ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Ceramic Quartz Chronograph

CAH1210.BA0862

TAG Heuer Boutique / Bicester Village, 15th April 2019

A few months ago I clocked the diamond bezel version of this watch in a pawn shop around the corner from where I work, it threw me a bit because it was big, but the diamonds and the general design suggested a ladies watch. A bit of research told me it was 41mm and my instinct was right in that it was part of the ladies collection. But at that size it's a bit of a hard sell unless you get a lady who likes a very big watch, so in the Bicester outlet they've moved it into the 'male oriented' cabinets in the hope of finding a buyer.

Objectively, it's hard to pin-point what makes a watch gender-specific, and so really there's no reason a man couldn't wear this. This particular model has no diamonds, and there's plenty of ceramics in the men's range these days, but I think somehow the combination of shiny black ceramic and polished steel bracelet does make this look a bit blingy, if not quite specifically feminine. I suppose it's hard for me to be objective because I know the women's ranges quite well so I pick up on the design cues more than some people would, to the casual buyer it could easily pass for a man's watch, especially with a chronograph function and if you do like the look of it then at just a shade over a grand it's quite a good buy.

I guess if you took it off the bracelet and put it on a strap of some kind that might 'man it up' a bit? I must say, those white hands make it very legible, I never thought to check the lume - if indeed that is lume? (Speaking of lume, store manager Tom's Formula 1 Senna has some fantastic lume - I should have got a picture of that! That watch is definitely going on my 'wants' list).

On the wrist though, it doesn't look at all bad. I've got a big 7.3/4" wrist and this looks chunky on me - it would look hilarious on my wife's tiny wrist, but would I wear it? Hmm, I don't think I would... but then I don't tend to wear 'dressy' watches anyway. Maybe a short, old, slightly round Englishman isn't the best secondary market for this piece, but I think a younger guy could pull it off. Probably the type that wears trainers with wings on or a white denim jacket, or both. 

This guy could wear the CAH1210 no problem.

I always secretly wanted a white denim jacket, bit late for that now - hahaha.

So, in conclusion, if you can carry it off, then why not. It's definitely not for me, and it's probably too big for most women, but if you are a slightly flamboyant guy and you don't get offended at the idea of wearing a 'women's' watch, then go for it. Let's be honest, outside of the watch community most people won't have a clue anyway!