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Tuesday, 5 July 2022

HISTORY: TAG Heuer Link - Part 1 (1999-2012)

 

The TAG Heuer Link has had a rather up and down history, at one point in the early 00s, it was almost the 'go-to' TAG Heuer. As time went on the Link became less sporty and more dressy, but tastes have changed and the Link has sadly fallen out of favour. Indeed, the current Link line-up is pretty much the remnants of what was new five or six years ago. Where does the Link go from here?

As in previous 'History' posts all watches are quartz powered except as indicated:
(A) Automatic 
(C) Chronometer 
(S) Calibre S

1999 LINK CATALOGUE
 
The Link first appeared in a dedicated 1999 Catalogue, it replaced the long standing S/EL (which was still in the general 1999 Catalogue incidentally). As usual in these times, TAG Heuer weren't messing about with 45 new references presented at launch.


CT1110.BA0550: 42mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
CT1111.BA0550: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
CT1111.FC6158: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel and case, black leather strap


CT1112.BA0551: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
CT1150.BD0552: 42mm, black dial, gold bezel two tone case and bracelet
CT1151.BD0552: 42mm, white dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet


CT2110.BA0550: 42mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
CT2111.BA0550: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
CT2112.BA0550: 42mm, white dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


WT1110.BA0550: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1111.BA0550: 42mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1112.BA0550: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WT1113.BA0551: 42mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1114.BA0551: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1150.BD0552: 42mm, white dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet


WT1151.BD0552: 42mm, black dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet


WT1210.BA0553: 36mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1211.BA0553: 36mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1212.BA0553: 36mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WT1213.BA0554: 36mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1214.BA0554: 36mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1250.BD0555: 36mm, white dial, gold bezel, steel case and bracelet


WT1251.BD0555: 36mm, black dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet


WT1310.BA0556: 28mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1312.BA0556: 28mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1313.BA0557: 28mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WT1314.BA0557: 28mm, white dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1315.BA0558: 28mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1316.BA0558: 28mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WT1352.BD0559: 28mm, white dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet
WT1353.BD0559: 28mm, black dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet


WT1413.BA0560: 25mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1414.BA0560: 25mm, white dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1415.BA0561: 25mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WT1416.BA0561: 25mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT1452.BD0562: 25mm, white dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet
WT1453.BD0562: 25mm, black dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet


WT5110.BA0550: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (C)
WT5111.BA0550: 42mm, white dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (C)
WT5112.BA0551: 42mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (C)


WT5150.BD0552: 42mm, white dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet (C)
WT5150.FC6159: 42mm, white dial, gold bezel, two tone case, brown leather strap (C)


WT5210.BA0553: 36mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (C)
WT5211.BA0553: 36mm, white dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (C)
WT5212.BA0554: 36mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (C)


2000 CATALOGUE

Perhaps unsurprisingly so soon after the initial launch, the 2000 catalogue throws up only one new reference, albeit an existing one mounted on a black leather strap (something rather unusual in the Link range, and particularly on the men's side of things).


CT2111.FC6158: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel and case, black leather strap (A)


2001 CATALOGUE

The range was expanding slowly, with more ladies pieces added alongside the Link Searacer quartz 'Regatta' chronograph.


CT1113.BA0550: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
CT1114.BA0551: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
CT2113.BA0550: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


WT131A.BA0558: 28mm, MOP dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT131F.BA0558: 28mm, MOP/dia dial, steel/dia bezel, steel case and bracelet
WT1318.BA0558: 28mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WT131C.BA0558: 28mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT131E.BA0558: 28mm, MOP/dia dial. steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT131G.BA0557: 28mm, MOP dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


2002/2003 CATALOGUE

Here TAG Heuer added more chronometer certified watches to the Link range and also gave us a pair of limited edition 'Senna' watches. 
  

CT5110.BA0550: 42mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (C)
CT5111.BA0550: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (C)
CT5113.BA0550: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (C)


CT511A.BA0564: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (C)
CT511B.BA0564: 42mm, white dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (C)


WT131H.BA0557: 28mm, MOP dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WT141C.BA0561: 25mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WT141M.BA0560: 25mm, pink dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet 
WT1455.BD0562: 25mm, MOP dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet


WT141J.BA0561: 25mm, MOP/dia dial, steel/dia bezel, steel case and bracelet


WT5113.BA0550: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (C)


CT2115.BA0550: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (Senna LE) (A)
WT141N.BA0560: 25mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (Senna LE) 
CT1115.BA0551: 42mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet 


2004 CATALOGUE

In 2004 TAG Heuer updated the Link range, with the 'WT' models deleted from the catalogue and four new ranges (WJ, WJF, CJ and CJF) added. The 'CT' range of chronographs would continue on for a few more years yet.


CJ1110.BA0576: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
CJ1111.BA0576: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
CJF2110.BA0576: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


WJ1110.BA0570: 39mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJ1111.BA0570: 39mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJ1112.BA0570: 39mm blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WJ1317.BA0573: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJ131A.BA0573: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, steel/dia bezel, steel case and bracelet
WJ131C.BA0573: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet

WJ2110.BA0570: 39mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (Tiger Woods LE) (A)
WJF1350.BB0578: 27mm, MOP dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet
WJF5112.BA0570: 39mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (C)


2005 CATALOGUE

2005 saw a huge expansion of the range, including the introduction of some 33mm ladies chronographs.



