SPOTLIGHT ON: New Arrivals at TAG Heuer Bicester Village

CALL THE STORE ON (01869) 249008

Another sizeable delivery this week, including quite a number of pieces that have never been seen at the store before. I noticed the other day that the Indy 500 Special Editions had been taken off the website and sure enough, here they are.

As ever, stock is limited and the store is doing brisk business (particularly at the weekends) so it may be worth a phone call if you see something you like.

CAR2013.FC6313

Carrera Calibre 1887

Bicester Village Price: £2795

List Price: £3995

CAR201T.BA0766

Carrera Heuer 01 Skeleton

Bicester Village Price: £2670

List Price: £4450

CAR201U.FC6405

Carrera Heuer 01 Skeleton

Bicester Village Price: £2670

List Price: £4450

CAR201Z.FT6046

Carrera Heuer 01

Bicester Village Price: £2490

List Price: £4150

CAR2A5A.FT6044

Carrera Heuer 01 Skeleton

Bicester Village Price: £4830

List Price: £8050

CAZ101V.BA0842

Formula 1 Indy 500 Special Edition

Bicester Village Price: £975

List Price: £1395

CR2080.FC6375

Monza 40th Anniversary Edition

Bicester Village Price: £3075

List Price: £4395

CV201AS.FC6429

Carrera Calibre 16 Indy 500 Special Edition

Bicester Village Price: £2725

List Price: £3895

SBF818001.11FT8033

Connected 41mm Smartwatch

Bicester Village Price: £735

List Price: £1050

SBF8A8001.10BF0608

Connected 45mm Modular Smartwatch

Bicester Village Price: £1395

List Price: £1995

SBF8A8001.11FT6076

Connected 45mm Modular Smartwatch

Bicester Village Price: £1045

List Price: £1495

SBF8A8014.11FT6076

Connected 45mm Modular Smartwatch

Bicester Village Price: £875

List Price: £1250

SBF8A8014.11FT6081

Connected 45mm Modular Smartwatch

Bicester Village Price: £875

List Price: £1250

WAJ2110.FT6015

Aquaracer 500M Calibre 5

Bicester Village Price: £1645

List Price: £2350

WAJ2111.FT6015

Aquaracer 500M Calibre 5

Bicester Village Price: £1645

List Price: £2350

WAK2121.BB0835

Aquaracer 500M Calibre 5

Bicester Village Price: £1880

List Price: £2895

WAK2180.FT6027

Aquaracer 500M Calibre 5

Bicester Village Price: £1725

List Price: £2650

WAS2111.BA0732

Carrera Calibre 6

Bicester Village Price: £1855

List Price: £2650

WAT201B.BA0951

Link GMT Calibre 7

Bicester Village Price: £1715

List Price: £2450

WAT2114.BA0950

Link Calibre 6

Bicester Village Price: £1675

List Price: £2395

WAT2150.BB0953

Link Calibre 6

Bicester Village Price: £2205

List Price: £3150

WAY1351.BD0917

Aquaracer Ladies Quartz

Bicester Village Price: £2375

List Price: £3395

WAY2151.BD0912

Aquaracer Calibre 5

Bicester Village Price: £2795

List Price: £3995

If you are viewing the blog on a phone, you won't be able to see the banner that takes you directly to the 'Bicester Village' posts. However, you can find a link in the drop down menu that appears directly under the blog header. 

GALLERY: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Watch

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Green Calibre 5 by Edgar the Jeweller

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Aquaracer 'Tortoiseshell' Bezel Models

WAY201N.FT6177

Way back in 2019, someone leaked a selection of photos from Baselworld including an image of a blue dial Aquaracer with a bezel that looked like it was made of 'tiger's eye' or something similar. I thought this looked really interesting, although to be honest I didn't much like that it was shown on a blue NATO! Nevertheless I waited patiently for the watch to launch, but nothing happened. Christmas came and went and I thought, okay so surely then it will be shown properly at Baselworld 2020 and then it will come out. Right?

