FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera 42mm Chronographs & Tourbillon

 

CBN201C.FC6542                 CBN201D.FC6543                 CBS5010.FC6543

More than a month on and we're still trawling through the watches that TAG Heuer dropped on us at Watches & Wonders 2023, unbelievable! Still, this is the last of the W&W23 related 'First Impressions' posts and to be honest it's taken so long to get here that I've actually already tried on one of these watches. But we might as well stick with the format, besides we want to hear what the Council of Considered Opinion have to say don't we?

Okay, so for the sake of our sanity, most of all mine, I decided to group these three 42mm Carreras together although I perhaps should have grouped the tourbillon in with the 39mm Carreras seeing that they have more similarities in design (although two of these watches do share the same boring strap). Nevertheless these three are all 42mm and indeed this marks the first time that TAG Heuer have put their Swiss made Heuer 02 tourbillon into a case smaller than 45mm.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Aquaracer 'Night Diver' Calibre 5 Watch by Shah Lusso

INFO: TAG Heuer Catalogue Link is Down

I know some of you are experiencing problems trying to access the catalogues from the link to the right of the screen, unfortunately the site where the catalogues are hosted is down at the moment, but I'm told it should be back online on the 5th of May, sorry for the inconvenience. 

Aqua-G

FEATURE: Heuer Monaco 'Steve McQueen' Calibre 11 Chronograph by CHAT GPT

CAW211P.FC6356

Cards on the table, I have had a lot on lately and a lot of late nights. I honestly sat down at 11:30 last night and tried to write a post but I was just too tired. So I did what any self respecting journalist would do in this position; I asked 'CHAT GPT' to write a post for me. And here it is...

The Steve McQueen Monaco watch is a timeless classic that has become an icon in the world of horology. Named after the legendary actor and racing enthusiast, Steve McQueen, this watch has a unique design and history that sets it apart from other timepieces.

The Monaco watch was originally introduced by TAG Heuer in 1969, and it was the first square-shaped waterproof chronograph in the world. Its unconventional design was a result of the company's desire to create a watch that could stand out from the traditional round watches that were popular at the time. The watch was an instant success and quickly became a favorite among watch enthusiasts and racing aficionados alike.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Aquaracer 'Solargraph' Quartz Watch by Brent Miller Time

 

FEATURE: Watches & Wonders 2023 - Part 2: IWC, Oris, Rolex & Chopard (with Jim Dollares)

 

Welcome back to the second part of our irreverent coverage of Watches & Wonders 2023. For part one (which was totally devoted to TAG Heuer, of course) click the link below:

https://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2023/04/feature-watches-wonders-2023-part-1-tag.html

ROB: Welcome back Jim, so where shall we begin?

JIM: Well, how about we start by bashing that hyped and insanely priced IWC Ingeneur?

ROB: Oh yes, a great place to start. Yeah I mean, people have been saying that we are moving into a new era of nostalgia, the 60s is done to death so lets rehash the 70s and possibly the 80s too... and this watch sure looks like it should have come out in the 70s don't it? Though I have to say, I do quite like the funky dial.

JIM: You like it? And you say you never like what everyone else loves! I think it is a decent watch but I am no big fan of integrated bracelet models like this one. And is there anything unique to this watch? When I first saw it, my first thought was that it might as well say Baume & Mercier, Frederique Constant or Tissot on the dial. But just because it says IWC on the dial, the price for this steel watch is set to something crazy like 11k! Can you believe that? I mean, hats off to IWC if they can fool their moronic fans to pay that much, but still. Crazy!

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Carrera Heritage 'Panda' Heuer 02 Chronograph by Average Bros

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Gulf' Special Edition Quartz Chronograph

 

CAZ101AT.BA0842

It seems like rumours of a new, updated Formula 1 have been swirling around for months if not years now, but to me it seems pretty clear that the Formula 1 has been refreshed with a new look (if not a new case) and so I fully expect this new style of Formula 1 to be around for a while yet. Personally I quite like it; I'll admit I found the 'Red Bull' a bit busy on release, but overall the new watches definitely seem a bit more 'on it' (although to be clear I'm definitely not talking about the dreadful tri-colour F1s here) and for me one which was hanging around and in desperate need of a makeover was the Gulf F1 edition.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer - Watches and Wonders 2023 by Watches TV

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer 36mm Carrera Ladies/Unisex Watches

 

WBN2310.BA0001     WBN2311.BA0001     WBN2312.BA0001     WBN2313.BA0001

Given my recent post about supposedly 'unisex' watches, you may be expecting a rant about how these new 36mm Carrera watches are too feminine to be 'unisex', but what would be the point? You only have to look at them to see that they are large women's watches. Nothing to stop men wearing them if they want to, but I really can't consider them 'unisex'. So, sorry TAG Heuer, I know you are trying to be on-trend and everything, but if you truly want 'Unisex' watches this ain't working.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Calibre 5 Watch by WatchBox Reviews

 

FEATURE: Watches & Wonders 2023 - Part 1: TAG Heuer (with Jim Dollares)

 

I thought we'd take a break from the W&W/C.O.C.O. scores (still a few left to do and now the green Aquaracer has come out too!), so today I invited our very special Swedish contributor Jim Dollares to join me in casting a critical glance over the new releases at W&W and of course we had to start with TAG Heuer. Part two is in the works, but for now let's take a irreverential look at what our favourite watch brand brought to Geneva this year.

