Saturday, 31 July 2021
Friday, 30 July 2021
FEATURE: My Top Five 2000 Exclusive Watches
WN5141.BG0351
It's top five time again folks and this time it's the turn of the 2000 Exclusive series that was part of the TAG Heuer range from 1999 - 2009. I'm sure most of you will remember my 'History of the 2000 Exclusive' post from November 2020... and if not what a 'treat' is in store for you when you get to the bottom of the page!
To be fair there aren't a vast number of 2000 Exclusives to choose from (about 75 including the ladies models), but I thought it made sense to separate them out from the 2000 Series to make it easier to choose when I get around to listing my top five pieces from that particular subset of TAG Heuer watches. There's also a lot of repetition in the range to, so for example you will get a black dial watch in two sizes (ladies and men's), and then a men's chrono and a men's automatic chrono... so while 75 seems a lot, it soon boils down to a whole lot less than it at first appears.
Thursday, 29 July 2021
Wednesday, 28 July 2021
SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Quartz 'Night Diver' Watch
WAY108A.FT6141
Way back at Baselworld 2018 (when Baselworld was still a thing), TAG Heuer launched their first 'full-lume' dial in quite some time. This created a little bit of a stir since full-lume dials are always popular (not least because Pierce Brosnan wore a full-lume TAG Heuer in one of his James Bond films), but while the piece is still in the range (or is it?*) it definitely seems to have spent the last three years flying somewhat under the radar.
*Curiously if you go to the TAG Heuer website and search Aquaracers, this is not one of the 55 models that comes up, and yet if you search for WAY108A it is still there and still on sale priced at £1850.
This largely seems to be a by-product of the fact that the watch is powered by a quartz movement, rather than the Calibre 5 and as such it does seem a little expensive. Sure the black PVD case adds to the cost, and the full lume dial too, but for £50 less you could pick up a steel case quartz chronograph (CAY1110), or for £200 more a steel Calibre 5... both of which come on bracelets.
Tuesday, 27 July 2021
Monday, 26 July 2021
OWNED: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Watch 'Senna Edition'
WAZ1014.FT8027
I distinctly remember the first time I clapped eyes on the WAZ1014 (and its chronograph cousin the CAZ1019) in the window of Steffans Jewellers in Northampton way back in late 2017. My first impression was that I loved the contrast between the aluminium bezel and black surround and case, but I found the red hands a bit glossy for my liking. To be completely honest at the time the dial itself didn't make too much of an impression on me (other than the fact that it annoyed me how cluttered the chronograph looked with the stripes all but annihilated by the subdials), but the strap certainly did...
The strap is an odd one. When it first arrived on the Manchester United Formula 1 in early 2017 I struggled to understand the design concept since I was looking at it all wrong. I foolishly assumed that it was somehow connected to Manchester United (it being red and black) and so I was focusing on the red design and wondering if it was supposed to represent the devil's pitchfork or something. Of course eventually I realised that the red is merely representing the 'gaps' between the 'links' and that it is supposed to represent the 'Link' watch bracelet, but at the time I couldn't see it. I mean, quite why that is relevant to Manchester United I don't understand - here with the Senna connection it makes a whole lot more sense. I can only conclude the idea was formulated for use with this watch and then somebody decided it would work well on the Manchester United model too... because, dur - red and black!
Sunday, 25 July 2021
Saturday, 24 July 2021
ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Chronograph
CAZ101AG.FC8304
Beaverbrooks / Derby, 17th July 2021
This was my first trip to a shopping centre in quite a while and typically it had to take place during a heatwave! In reality the stop off at the 'Derbion' was merely a timekiller before my wife and I visited the dreadfully dull 'Derby Museum and Art Gallery' but I was super keen to finally get a look at the 2021 Aquaracer and you've probably already read my largely positive reaction to that a couple of days ago.
Of course I was hoping to see more than just the Aquaracer, but looking down the list of new releases from TAG Heuer this year the one thing that pops up time and again is 'limited edition'... and by 'limited edition' what they really mean is 'you ain't gonna see this in your local jeweller matey!'
Friday, 23 July 2021
EXPLANATION: Regarding 'Read More...'
You have probably noticed that now you need to click on 'Read More' to access the full content of a post. This change has come about because after I posted my 'History of the Monaco' I happened to view my blog on a smartphone and realised that only one post was visible. I had a quick search and found that this was a common problem caused by extremely long posts. The solution is to insert a 'page break' after the first paragraph of the post, which requires the reader to click for the content, but also makes the front page of the blog a lot neater. For phone users there should be no change except that you won't occasionally just see one post.