In the meantime nearly all the other models shown in the leaked pictures emerged, including the wave dial ladies Aquaracer, the purple textured-dial ladies Carrera and the green and grey men's Aquaracer, but as for the unusual Aquaracer went, not a sausage. I did find the watch on a website called 'Swiss Watches Direct' which is notorious for putting watches up for sale that aren't yet available, they even quoted a part number for it (WAY101K) which made total sense as the green/grey Aquaracer eventually came out as a WAY101L. They claimed delivery in 21 days, but I'm guessing any orders would have remained unfulfilled and searching elsewhere led to the usual websites (Uhrinstinkt, Uhrenlounge, Hodinky.Heureka) showing the same render and either 'out of stock', 'not yet available' or somewhat amusingly 'shipping to commence July / August 2019' messages.

WAY201P.FT6178

Then Baselworld 2020 fell apart and TAG Heuer started to launch their models through alternative channels, but still no sign of the elusive WAY101K Aquaracer... until now! Well, kind of. While not quite the much awaited launch of the WAY101K Aquaracer, this week we had word of not one, but two new Aquaracers with 'tortoiseshell' resin dials. Which I'm guessing means that either the WAY101K isn't coming out at all now, or that it might come out later - who knows?

So what's changed? Well, I guess the biggest change is that the model has been switched from running a quartz movement to an automatic Calibre 5 movement instead. It's still mounted in the expected 43mm case, but instead of being presented on a blue NATO strap, now it comes on a rather cool looking rubber strap which is moulded to look like alligator leather. A happy compromise perhaps for those who find the idea of a 300M dive watch on a water-perishable strap repugnant? (I'm looking at you WAY201M*)

That aside, the red/brown bezel now surrounds a grooved black dial, while the original blue dial now has it's own unique blue resin bezel. This makes it look rather like those forged carbon Aquaracers that came out last year (yep, the ones with the faux carbon dials) and comes on a blue version of the same rubber 'alligator' strap. I must admit I'm struggling to pick a favourite between these two, I thought the black dial was the obvious winner, but the more I look at the blue one, the more I like it. 

Is it too much blue though? I can't help thinking it might have been a little better if they'd put it on the black rubber strap... 

Onto the issue of pricing, and well... obviously switching it from a quartz piece to an automatic has altered that fairly significantly. As yet these haven't made it onto the UK TAG Heuer website, but Ace Jewellers are selling them at 2550Euro, which translates to about £2300 - which is about what I would expect a Calibre 5 Aquaracer to sell for here in the UK.

As for the 'resin' bezels... as yet we don't really have any information about them, least of all how resilient they are to everyday use. But given the testing facilities at TAG Heuer's disposal in their La Chaux de Fonds factory, we must presume they are reasonably hardy - perhaps the delay has been down to problems with manufacturing them to the required standard?

I honestly think both these watches look great, but I am a little disappointed that they've switched them from quartz to automatic movements. I think at £1400 or so these would have been a no brainer, but at £2300 it's a little harder for me to justify the expense. I am super happy they ditched the blue NATO strap though and these new rubber straps look fantastic. I wonder if the black one would fit on my WAY208C Aquaracer? Now that would look pretty damn amazing!

*I find it slightly disturbing how many TAG Heuer part numbers I'm starting to accurately remember, that's twice today I've pulled numbers out of the air and been spot on both times!

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Alarm by Birth Year Watches

BUYING EXPERIENCE: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Classic' Quartz Watch

380.513

Following the purchase of my 385.513/81 (soon to be 385.513/85) last week and after my intense immersion into the subject of classic Formula 1 models the other day, it didn't take long for me to return to eBay in search of more 'affordable' F1s to feed my newly found habit. The black and yellow version had already been on my radar for some time since my wife had been looking at them over the last few weeks, indeed my wife had been looking at this same piece a couple of weeks ago, completely unaware that it was actually 34mm in diameter.

This was because the watch was erroneously listed as a 'ladies' model on the auction page and it wasn't until I noticed the part number ended in 513 that I realised the mistake. Of course 34mm is pretty small by modern standards, but back in the late 80s and early 90s it was considered a perfectly reasonable size and over the last week or so I've got very used to it and have barely worn anything else.

In fact I recall owning a 'GUL' watch as a teenager in the late eighties or early nineties that looked not unlike this and which I think was about the same size. That one came on a red and yellow velcro strap (see below), which I loved to bits at the time. That was probably the first time I spent any 'significant' money on a watch - or rather the first time I wanted to spend more to get something I found 'special'. That watch wasn't exactly expensive, but it was definitely more than I'd ever spent before (probably about £125 in today's money I guess).

