Tuesday, 17 June 2025

OWNED: TAG Heuer 1500 GMT Quartz Watch

 

As I've mentioned recently, I'm still in the process of trying to reduce my TAG Heuer collection to something approaching a 'sensible' size (20 would be perfect, really) and that obviously means selling more watches. That's fine, but obviously the further I go with that the harder it's going to get to convince myself to let go of watches that I've collected, especially watches that have been with me for some time and which (to me at least) represent the 'best' of a particular model line. 

And that's exactly how I feel about this GMT variant of the 1500 Series, at 40mm it is the perfect size for me and much better than the vast majority of 1500 Series models which are 37mm in diameter. As such, me selling this is basically ruling the 1500 Series out of my future collection because I'm not going to buy an inferior piece or buy another one of these again, so unless I win the lottery and money no longer matters, this is it. 


While there's nothing inherently wrong with this 1500 GMT Quartz, the sad truth is that I only really wear it when I realize I haven't worn it in a while and even then I only ever wear it for a day and then put it back; it's never really tugging at me to keep it on for a second day. Which is perhaps not that surprising when you look at my collection as a whole and what it's up against. When I had five or six other watches it was probably quite exciting, but now... sitting next to Grand Carreras and multiple Aquaracers it's just a bit underwhelming. 

I guess this is what happens when you collect watches as a hobby, you aspire to greater things and eventually things you once cherished become a bit tired and uninspiring and since you can only really wear 1 or 2 watches a day, it gets ignored and eventually you wonder why you are keeping it around when you could be using the money to buy something more stimulating. 


As such, it has been on the chopping block for a while and a week or so ago I finally bit the bullet and put it on eBay; as a result it is now sold and awaiting despatch to it's new home. I must admit I have slightly mixed feelings about that, since this one has been with me for quite a long time and ideally I would love to keep every watch I've ever owned... but I'm trying to get away from that 'collector' mindset and this is another necessary step on the path, so off it goes.

It's funny, I did a chart recently showing the comings and goings of all my watches and it's almost like I started my journey well, buying watches that were 'keepers' and gradually I started amassing 'stuff' to fill out my collection, and for the most part that later 'stuff' is the 'stuff' that has fallen by the wayside. There have been some exceptions, like my blue 6000 Series which was a very early purchase (I ended up keeping my silver dial chrono instead), but on the whole if you look at say the first 15 watches I bought I think I still have more than half of them today.


So yeah, I must admit when I packaged it up to go I was a little bit wistful, wondering if I was doing the right thing... but I still need to get rid of probably another ten watches and when you look at it like that this one was definitely in the bottom three, so it had to go. 

It always amazes me when I sell watches and then go back and look to see what I've posted about them on the blog, and as usual this one has barely warranted a mention since it was bought in February 2019. I guess that says a lot about where it ranks in my affections and probably justifies it's departure, but it's still slightly sad to see it go. 

I know the 1500 Series has its fans, and I don't want to offend anyone, but the watch was designed as an 'entry level' piece with all models being quartz and no chronographs included. This is kind of reflected in the dial, which is quite plain and looks a little like it's made of white card. I know it isn't but it kinda has a 'paper-like' appearance which I actually found quite endearing... but luxurious it definitely is not.


That said, the unique (to the 1500 Series) bracelet is surprisingly nice, featuring as it does a five link design where the central link is the smallest and then the intermediate links are in-between that and the outer links. The bracelet and case are finished in that 'budget conscious' (but actually quite cool) sand-blasted finish that these days TAG Heuer use on £8000+ titanium Monacos... 🤣

Being a GMT, the bezel on this one is bidirectional and it moves very smoothly. As someone who rarely leaves the country of his birth I have very little use for a GMT, and the only reason I bought this one was because it gave me that 40mm case size, but actually the extra red hand is kind of cool too. For a moment there I wondered if there were any 40mm three handers, but I don't think there were. TAG's numbering suggests that all the WD models were 37mm and I assume if they had added a 40mm three hander it would have been given the code WD0*** (rather than WD1***). The post 1992 number for my watch was WS1111, but that just means that in the WS range the 1 signifies 40mm, whereas in the WD range the '1' signifies 37mm. Clear as mud, eh?

Well there we are. I must admit the watch looks great in these pictures and I'm kind of wondering why I sold it! And so it goes... but as it's taken me a couple of days to write this the watch is now in its new home, so that's it for me and the 1500 Series... (probably).



Wednesday, 11 June 2025

ON THE WRIST: Colourful 36mm Aquaracers & Miami/Spanish Formula 1 Solargraphs

 

TAG Heuer Boutique / Milton Keynes, 31st May 2025

My second visit to the Milton Keynes boutique this year and this time I was lucky enough to find not only a couple of the new 36mm colourful dial automatic Aquaracers but also two limited edition Formula 1 Solargraphs. Sadly there was no sign of the blue dégredé dial on the white rubber strap, and it seems like perhaps it's not actually released yet - though I notice TAG Heuer have added it to their website with the option of a steel bracelet now.

But we (my wife and I) did get to see both the purple and the pale green versions and honestly we thought they looked rather nice. I was expecting the purple dial to look a bit wishy washy in real life, but it's actually quite a strong, vibrant tone and while it's certainly not going to be everyone's cup of tea I thought it was quite effective. My wife really liked it, but unfortunately (like the 'Tiffany' blue model before it) at 36mm it's just too big and chunky for her wrist. And of course a 36mm diver is far too small for me, not that I particularly want a purple dial Aquaracer anyway...  