Rob/Aquagraph
Thursday, 22 July 2021
ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 5 'Professional' Watches
WBP201B.BA0632
Beaverbrooks / Derby, 17th July 2021
I'll be the first to admit that back in May when Mr Arnault donned his uber-white trainers to reveal the all new 2021 Aquaracer, I was more than a little underwhelmed. The 'WAY' style Aquaracers have always been a personal favourite of mine and while the last thing I want is for TAG Heuer's line up to stay the same in perpetuity (a la Rolex) I don't really want them to change the design of a watch I really like to something I feel is 'worse' than what they already had. That said, there were glimmers of hope from the start; the 'Tribute to 844' was pretty cool looking, but the 'basic' models left me feeling more than a little disgruntled.
I'll admit now, that there was more than a little private head-shaking from me; how could they have got this so wrong, and I wasn't alone. Internet 'watch gurus' (who don't have much investment in TAG Heuer at the best of times and love any opportunity to put the boot in) were lining up to criticise the new watches with one actually voicing the opinion that 'This will definitely be changed before it hits the shops' so confident was he that TAG Heuer had dropped the ball worse than anyone since Audemars Piguet and the woeful Code 11:59.
Wednesday, 21 July 2021
Tuesday, 20 July 2021
HISTORY: TAG Heuer Monaco (1997-)
Aside from the 3000 Series, which slightly overlapped the 'Heuer'/'TAG Heuer' eras, this is the first model I've attempted a history of that begins way back before the modern brand began. However, since I really don't have much knowledge of the original 'Heuer' Monaco (and not wanting to expose myself to tutting, head-shaking and ridicule from those on the Calibre 11 Forum who do) I've decided to restrict myself to starting from the 'Heuer' branded re-release in 1997.
All watches are automatic unless marked (Q) for quartz.
Monday, 19 July 2021
Sunday, 18 July 2021
BUYING EXPERIENCE: TAG Heuer 2000 Series Quartz Watch
WK1113.BA0311
Way back in 2004 (IIRC) I bought my wife a WK1313.BA0313 blue dial 2000 Series from Goldsmiths. It was her first 'new' TAG Heuer and she loved it to bits, indeed she still does and despite now having a sizeable collection herself I am quite sure it is perhaps the one she holds most special. Every now and again I have to change the dates on her watches and like her ceramic Formula 1 every time I get to examine it close up it reminds me what a great looking watch it is and consequently makes me want one of my own.
The problem has been up until now that every time I saw a WK1113 in good condition the price was more than I really wanted to pay. It's a nice watch, but it's not something I'd want to pay £4-500 for and that seemed to be the going rate, at least for watches being sold within the UK. The other hesitation I had was that the bracelet is similar to the one I had on my 2000 Multigraph and I did not get on with that bracelet at all...
Saturday, 17 July 2021
Friday, 16 July 2021
INSTRUCTIONS: How to do a Factory Reset and Set Up a TAG Heuer 'Calibre-S' After Installing a New Battery
CAF7013.FT8011
There comes a point when you collect watches that you realise you really can't keep on paying £50-85 to change a battery, especially when you can have two or three go in one month. So over the last couple of years I've learned to change batteries and have done so successfully in a variety of screw back models. A while back my Microtimer needed a battery and I didn't fancy the small screws holding the caseback down, so I sent that one back - but then not long after my wife's Alter Ego needed a battery and those screws were even smaller and I managed that, so maybe next time...
(Quick tip, when changing the battery in a watch with screws holding the back on, put the watch in a Tupperware box first to prevent any screws flying away and getting lost and also loop some Sellotape on itself and use the sticky side to 'store' the screws.)
My 500M Aquaracer WAJ1111 also went back last year because I couldn't shift the backplate, I guess perhaps it is fitted tighter for the extreme water rating? And then a week or so back there was my Calibre S Aquaracer.
Thursday, 15 July 2021
Wednesday, 14 July 2021
SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Sun Valley - Tour de Force' Limited Edition
WAZ2011*.XXXXXX
Not much information about this one... I stumbled across a You Tube video posted by a company called 'Simmons Fine Jewelry, Meridian Idaho' on the 9th of July and following the trail to their website I discovered they are offering a limited edition WAZ2011 Formula 1 with an anthracite dial customised with the 'Sun Valley Tour de Force' logo and a handmade colour matched strap (not 100% sure if this is provided by TAG Heuer or not, it doesn't say).
In addition, the watch comes engraved with your 'Top Speed'. If you visit the 'Sun Valley Tour de Force' website you will see that this is an event held in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, where '3.2miles of national highway become a speed limit free zone for one day only'; so I guess you take whatever supercar you can lay your hands on, post your best time and they engrave it on your watch to commemorate your achievement.
Tuesday, 13 July 2021
Monday, 12 July 2021
FEATURE My Top Five Silver Dial TAG Heuer Watches
I am not, it must be said, a massive fan of the silver dialled watch. I can appreciate the possibilities of a silver themed piece as a 'strap monster' since literally any colour strap can be attached, but since I can't see every single silver dialled watch on every single strap it's not a criteria I can judge very easily. For me, a silver dial either needs a texture, a colour highlight, a dial feature or a contrasting bezel to work. Failing that, it could be 'sold' on a striking strap... which might be enough to get it on my shortlist, but it's probably not going to propel it into my top five.