This F1 had been listed at £199 previously and had failed to sell, but then it was relisted at £180 and recalling what happened with the red model last week I decided to try my luck again. I put in an offer of £160, then £168 and on my third and final try I secured the watch for £172. I was quite happy with that, despite the fact that the glass does have some scratches to it. They look worse in the photos than they do when it's on the wrist, but I might try getting some of those mineral glass crystals at some point. Not sure how good they are, but it's worth a try I guess...?

The strap has been cut, but it still fits my 7.3/4" wrist (and actually there's still 4 holes to spare), I have ordered a genuine TH yellow strap for it though as this is the incorrect strap for this model. I can understand that it's more practical and that a yellow one will probably end up looking grubby in time, but they are only £32 and I'd much rather have it on the correct strap, even though I have to say the black one does look great also and I can always switch it back if necessary.

I think the watch may have had a new dial at some point, as the lume is surprisingly good for a watch of this age (the hands, by contrast are completely dead) and the bezel is in reasonable condition too. It looked a lot worse in the macro photos on eBay, largely because the lume pip looked a right mess, but in reality the lume pip is about 1mm across and is barely visible. That's the danger with looking at pictures on eBay, they can flatter, but they can also make things look much worse at high magnification.

The watch came quickly, two days from purchase to delivery and this one was very well packaged. It came in a service box, which was then wrapped in about 5ft of that soft, white, plastic sheeting and placed inside a very sturdy cardboard box wrapped in what looked like a whole roll of brown parcel tape! Full marks for packaging, there was no way this was getting damaged in transit.

So that makes three classic F1s in my collection now, and I'm already eyeing up a fourth. Not sure if it will happen, might be pushing my luck to buy three watches back to back, but we'll see.

If you are interested in picking up a classic F1 then opening up the search to include listings from Japan certainly gives a lot more options, there seems to be a wealth of classic TAG Heuers on offer over there (and not just F1s). You do have to be conscious of the potential difference in wrist sizes though, especially if you are buying something on a bracelet and check for any import duties as well; taxes to the UK for items between £135 and £630 are 2.5%.

I can't tell you how many times I've tried searching for my old watch and now I've finally found it! Well, sort of... mine was steel and had a matt silver finish to it with black printing rather than this black and red colour scheme, but it had that yellow dial, and that velcro strap at the bottom is the exact one I had. Incredible how much it looks like a classic Formula 1 though. 

I notice that GUL watches started in 1986, which can't be a coincidence! I believe I paid about £40 for that watch, which was about a quarter of what a TAG Heuer F1 would have been at the time. The only difference is that the TAG Heuer is still worth at least what it cost new... I'm guessing the GUL wouldn't be, but I'd kind of like to pick one up for sentimental reasons, if I could find one exactly like mine...

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 5 Review by Back in Time!

SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer F1 Kirium at Bicester Village

TAG HEUER F1 KIRIUM QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH

CL111A.FT6002

List Price - £2750

BICESTER VILLAGE PRICE - £1925

The F1 Kirium has a special place in my heart since it was the first TAG Heuer watch that I bought way back in 2004. Despite my obvious bias, I honestly believe it is the most underrated watch that TAG Heuer has ever made. Despite the name, the CL111A is 100% Kirium, and 0% Formula 1, I really don't know what the thinking was behind that name, other than the fact that mine has 'Official Timekeeper of the Formula 1 World Championship' stamped on the backplate! But that confusion not withstanding this model is a winning combination of sporty and stylish and features a multifunction digital display which can also be turned off completely (which is how I wear mine). You can also have black dial with just the date displayed, which looks pretty neat too.

This one is nicely sized at 40mm and wears well on the wrist in my experience, although admittedly I've never had the opportunity to try it on the rubber strap. Actually, part of me hopes they don't sell this until I've had the opportunity to get over to Bicester to check it out, as I've always wondered what my Kirium would be like sans bracelet.

I believe the Kirium was retired in about 2008, so this is clearly an older watch. But where else are you going to find a NOS example with a 2 year warranty? If you've always wanted a 'new' Kirium, this is your chance. If I didn't already have one I would have been extremely interested myself.

