For a long. long time I've been meaning to write a post about all the 'Indy 500' watches that TAG Heuer have released over the years, but I've still never quite gotten around to it... and here we are again with the latest addition to that particular collection.
So, the obvious question is where does this one sit in the pantheon of TAG Heuer Indy 500 watches? I'd say it's one of the better ones, but there have been some real mingers over the years so let's not get too excited just yet. The overriding problem any Indy 500 watch has to overcome is the distinctive (but distinctly awkward) shape of the Indy 500 logo itself. Over the years it's been squashed into various subdials with limited success, so it's nice to see it here with plenty of space to breath and printed at a size where it's easy to see the details.
The 2026 Indy 500 Solargraph is limited to 1100 pieces
Oddly enough there were some 'Indy 500' F1s back in the 90s which looked similar (albeit with the logo printed even bigger - perhaps a bit too big actually), which is perhaps why this one recalls the classic Formula 1s of old more than most of these solargraphs; even more so when you see the watch presented on a black rubber strap (how this is not an option I do not know... why not charge a bit more and add the rubber strap as a bonus?).
Picture courtesy of Mspeedster
On release this one caused quite a bit of excitement on the THF forum, with several members putting their hands in their pockets to acquire one of the 1100 made. Personally I have zero attachment to the Brickyard or the Indy 500, so it's pretty meaningless to me. But viewing it objectively I think this is one of the best looking Indy 500 watches TAG Heuer have made, but my favourite is still the Heuer 01 Carrera made for the 101st running back in 2017.
That said, I haven't seen it in person and the gold markings often look unappealingly brown in some pictures (which I definitely don't like) and again I have to question issuing this on a bracelet without the option of a black rubber strap. As we can see above, it really improves the overall aesthetic and makes it feel much more authentic to the originals. Still, I guess you should be able to order the black rubber strap... or can you?
Okay, let's see what the Council have to say about this one.
8.5/10: "I like this one, it's the first Solargraph I'd actually seriously consider buying.They nailed the retro feel and colourway, I expect these will sell out fairly quickly."
2/10: "One of the nastiest, cheapest looking TAG Heuers ever made. This is a 150 dolla watch priced at like 2k?"
8/10: "Not bad, if I needed something in this size or style it’d be in the running, colours great."
9/10: "I love it! It’s a 9/10 for me, and I would rate it even 0.5 points higher if it came on the black rubber strap (FT8084) from the Miami GP LE."
7/10: "Great colours. I like it, but I don’t £2000 like it..."
9/10: "This one kind of snuck up on me. I wasn't instantly wowed by the release pictures, but it made quite the impact in person. I love the clean look of the dial and placement of the Indy 500 logo, it's not overly busy like some previous Indy's. The polished silver indices and hands bring the dial to life, making it very easy to read. As I bought one, I obviously think it's great."
6.5/10: "Difficult. It's an attractive watch, but the Indy 500 logo bothers me too much. Too bad."
3/10: "Not keen on the logo or the colours."
5/10: "I think it's OK but the Indy logo itself is a bit crap. The steel case and bracelet are a good choice for any F1.".
7.5/10: "As with all Solargraphs, the price is too high. However, I love the cohesive look of this watch and the winged wheel Indy 500 logo."
7/10: "Would look better with a rubber strap."
6/10: "I’m going to give it a 6/10 but I bet it looks better in person."
7/10: "Definitely interesting compared to the others in the same series. But I still prefer it if it has s steel bezel."
5/10: "Not very F1 for me, too dull."
9/10: "I dig it. I like the colours and would order a black rubber strap if picking one up. I edited my score after seeing the live posts by owners. A great release."
6/10: "This had so much potential, but the "gold" markings on the bezel and dial just look like dull brown, really diminishing the appearance."
5.5/10: "When I first saw it, I did not like it at all! Having looked at it a few time it has grown on me a bit. Still think it looks dirty brown and not gold but understand its the logo colour. The logo itself actually looks good on this model and works well."
7/10: "Saw this in Geneva and it’s pretty nice, the Indy 500 doesn’t sell that well in Europe though."
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