monaco you'll have a good idea how this wears.

COMMENT MODERATION ACTIVATED!

Apologies for having to do this but I've had to activate 'Comment Moderation'. Thanks to AI and BOTS I'm getting a lot of spam comments which wouldn't matter so much, but Blogger insist I delete any comment that has a link in it. So it's going to be a lot easier for me to just moderate comments in future. This may cause a delay in your comment being published in some instances, but please keep them coming.

Rob / Aqua-G

SPOTLIGHT ON: Another Ridiculous eBay Fake!

Just a little post today in lieu of a video... I reported the above 'Monaco 24' to eBay on Thursday and as usual they 'looked into it' and reported back to me that they found nothing in the listing that contravened their guidelines. I mean.... come on. It's not even difficult to see, is it? TAG Heuer have never even made a white dial Monaco 24 and even if they had it sure as hell would never have looked anything like this.

The only silver lining here is that the watch has a starting price of £3000. So if someone is actually gullible enough to purchase this (and it now has a bid!), then presumably eBay's 'hands on' authenticity checks will intervene. I mean, fancy being an authenticity checker and opening a box with this inside. You'd p*ss yourself laughing wouldn't you?  

FEATURE: TAG Heuer x Porsche - The Collaboration Watches (2021-2024)

 

You know, it really doesn't seem five minutes since TAG Heuer announced they were teaming up with Porsche, and already we're four years into this partnership with ten references on the books! How did that happen? Oh well...never mind. The great thing is that because all these watches have been scored by the COCO council previously we have all the info we need to do a top ten countdown! 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer SLR Calibre S Laptimer by Luxury Works

 

PRICE LIST: TAG Heuer Price List (January 2025)

 

Sometimes luck just isn't on your side... as you'll know if you read my previous post, I managed to delete the Word document I use for these price lists so I had to type the whole thing out again and then just as I finished it someone told me the prices had gone up! So annoying. Anyway, it's done now!

Aside from the previously discussed price rises (massive rises in the RRPs of all the tourbillon models and up to 47% on some pieces!) the main points to note from this snapshot of the TAG Heuer collection are the deletion of the KITH Heuer Formula 1s, all of which are now sold out and the fact that the Monaco Rattrapante's have changed from being listed at £121,000 to being 'Price on Application'. My guess is no one was biting at that price and it's perhaps not surprising when you think what else you can buy for that kind of money.

Also, the entire Monaco range has remained static on price, which perhaps tells us something... and finally the Autavia has disappeared again. Will it return (and in what form)? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

New items are coloured red, price increases are blue, price decreases are green (never had that before!) and anything else is left black.

You can click on each page to get a larger view, or even better open each image in a new tab.

TO VIEW PREVIOUS PRICE LISTS CLICK HERE 

(OR VISIT THE PRICE LIST TAB)