A couple of posts about the CL111A:

Re-appraising the F1 Kirium

http://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2017/09/feature-reappraising-formula-one-kirium.html

Instructions on how to sync the digital and analog displays

http://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2020/04/instructions-syncing-analog-and-digital.html

SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer S/EL Quartz Watch

S99.313C

Browsing eBay the other day I was almost tempted to do something very foolish. You may remember that I once bought a champagne dial S/EL for about £110 and when it arrived it was absolutely tiny! At the time I was kicking myself because while I didn't have the time to enquire about the size (the auction was ending) and I couldn't find reliable data for that particular part number, I really should have known that a full size S/EL on a leather strap would not sell for £110.

So, with this one, I checked the part number and found a website selling the bracelet version. They listed the watch as '41mm including crown', so I figured.. okay. maybe 38mm, worst case scenario 37mm. But something was niggling me about the part number, because I know from looking at 3000 Series pieces that the full size models end in 06, while the intermediate / boys watches carry a number ending in 13.

So I dug a little further and found that the actual diameter of the watch is 34mm. While it may well be 41mm including the crown, the crown on the S/EL is so substantial that to list it that way is extremely misleading... and I imagine, quite deliberate in an attempt to shift a watch that will be hard to sell - least of all for $1299AUS!

You have no idea how close I came to making the same mistake twice, it was only that brown strap that put me off. I didn't mind it with the champagne dial but it looks kinda wrong with that black dial. It's a shame because overall the watch looks in good condition, but I would have been fuming if I'd bought another 'little' S/EL, and I don't suppose I'd have been able to flip this for a £10 profit like I did the other one either...

With that knowledge in hand, if you are interested I will leave a link below. The seller sent me an offer of £300, so I wouldn't pay any more than that... and probably less than that to be honest, as realistically selling this is going to be a bit of a problem, unless you can find a lady or a small boy to buy it off you!

Link to the eBay sale
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193555855189

Link to the hilariously overpriced bracelet version
http://jamisonwholesale.com/product_info.php?products_id=38

VIDEO: Top Three TAG Heuer Watches by Bijou Diamond Jewellery

SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer 2000 Series Quartz Chronograph

540.206

Last week I posted about a 540.206R that I found on eBay going for under £300. It was a little bit beaten up and the bracelet had been repaired using an ill-fitting end link, which I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to live with... it would have needed replacing or putting on a strap - either way I decided I couldn't be bothered with it and I would hold on and look for a better one for a bit more money.

Less than 24 hours later I received an email alert from Watches.co.uk telling me they had added a new TAG Heuer to their selling pages, and lo and behold it was a very minty looking 540.206! Comparing the two watches is a non-starter since this one is so much nicer, it almost looks like NOS, except it doesn't come in the original box, which is a bit of a bummer to be honest.

It does have it's documentation though, which shows the watch was originally purchased in August 1995, so it's coming up on its 25th birthday and looking pretty spectacular on it. 

I have my suspicions that perhaps it's had a new bezel, and I'm pretty sure it's had a new set of hands. If you look at the lume shot below you can see the hands glowing but the lume on the dial is dead as a dodo, if they were of a similar vintage you would expect them to be a lot closer in their luminosity.

When I got the email, my immediate reaction was 'Wow - I have to buy this!' Unfortunately the email alerts don't show the price and when I clicked on the link I was slightly taken aback to find it was five pounds shy of a grand. I mean, yes it is gorgeous and it's in spectacular condition, but I was hoping to find something a little more in the middle ground, you know... maybe £5-600 but with a few light marks, something like that.

I would love to own this, but can I really bring myself to pay £995 for a 25 year old quartz watch, even one that actually looks brand new in most regards? With much regret, I honestly don't think I can, but I will leave the link below in case anyone fancies it...

https://www.watches.co.uk/tag-heuer-2000-series-professional-chronograph/TA21789S

GALLERY: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Watches

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Targa Florio by Birth Year Watches

HISTORY: The TAG Heuer Formula 1 (Era One: 1987-1996)

Inspired by my new Formula 1, I decided to start a new series today. In this series I will be looking at the history of TAG Heuer models, using the catalogues to track the release years and how the collections developed and changed throughout the years. As you can imagine, this is quite time consuming (this post took me about six hours to complete) so I will be breaking the ranges down into manageable parts. For TAG Heuer, what better place to start could there be than the first watch the brand launched in its own right ' the original 'Formula 1'.

