TAG Heuer Boutique / Meadowhall, Sheffield 15th March 2025
Just a brief visit to the TAG Heuer boutique today as there really wasn't much new that I hadn't already seen (we're in the calm before the storm period right now, with Watches and Wonders just a week away), but I was interested to see the latest addition to the 40mm Aquaracer Solargraph range with its 'Ice Blue' dial and titanium case and bracelet.
When I first clapped eyes on this latest model it immediately brought to mind the quartz chronograph version that came out back in January 2023. But having seen them side by side I can confidently say that while the chrono version had a definite lilac tint to it, the new version is much more of a pure blue colour (and all the better for it, honestly).
Having said that, no doubt someone at TAG Heuer will be chortling into their coffee that the two dials are in fact exactly the same colour and I am an idiot. In which case I can only put it down to the pale blue 'Solargraph' second hand and perhaps the additional greyness of the titanium case influencing my perception of the tone.
I quite liked it, and I had forgotten how light the titanium models are, but I would choose the original titanium model with the black dial personally. Apart from anything else I think the pale blue second hand works best with the black dial, but to give it its due this blue is the nicest coloured Solargraph dial yet... which admittedly isn't saying a whole lot.
I also caught sight of the new pink dial Solargraph, which really didn't grab me at all and since my wife wasn't with me this time I left it where it was.
Beaverbrooks / Meadowhall, Sheffield 15th March 2025
The other watch I got a look at today was the new F1 Calibre 16 chrono with the blue highlights. I had been told a few weeks ago that the blue one was exclusive to Beaverbrooks and the lime green was going to be primarily available through Goldsmiths/WOS, so on arrival at Meadowhall I made a bee-line for the Beaverbrooks store to check their stock.
Low and behold there it was right in the middle of the window, and I can honestly say I think this is definitely the pick of the new F1s so far (having not yet seen the lime green one, which is potentially my favourite). I was told previously that the blue was similar to the 'Solargraph' signature blue, but I thought this unlikely and clearly it is way darker.
I think there is a certain novelty factor that elevates this particular model above the rest of the line-up, as cool and effective as red and black undoubtedly is TAG Heuer has used it so many times and in so many different ways that it's a little too obvious now. I'm still very eager to see the lime green version in the flesh, as I could see one of these two ending up in my collection at some point. I doubt I will buy either one new (at £4300+), but it certainly has the potential to be a future purchase once they hit the pre-owned market and the prices come down to something more reasonable.
I still find the new F1s to be perfectly wearable despite their stated 44mm size, but for those of you with smaller wrists I'm sure we will be seeing a new (smaller) three-handed Formula 1 launched next week and most likely powered by a Solargraph movement.
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