CJF2111.BA0576: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
CJF2114.BA0576: 42mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
CJF2115.BA0576: 42mm, grey dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


CJ1112.BA0576: 42mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
CJF1310.BA0580: 33mm, MOP dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
CJF1314.BA0580: 33mm, MOP/dia dial, steel/dia bezel, steel case and bracelet


WJ1113.BA0575: 39mm, black/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJ1116.BA0570: 39mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJ1310.BA0571: 27mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WJ1316.BA0573: 27mm, MOP dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJ1318.BA0572: 27mm, black/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJ1319.BA0572: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WJF1152.BB0579: 39mm, MOP dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet
WF1410.BA0585: 27mm, MOP dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WJF1310.BA0572: 27mm, MOP dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJF1311.BA0572: 27mm, MOP dial. steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJF1312.BA0572: 27mm, MOP dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WJF1313.BA0572: 27mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJF1314.BA0573: 27mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJF1315.BA0572: 27mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WJF1317.BA0572: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJF1318.BA0572: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, steel/dia bezel, steel case and bracelet
WJF131B.BA0572: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WJF131C.BA0572: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJF131D.BA0572: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJF1352.BB0581: 27mm, MOP dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet


WJF1353.BB0581: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet
WJF1354.BB0581: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, gold/dia bezel, two tone case and bracelet
WJF1410.BA0585: 24mm, MOP dial. steel bezel, case and bracelet


WJF2110.BA0570: 39mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
WJF2111.BA0570: 39mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
WJF2112.BA0570: 39mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


WJF2115.BA0587: 39mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


WJF2210.BA0586: 36mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
WJF2211.BA0586: 36mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
WJF2212.BA0586: 36mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


2006 CATALOGUE

Some nice 39mm Calibre 6 pieces added for the men and yet more ladies variations.


CJF2150.BB0590: 42mm, silver dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet (A)
WJF2116.BA0570: 39mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WJF211A.BA0570: 39mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
WJF211B.BA0570: 39mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
WJF211C.BA0570: 39mm, brown dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


WJF1411.BA0585: 24mm, MOP dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJF1412.BA0585: 24mm, MOP dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJF1414.BA0589: 24mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WJF1415.BA0589: 24mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJF1416.BA0859: 24mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJF1417.BA0589: 24mm, MOP/dia dial, steel/dia bezel, steel case and bracelet


WJF1419.BA0589: 24mm, MOP/dia dial, steel/dia bezel, steel case and bracelet
WJF1450.BB0584: 24mm, MOP dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet
WJF1319.BA0572: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, steel/dia bezel, steel case and bracelet


2007 CATALOGUE

Pre-financial crisis, TAG Heuer were sticking diamonds on anything and everything, and here we saw the 39mm models getting the treatment too.


WJ1114.BA0575: 39mm, MOP/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJ1117.BA0570: 39mm, black/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJF1153.BB0579: 39mm, MOP/dia dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet


WJ1313.BA0572: 27mm, white dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJ1314.BA0573: 27mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet
WJ1315.BA0573: 27mm, MOP dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet


WJF211D.BA0570: 39mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (Tiger Woods LE)
WJF211E.BA0570: 39mm, black dial, steel/dia bezel, steel case and bracelet (Tiger Woods LE)
WJF131G.BA0572: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, steel/dia bezel, steel case and bracelet



WJF131A.BA0572: 27mm, black/dia dial, steel/dia bezel, case and bracelet
WJF131E.BA0572: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, steel/dia bezel, steel case and bracelet
WJF131F.BA0572: 27mm, MOP/dia dial, steel/dia bezel, steel case and bracelet


CJF1312.BA0580: 33mm, silver/dia dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet 


2007/2008 CATALOGUE

TAG Heuer add some new 'jumbo' models to the Link range, utilising the '0' nomenclature to signify larger than normal cases. 


CJF2110.BA0594: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
CJF2111.BA0594: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
CJF2114.BA0594: 42mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


CJF2115.BA0594: 42mm, grey dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
CJF7110.BA0587: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (S)
CJF7111.BA0587: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (S)


CJF2150.BB0595: 42mm, silver dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet (A)


WJF2010.BA0592: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
WJF2011.BA0592: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
WJF2050.BA0593: 42mm, silver dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet (A)


WJ201A.BA0591: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
WJ201B.BA0591: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
WJ201C.BA0591: 42mm, blue dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


WJ201D.BA0591: 42mm, brown dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


2008/2009 CATALOGUE

Finally a break in the relentless pace, perhaps partly due to the aforementioned Financial Crisis?


CJF7110.BA0592: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (S)
WJF1451.BB0584: 24mm, MOP/dia dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet 


2009/2010 CATALOGUE

Again it was pretty much a holding pattern for the Link in 2009/2010.


CJF211A.BA0594: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
CJF211B.BA0594: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
CJF7111.BA0592: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (S)


2010/2011 CATALOGUE

This generation of Link was clearly coming to an end, and sure enough 2011 would see a new range on the books.


CJF7112.BA0596: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (S)
CJF7113.BA0596: 42mm, blue dialm steel bezel, case and bracelet (S)
WJF211G.BA0570: 39mm, grey dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


2011/2012 CATALOGUE

TAG Heuer launched the WAT and CAT ranges of watches, heralding a new era of Link watches. The new men's watches increased in size from 39mm to 40mm and 42mm to 43mm. While the WJ and CJ models were deleted from the catalogue the WJF and CJF pieces held on for one more year.


CAT2010.BA0952: 43mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
CAT2011.BA0952: 43mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


CAT7010.BA0952: 43mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (S)
CAT7011.BA0952: 43mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (S)


WAT1110.BA0950: 40mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet 
WAT1111.BA0950: 40mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet 
WAT2010.BA0951: 42mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


WAT2011.BA0951: 42mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
WAT2110.BA0951: 40mm, black dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)
WAT2111.BA0951: 40mm, silver dial, steel bezel, case and bracelet (A)


WAT2150.BB0953: 40mm, silver dial, gold bezel, two tone case and bracelet (A)


For Part 2 of the History of the TAG Heuer Link, please click the link below

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