The history of the original TAG Heuer Formula 1 watch is very involved and further complicated by owners willingness to concoct their own combinations of bezels, cases and straps (either through creativity, or more likely necessity!), I guess that was supposed to be part of the fun, but for the purposes of this post I have consulted the TAG Heuer catalogues from 1987-1996 to ensure no rogue models get in.

You would be forgiven for thinking that the steel case models superseded the initial fibreglass coated originals, but actually the steel cases arrived very early on and the two ranges co-existed for quite some time. It wasn't really until the model was reaching the end of it's life that the fibreglass case was retired.

I rather enjoyed researching this post, even though it required some rather meticulous work including a spreadsheet to ensure I'd included everything, and I even learned something which I did not know - or rather simply had not noticed previously, that the Formula 1 range was discontinued for 4 years around the turn of the century! Evidently when LVMH bought the company they tried to take the brand upmarket, but eventually relented and brought it back - to great success, it must be said!


1987 CATALOGUE

TAG Heuer launched the Formula 1 series with just three watches, all 34mm men's models.

383.513: Men's, black/red dial, black bezel, black resin case with a black strap

384.513: Men's white/green dial, green bezel, red resin case with a green strap

385.513: Men's white/red dial, black bezel, red resin case with a black strap

1987/1988 CATALOGUE

This catalogue witnessed a drastic widening of the range and introduced the ladies (28mm) and steel cased models for the first time.

360.508: Ladies, pink dial, grey bezel, pink resin case with a grey strap

361.508: Ladies, cream dial, cream bezel, cream resin case with a cream strap

362.508: Ladies, navy/green dial, green bezel, navy resin case with a green strap

363.508: Ladies, blue/pale blue dial, pale blue bezel, blue resin case with a pale blue strap

370.508: Ladies, navy dial, navy bezel, steel case with a navy strap

371.508: Ladies, luminous/red dial, black bezel, steel case with a black strap

372.508: Ladies, luminous/green dial, green bezel, steel case with a black strap

373.508: Ladies, grey/orange dial, orange bezel, steel case with an orange strap

370.513: Mens, navy dial, navy bezel, steel case with a navy strap

371.513: Mens, luminous/red dial, black bezel, steel case with a black strap

372.513: Mens, luminous/green dial, green bezel, steel case with a green strap

373.513: Mens, grey/orange dial, orange bezel, steel case with an orange strap

380.513: Mens. black/yellow dial, yellow bezel, black resin case with a yellow strap

381.513: Mens, blue dial, black bezel, blue resin case with a black strap

382.513: Mens, yellow/grey dial, grey bezel, yellow resin case with a grey strap

386.513: Mens, cream dial, navy bezel, cream resin case with a navy strap*

387.513: Mens, cream dial, navy bezel, cream resin case with a navy strap

388.513: Mens, navy/pale blue dial, pale blue bezel, navy resin case with a navy strap

*386.513 is a special edition version of 387.513, this was for the 'Around Europe Sailing Race of 1987', it is quite unusual to have a completely separate part number just for a logo on the dial rather than a suffix added to the regular part number but I have seen a photo of the back verifying this number. This model was not featured in any catalogue.

1988 CATALOGUE

The 1988 catalogue maintained the collection thus far, with no models added or deleted.

1988/1989 CATALOGUE

The 1988/89 catalogue introduced two pink ladies models which are perhaps best viewed as 'novelties' for the 1989 season as they did not feature in any future catalogues. Also premiered here were the first Formula 1 chronograph watches.

364.508: Ladies, pink/pale pink dial, pale pink bezel, pink resin case with a pale pink strap

365.508: Ladies, bright pink dial, bright pink bezel, bright pink resin case and bright pink strap

374.508: Ladies, black/red dial, black bezel, steel case with a black strap

470.513: Mens, blue/black dial, blue bezel, steel case with a blue strap

471.513: Mens, black dial, black bezel, steel case with a black strap

472.513: Mens, grey/black dial, red bezel, steel case with a red strap

383.513/85: As the previous 383.513 model but with a red strap

383.513/81: 383.513 is redesignated the 385.513/81 to distinguish from the new red strap model

1991 CATALOGUE

Several more variations added and the previously released chronographs are replaced with new models. The last two resin cased watches are added to the range (both of which are ladies models) and all models with steel cases are now available on bracelets for the first time.

