HISTORY: TAG Heuer Microtimer (2002-2008)

 

The story of the Microtimer really begins in 2002, with the release of its almost identical predecessor the Micrograph F1. I must admit I had never heard of the Micrograph being referred to as the 'Micrograph F1' until I looked in the 2004 TAG Heuer catalogue, but it kinda makes sense. At the time the Formula One range had been discontinued and the company were utilising their branding relationship with Bernie Ecclestone's 'Formula One' in different ways, here and also with the partly digital 'F1 Kirium' (both watches having 'Official Timekeeper of the FIA F1 World Championship' engravings on the backplate).

The main difference between the Micrograph and the Microtimer is that the Micrograph was only accurate to two decimal places or 1/100th of second, whereas the Microtimer is a 1/1000th of a second chronograph, and also the Micrograph was a numbered limited edition of 999 pieces whereas the Microtimer was a regular part of the line up.

There is little point in consulting the catalogues here as I usually do, as only one version of the Microtimer appears throughout the lifespan, the negative dial CS111C. However, there were a few variations (very few), with a positive display version also available and then both with diamond edges.

Finally, it seems there was one other version, though whether it was an actual 'production' model or a watch modified at a customer's request is unclear. This is the CS111E-0 which features additional diamonds on the watch case. Funky!

CS111B.FT6003: Negative dial, steel case, black rubber strap (Micrograph F1 - L/E)

CS111C.FT6003: Negative dial, steel case, black rubber strap

CS111E.FT6003: Negative dial, steel/diamond case, black rubber strap

CS111E-0.FT6003: Negative dial, steel/diamond case, black rubber strap

CS111F..FC6199: Positive dial, steel/diamond case. white leather strap

CS111F.FC6200: Positive dial, stee/diamond case, black textile strap

CS111F.FT6003: Positive display, steel/diamond case, black rubber strap

CS111G.FC6199: Positive display, steel case, white leather strap

CS111G.FT6003: Positive display, steel case, black rubber strap

NB: It's entirely possible that (for example) the textile strap was available for other models than the CS111F, but I've presented here every variation that I've been able to find.

So in a nutshell, the CS111C is the standard model, the CS111E is the standard model with diamond edges, the CS111F is the reverse display with diamond edges and the CS111G is the reverse dial without diamonds. What happened to CS111D? Who knows... 

For me, personally, the negative display is infinitely cooler than the positive. The continuation of the black from the strap through the dial is a very cool design feature, but the positive display certainly makes more sense for the white leather and more feminine versions. Because believe it or not, despite its size the Microtimer was also somewhat aimed at women... (see below).

There was one more (slightly bonkers) special edition Microtimer; the 2005 Crystal Brazil Edition (Swarovski Crystals) by Vincent Dupontreué. This was a plain cased CS111G fitted with a denim strap decorated with green, yellow, blue and clear Swarovski crystals... in the shape of a parrot! 

Function wise the Microtimer offers two time zones, a 1/1000th chronograph with 'best lap' function, an alarm and a good old fashioned backlight function. It also has the option to turn off the screen when not in use to preserve the battery.... though this doesn't seem to do very much as I have rarely used it since I had the battery replaced during the pandemic and today it is telling me the battery is on it's last legs - I think I have worn it maybe twice since, so that's £85 well spent! 🙄

As for pricing, the basic CS111C appears in the 2004 price list at £1250 and the 2005 price list at £1275. It also appears in the 2007 price list, but unfortunately I only have the American version which of course is in USD ($1995) so not sure how that equates. Additionally, though they are not shown in the 2006/7 catalogue, two more Microtimers appear in the 2007 price list, the CS111G.FC6199 at $2095 and the CS111F.FC6200 (positive dial with diamond edges) at a remarkable $6995!

Also in the 2007 price list we find the straps priced individually and the buckle.

FC5016 Microtimer folding buckle - $150

FT6003 Vulcanised rubber strap - $175

FC6199 White leather strap - $500

FC6200 Black textile strap - $400

Clearly you do not want to be replacing the straps very often, particularly the white leather one!

Back in February 2017 I bought my CS111C.FT6003 from eBay for £681, but in recent years they seem to be on the climb. Recently I've seen them as high as £1200, which I have to admit does seem a little optimistic! I think a reasonable price to aim for would be between £850 and £1000 depending on condition.

I appreciate that many of you will never have seen a Microtimer or a Micrograph F1 (as we now know it is called) in the metal and will probably have preconceived ideas about how it wears. Officially it is described as being 38mm x 42mm, which makes it roughly the same size as a Monaco (perhaps a tad bigger). However, both the back and front are curved making it very ergonomic for a square watch and very easy to wear under a cuff.

12mm at the thickest point, about 8mm at the lug ends.

Like my 45mm Carrera Heuer 01, the strap is very wide (tapering from 30mm to 21mm) which also helps it wear very nicely, though in some ways it feels more like a bangle or perhaps a bund and it is a bit sweaty on the wrist in the summer months. Not that you'll be wearing it in the summer because only a fool would wear this without a sleeve to hide it under. 

Yes, because sadly the Microtimer's Achilles heel is that highly polished case, which is nigh on impossible to keep scratch free. When I bought mine from eBay in 2017 I spent about £90 having it polished and on return it looked fantastic. But even with sparing use it is already scratched again (though nowhere near as bad as it once was) which is very frustrating, but unfortunately part and parcel of Microtimer ownership.

Kinda makes sense now why someone would cover the entire front case with diamonds!

A final point to make is that the wide vulcanised rubber strap does have a tendency to curl up slightly at the edges and due to its slightly peculiar shaping can make it look a bit odd from some angles, but still overall it is a good choice for the Microtimer.

So, that's it, basically. I am going to post the instruction booklet for the Microtimer tomorrow as I'm sure it would be useful for owners who don't have one. I have to consult it twice a year myself when we change from GMT to BST and back again as I can never remember how to change it...

LINK TO MICROTIMER INSTRUCTIONS:

Will appear here tomorrow when posted!

LINK TO THE TAG HEUER HISTORY PAGE MENU:

http://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/p/history.html

LINK TO BUYING EXPERIENCE FOR MY MICROTIMER:

http://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2017/02/buying-experience-tag-heuer-digital.html