ROB: Hej Jimbo!

JIM: Hey Rob! Good to hear from you. I have landed in my opinions on this year's Watches and Wonders and I think we have some awesome releases to talk about. How about kicking things off with something that perhaps is not the most awesome thing this year, the Plasma tourbillion?

ROB: Right you are... oh yeah, I really wasn't expecting them to make another Plasma Carrera, although funnily enough I did notice that Capsoul Diamonds Instagram account suddenly started becoming active again a couple of weeks before W&W. The funny thing for me was that when the first one came out last year, I barely noticed the diamonds set into the case, because I was distracted by the diamond crown and dial. It's a different story this year huh? Can`t really miss them this time... and, well.... it's a nice idea, and it's very clever. But it is it attractive?

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Carreras at Watches & Wonders 2023 by Monochrome Watches

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Solid Gold & Two Tone Automatic Watches

 

WBP2150        WBP2151        WBP2450        WBP2451        WBP5150       WBP5152

I think it's fair to say that gold, and two-tone in particular, is not everyone's cup of tea. So I just knew that certain members of the C.O.C.O. Council would fire back some pretty low scores when I sent these out for scoring. However, I personally own two or three two-tone watches (I'm embarrassed to say I can't remember and I'm too lazy to go and check) so I can appreciate them for what they are, though I have to admit I don't think I would ever buy one brand new.

The problem is though, trying to find a pre-owned two-tone watch in good condition is tough, because gold is very soft and so no matter how careful you are it will always pick up scratches. And for some reason people who sell their two-tone watches always seem to be clumsy types, or maybe they sell them because they didn't realise how easily they were gonna scratch up? Who knows, but it feels like these have been a long time coming. Maybe they had big stocks of the previous two-tone blue dial Aquaracer they needed to shift before letting these out of the box? 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Formula 1 'Mario Kart' Heuer 02T Limited Edition Chronograph by Thaipoopiest

 

Buying Experience: TAG Heuer Aquaracer WBP201C by Jim Dollares

WBP201C.BA0632 

Today we welcome back our Swedish correspondent Jim Dollares who is back to tell you all about the time he went to a shop to buy an Aquaracer, and this time he actually did buy an Aquaracer... eventually.

JIM DOLLARES: In 2021 I wrote a story for the TAG Heuer Enthusiast blog about my pocket full of money and me being on my way to an authorised dealer to buy my very first Aquaracer. On that day I ended up ordering the Tudor Black Bay 58, but let me tell you, the Aquaracer line of watches never left my thoughts or my heart.

A New Aquaracer Design

It is funny when I think back on my emotional journey with the Aquaracer watches. I remember the WAY211B being one of my first true watch loves and obsessions. I spent hours and hours staring at photos of that watch. In 2021 when Frederic presented the updated Aquaracer design I was outraged. How could they ruin the unique and perfect design of the Aquaracer? What is this nonsense with the weirdly shaped indices and the round cyclops? 

Fast forward one year and I had warmed up to the new design and I could sense that familiar tingle in the balls that we all get from a perfect watch. Eventually I tried on the new ones and found myself wanting to go back multiple times just to experience the WBP series of Aquaracer on wrist. But, what initially sold me on the new generation was not the design, it was how it felt in the hand and on wrist. This new generation is what the Aquaracer should have always been; well built, nicely finished and luxurious in hand.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Carrera 39mm Chronographs by Time & Tide

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera 39mm Calibre TH20-00 Chronographs

 

CBS2210.FC6534                                           CBS2212.FC6535

I almost feel like I should preface this post by saying that when you read my comments you should probably bear in mind that this new line of 39mm Carreras is at least partially aimed at the type of customer who bought the so called 'Glassbox' vintage style Carreras of the last few years (most, if not all, of which were limited editions...) and as such this model isn't really aimed at me.

But having said that, it feels like TAG Heuer have tried their best to keep enough DNA from the aforementioned 'Glassbox' Carreras to satisfy the vintage Heuer fans, while giving these a veneer of modernity, hopefully sufficient that it might increase the spectrum of appeal to people who didn't lust after or perhaps never even saw the previous 39mm Carreras. 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer's 2023 Watches & Wonders Releases by Watchfinder & Co

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG HEUER Carrera Plasma Diamant D'Avant-Garde 44mm Tourbillon & 36mm Watch

 

Last year TAG Heuer shocked us all with the first incarnation of their 'Plasma Carrera' and to be honest until I saw their teaser for Watches & Wonders 2023 it never crossed my mind for a second that they would be doing it all over again. Only this time... throwing caution completely to the wind.

Now honestly, I can't remember what score I gave the 2022 version, but looking back to last Christmas and the Watch of the Year Vote for 2022, the original 'Plasma' scored a respectable 5.9 out of 10. Which is probably more than I would have expected when you consider that the majority of the people voting are somewhat conservative when it comes to watches and aren't shy about expressing themselves when it comes to the abomination that is the 'modern' Carrera.