Which is why you won't find the Carrera CBK221B 'Silver' 160th Anniversary piece on this list; it's a silver dial (with the dreaded fauxtina lume no less!) with a stainless steel case and meets none of the criteria I've outlined above. For sure it is a 'strap monster', since it is the very epitome of a 'blank canvas', but for me that simply doesn't cut the mustard here.
Sorry Jim, does that mean I have to renounce my membership of the Church of Silver Dials and send my T-shirt back?
Sunday, 11 July 2021
Saturday, 10 July 2021
FEATURE: The C.O.C.O. Picks Their Perfect Three Watch Collection
Cliche Watch #1 Cliche Watch #2 Cliche Watch #3
Before we begin this post I've just realised that this is my 2000th post on this blog (started October 2016), thanks to everyone who reads the blog and shares in this most excellent hobby!
I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but the 'Perfect Three Piece Collection' is YouTube Watch Guru 'meat and potatoes'. I don't know how many times I've watched someone tell me that the perfect three piece collection consists of a dive watch, a chronograph and a dress watch and really the only point of watching these videos is to find out whether or not the dress watch is a Jaeger Le Coultre or not... because pretty much without fail you can guarantee that the dive watch will be a Rolex (usually a Submariner) and the chronograph will be an Omega Speedmaster. As for the dress watch well, it's usually a Reverso, or possibly a Cartier Tank, which is all just so predictable and unspeakably boring!
Which is not to say those are bad watches or anything like that, because clearly they aren't and there's a reason why so many people crave those watches... but maaaaaaaaan is it boring to hear again and again how they make the 'perfect' three piece collection.
First off, who says it has to be a dive watch, a chronograph and a dress watch anyway? What nonsense is that? Most of us do not dive, so any watch with a 200M rating will be more than adequate for any water based mischief we are likely to get up to and it certainly doesn't need a rotating bezel and a helium release valve. Nor do most of us require a chronograph in our day to day lives - I'll tell you secret, I have 'several' chronographs, and the only time I ever run them is once a month to move the oil around. A couple don't even work properly, but I'm not spending £300 to fix something I will never use.
Friday, 9 July 2021
Thursday, 8 July 2021
SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer Monaco Heuer 02 Carbon Watch Piece Unique for Only Watch
CBL2191.FC6507
Hot on the heels of the pink dial Aquaracer I posted about the other day comes this very interesting Monaco made as a piece unique for auction at the 2021 'Only Watch' event. Only Watch has been around for a while now and takes places every other year (raising money for research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) and is something which TAG Heuer has contributed to previously with Monaco based watches in 2009 and 2011 and a luxurious 'Connected Tourbillon' box set in 2017.
They really went for it this time though with this carbon Monaco... which not only features a new carbon case (modified to take a larger display caseback) and skeletonised carbon dial components, but also utilises the carbon hairspring previously found in the Nanograph and the first wave of TAG Heuer Autavia watches, before they were recalled and replaced with standard steel springs. I feel like we will never be able to talk about the carbon hairspring without bringing that up, which I'm sure TAG Heuer really appreciate...
Wednesday, 7 July 2021
Tuesday, 6 July 2021
BUYING EXPERIENCE: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Classic' Quartz Watches
WA1216 377.508
For a long time now my wife has been wanting to get hold of a black/pink Formula 1 (377.508) but every time I would find one either the bezel was damaged or the pink hands were faded almost white, or both. So when my regular Japanese eBay supplier listed this one she was very interested indeed. Similarly I've been after a black/yellow Formula 1 ever since my wife got hers back in April... and as luck would have it the same seller also listed this WA1216 for sale ending almost simultaneously.
Monday, 5 July 2021
Sunday, 4 July 2021
SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer 2000 Series Quartz Chronograph
253.006*
This was supposed to be a straightforward little post about this 1980s 2000 Series that I spied on eBay the other day; but it wasn't until I went looking for a 'head-on/white background' shot of a 253.006 to head up the page that it struck me that something was seriously amiss. I'm sure some of you might be gawping at the picture above and in particular the pozi-screw heads on the bezel and thinking, 'seriously Rob, something is amiss and it's blatantly obvious'... but actually (unbelievably) the screw heads are entirely correct...
Saturday, 3 July 2021
Friday, 2 July 2021
SPOTLIGHT ON: New Arrivals at Bicester Village
Store Contact Number (01869) 249008
Time once again to update you with the latest pieces to arrive at the Bicester Village TAG Heuer outlet store, and this time we have a couple of things that I've been expecting to arrive sooner or later. No sign yet of the recently discontinued ladies Formula 1 range, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time.
WBD218A.FC6445
'Carbon Collection' Aquaracer Calibre 5
Outlet Price £2400
List Price £3450
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