FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Watches (Limited Editions)

Okay. The first thing I wanna say is... why? Why are six of the nine 'launch' models limited editions? I don't get it. In fact, it kinda annoys me. When I saw that they were going to redo the black and yellow model I was immediately drawn to that because if anything that's one of the classic 35mm F1s that I regret selling slightly. However, now I see it's a limited edition and I'm like... why? Granted it's not that limited, but the fact that it is means that I will have to negotiate watch industry bullshit if I want one and the chances are that if I don't make up my mind pretty much immediately there's a risk that I won't get a second chance.

As it happens, having now seen actual video of the yellow/black and the red/white I think I actually prefer the red/white (which was always a favourite of mine) so the fact that that one isn't limited is a point in its favour. However, because of TAG's launch strategy of announcing all nine of these watches at once I now feel like I will wait until the black/yellow comes out before I buy the red/white because I only want to buy one and I don't want to regret my decision.

Of course the danger here is that I wait so long that I lose interest, so I'm not sure this strategy is really working for TAG Heuer! Though as it happens, the red one isn't coming out until September anyway (see below). 🤣

I guess this does appease some watch enthusiasts who complain when brands keep dribbling out releases and people stall because they are always waiting for the next one to drop, but... I can imagine when some of these watches actually get released some people will be like, huh - didn't that get released months ago?

Not sure whether that's a good idea or not honestly. Maybe it would have been better to have all nine available straight away as the buzz around these had been building for months and now it feels like people are keen but there's actually on two models available to buy.

Watch guys' attention is hard to maintain at the best of times, so telling us we 'might' be able to buy one of these in six months if you can get one, maybe... makes me feel inclined to forget about it and buy something else instead. But we'll see.

And you know, I can't help feeling that if I hadn't sold my last original F1 last year I wouldn't even be looking at these...

I think TAG's idea is that they will give us these 'throwback' models as a bone before they move on to more modern interpretations, however judging by the one 'modern interpretation' I'm not entirely sure that's a good idea. With it's fluted strap and '12' dial the WBY111A just looks kinda weird to me and I really don't like it... and honestly, judging by the scores it looks like the 'Council of Considered Opinion' aren't convinced either! I don't really get the idea behind the strap, because it looks a lot like the rubber strap on the Kirium, but that was based on the grooved tyres that Formula 1 was using back then, so... hmm.

I'm really not keen on the 'Christmassy' looking one either... I get that red/green is TAG Heuer colours and it makes sense from that perspective, and sure it was one of the first original colour schemes back in the 1980s. However, it took me a long time to find one in good condition at a good price and when it arrived it kinda gave me the ick. Sure it's colourful and all that, but something about that colour scheme just makes it look cheap and kinda like it came out of a Christmas cracker. I think it was one of the first of the 35mm watches that I sold, in fact I only really kept it at all because it was part of my 'collection'.

As for the others, I've always preferred the F1s on rubber straps to the ones on bracelets (perhaps because the 1980s bracelets made the watches wear even smaller) and the green bezel one appeals less to me than the blue bezel 'core collection' piece released in April. The blue Polylight model with the white dial looks great though, I could go for that and the all black one... I feel like this could have been the pick of the bunch, but I want it to have a plain white logo like the original, it just looks wrong to me with the red/green logo on the dial and spoils the otherwise 'dark' aesthetic.

Speaking of the logo, it might have been fun to use the old logo on the 're-issue' models. I'm sure TAG would be appalled by that idea, but I think it would have put a smile on a lot of people's faces. Ah well, I guess that was reaching.... 

So as I said, only two of the nine models are currently available, here are the release dates for the remaining seven watches.

2nd May - WBY1111 Black/Black DLC (Miami GP - 3000PCS)

30th May - WBY111A White Dial 'Racing' (Spanish GP - 1500PCS)

4th July - WBY1113 Green bezel / Steel case (British GP - 3000PCS)

5th Sept - WBY1160 Red/Green Polylight (Italian GP - 1000PCS)

5th Sept - WBY1161 Red/Black Polylight (Italian GP, non limited)

3rd Oct - WBY1162 Blue/White Polylight (Singapore GP - 1500PCS)

24th Oct - WBY1117 Yellow/Black DLC (Mexican GP - 1500PCS)

And now it's time to turn these limited edition Formula 1's over to the Council of Considered Opinion, and perhaps a little surprisingly they seem to prefer the 'core-range' models we looked at last time. Incidentally, very few comments left for these but 20 members returned scores.

Average Score - 8.5/10: "I appreciate that they tried a new design twist with the WBY111A, but it doesn't seem to have worked out too well so far."

Average Score - 8/10: "I gave them all '8' across the range, but if I was going to buy one then I would only buy one with a bracelet."

Average Score - 8.3/10: "I gave them all 8.5, except for the WBY111A (which got a 7.5), this is my least favourite and I think the strap throws things off for me."

Average Score - 2.7/10: "The 'Christmas Edition' sure is hideous."

Average Score - 7.8/10: "I like all 9 of the releases, with the Red "McLaren" being my favourite. The green & red "Monza" suits my taste the least colour wise. But as a "collector", it's probably the one I'd lean towards buying as it pays tribute to TAG Heuer's colours (as did the OG first release) and is the most limited at only 1000 pieces. The "Barcelona" looks cool, but it evokes the F1 generations of the mid to late 2000s with its numeric markers and tire tread like rubber strap. So, it's kind of the oddball of the group for me. The all blue "Singapore" is ok. However, I would've love it if it had been like the 1990 Team Tyrrell F1 watch, which had a blue strap, white case, blue bezel and white dial."

Average Score - 8.3/10: "Now we're talking, I just wish these weren't $2000, but I'm just poor."