375.508: Ladies, black dial/green hands, black/green bezel, steel case with a black strap

380.508: Ladies, black/yellow dial, yellow bezel, black resin case with a yellow strap

383.508/481: Ladies, black/red dial, black bezel, black resin case with a black strap

The yellow and black ladies model does not appear in any further catalogues and should probably be considered a 'novelty' for 1991.

376.508: Ladies, black dial/yellow hands, black/yellow bezel, steel case with a black strap

377.508: Ladies, black dial/pink hands, black/pink bezel, steel case with a black strap

374.513: Mens, black/red dial, black bezel, steel case with a black strap

375.513: Mens, black/green dial/green hands, black/green bezel, steel case with a black strap

376.513: Mens, black dial/yellow hands, black/yellow bezel, steel case with a black strap

377.513: Mens, black dial/pink hands, black/pink bezel, steel case with a black strap

570.513: Mens, blue/black dial, blue bezel, steel case with a bracelet

571.513: Mens, black dial, black bezel, steel case with a bracelet

Model numbers 387.513, 388.513, 385.513, 470.513, 471.513 and 472.513 appear to have been deleted.

1992/1993 CATALOGUE

No new models were added in the 1992/93 catalogue, but some of the long standing resin case models were deleted: 382.513, 383.513 and 384.513. At the same time the TAG Heuer numbering system was changed, the chart below shows the old and new numbers.

1994/1995 SELECTION CATALOGUE

In this catalogue we find the blue and black dial Formula 1 chronographs joined for the first time by a white dial variant.

CA1212.BA0493: Mens, white/black dial, black bezel, steel case on a bracelet

1995/1996 CATALOGUE

By the time the 1995/96 catalogue came around the resin cased models had been completely discontinued, however it appears that you could still choose a strap instead of a bracelet. Four brand new models were added to the line-up, these were the last first generation Formula 1s as by 1997 the whole line was revamped and rubber straps were brought in as alternatives to bracelets.

WA1218: Mens, white dial, black bezel, steel case with a black strap or bracelet

WA1219: Mens, white deal, blue bezel, steel case with a blue strap or bracelet

WA1418: Ladies, white dial, black bezel, steel case with a black strap or bracelet

WA1419: Ladies, white/blue dial, blue bezel, steel case with a blue strap or bracelet

SPECIAL EDITIONS

382.513K: Mens, Ukyo Katayama Limited Edition (1992)

383.513/1: Mens, British Petrolem dial special edition.

The Ukyo Katayama limited edition has been shown to have either 382.513-K or 382.513/K (where the K appears to have been made by appending the number '1') on the caseback, and was subsequently renumbered WA1262.BS0085 (though I doubt that ever appeared on an actual watch).

Many thanks to Snowy at the Calibre 11 forum for this information and pictures.

 

383.513*: Mens, Olympic Games Special Edition

571.513T*: Mens, Olympic Games Special Edition (Chronograph)

380.513*: Mens, Van Halen 5150 Tour Edition

CA1211-RO*: Mens, Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation (Chronograph)

370.513*: Mens, Merit Cup, Zushi 1992 Special Edition

374.513*: Mens, Tom's World Sports Prototype Championship Team Special Edition

375.513*: Men's, Indianapolis 500 Special Edition

377.513*: Men's, Indianapolis 500 Special Edition

370.513*: Men's, Kenwood Special Edition

372,513*: Men's, Hot Dog Special Edition

385.513/085*: Shell Oil Special Edition

380.513*: Men's, Olympic Games Special Edition

374.513*: Men's, Hot Dog Special Edition

385.513/085*: Mazda Eunos Roadster Special Edition

383.513/085*: Japan Bowl 1993 Special Edition

I hope you have enjoyed this (rather detailed) look at the history of the first generation of Formula 1 watches, I hope to continue the series now and again (when I have plenty of time on my hands), though it remains to be seen how feasible it is given the horrendous number of watches released in later years... and really, once you get to around 2015 the catalogues are all but useless as a reference since they all become essentially 'selections' from the range and therefore unreliable for determining model life spans. Unfortunately this is a side effect of the website taking over the job of the physical catalogue - but of course, you can't consult the website as it was in 2016. 

I pity the historians of the future I really do! For all the cant about 'Connected to Eternity', it all seems very impermanent, perhaps there's a case for a 6 monthly look at the range to preserve the ebb and flow for future generations of TAG Heuer enthusiasts?

Visit the 'History of TAG Heuer' page HERE