Wednesday, 4 June 2025

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Monaco 'Gulf' Limited Edition Calibre 11 Chronograph



There's always quite a lot of excitement when TAG Heuer announce a new 'Gulf' branded Monaco and even I (someone completely untouched by the romance of Le Mans, Steve McQueen, etc) am not immune to the lure of the striped, square dial. However I did find the most recent regular 'Gulf' model a little disappointing (for me it was perhaps the least interesting of all the 'Gulf' models we've seen to date) so it's nice to see a really good one this time around, even if it is a limited edition.

For the 2025 edition we've gone right back to the start with another white dial Monaco embellished with red and blue stripes (as seen on Steve McQueen's race suit in the film Le Mans). It's funny but every time we get a new Gulf Monaco it always descends into a debate about how they never use the right shade of pale blue (with most agreeing that the 2018 limited edition of 50 pieces was the most accurate from that point of view), but thankfully here we don't have to worry about that, phew!

Saturday, 24 May 2025

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Aquaracer 36mm 'Coloured Dials' Calibre 5 Watches

 

Three new 36mm Calibre 5 Aquaracers for you today, and while I wouldn't dream of labelling them 'ladies' watches, they definitely tend to fall into that general category due to sizing, diamond hour markers and general colour choices. I must admit when I first saw them the one that caught my eye was the purple dial, but the more I look at it the more I'm unsure how successful it actually is. I applaud TAG Heuer for embracing a new colour in this range and maybe it looks fantastic in person, but as of right now I'm definitely on the fence.

Thursday, 8 May 2025

ANNOUNCEMENT: Running Out of Steam...?


Good morning my TAG Heuer enthusiast friends. As you probably know, I've been writing this blog for nearly nine years now and I have made over 3000 posts since I started back in October 2016, in the process making this the first choice resource for all things 1986-present day (as shown by the recent 1.5 million views milestone - thank you all once again for that).

Over the years I've explored pretty much every facet of the brand, with very few still to be covered (the 1000 Series is a glaring omission I know and I will get to that sooner or later) and so it gets harder and harder to think of new posts when there's a lull in the release schedule. 

On top of that, there's the issue of time. Simply finding time to write these posts week after week after week is starting to feel a bit like 'work' and it doesn't help that I'm not finding too much in the new releases to inspire me. TAG Heuer has always been a brand that refreshes itself constantly, indeed it's one of the things I really like about the brand, but the latest models are not really rocking my boat and even if they were I'm not sure I'm able to afford many of them until they become 'pre-owned'.

I'm actually okay with the fact that I'm not lusting after the new designs, because I know in a couple of years the line up will have changed again and maybe then the design language will have shifted back to my taste, or it could be that eventually I start to see the new watches in a different light and I move towards them, you never know. This is where TAG Heuer win over the likes of Rolex for me, because I know what Rolex do and it doesn't really change that much... I know some people argue that's Rolex's strength and that may well be true, but it's not the basis of a good blog that's for damned sure!

Back in the Jean Claude Biver days I was pumping out posts left right and centre (admittedly not always great posts, but post nonetheless...) because it was all new to me and frankly there was so much to get excited about. Currently, not so much. Despite the YouTubers insistence that 'TAG Heuer is BACK!' my initial enthusiasm for the re-released Formula 1s has waned quite dramatically since I saw one in person and I really don't think I'm going to be buying one (though I'm still keen to at least try on the red one when it comes out in September). I also really don't like the glassbox Carrera very much and while the new Calibre 16 Formula 1's are quite cool, the price tag is enough to prevent me getting too invested (and I certainly wouldn't choose one over my £1300 orange quartz three hander either!).

So I guess what I'm trying to work my way around to saying is that I just don't think I can keep this blog going at the pace it's been going any more. So with that in mind I am going to relax my posting schedule and see what happens. I'm not stopping the blog, and if five new watches come out tomorrow morning then I will write about them next week as usual. But I'm done staying up until 2am trying to write a post about some obscure 2000 Series because of some self-imposed 'deadline'. I just don't have it in me anymore. 

Perhaps a break will give me a chance to think up some new angles and I will start posting more again, but right now I want to allocate more of my time to other interests. I will still be posting, just not as often and not as regularly. I hope you all understand and will bear with me.

Rob / AquaG

Saturday, 3 May 2025

SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer Kirium Chronometer Chronograph



Oh man but I'm so tired of silly people on YouTube telling us that the new TAG Heuer Formula 1s should only have cost £600... honestly, anyone that ever believed they were going to charge £600 for a 'vintage' inspired re-issue of a beloved watch with upgraded materials and a solar powered movement need to give themselves a good talking to. Have these people ever bought a watch strap from TAG Heuer? Do they know how much they charge for two small pieces of rubber? Come on, be serious. This is not a Swatch and the Moonswatch was not an Omega, just get a grip. It's fine to want them to be cheap, of course... but actually being disappointed when they aren't is just silly.

How could they possibly sell a Solargraph F1 for £600 when the Solar Aquaracers are nigh on £3000? Sure they are overpriced, but show me a Swiss watch from any of the big players that isn't. It seems the problem here is that there is an expectation that TAG Heuer were relaunching an 'affordable, entry level model to the mass market' when it's actually nothing of the sort. Most of the watches are limited to between 1000 and 3000 pieces, hardly 'mass market' and primarily they are aimed at middle aged people like me who remember them from the first time around (just about) and perhaps younger people drawn in by the Kith release last year. 

But look, there's nothing wrong with wanting to buy a decent TAG Heuer for around £600 and it can be done. In fact it's surprising what you can find if you're willing to wait and keep your eyes peeled.... and you can do it without exposing yourself to the cess pit that is Ebay. No you're not going to get a Monaco or a Carrera at this price point, but there are watches available that in their day were pretty high end, for example this minty looking Kirium chronometer chronograph which is currently on the H&T website with a discount of 20%. 

Tuesday, 29 April 2025

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph

 

Watches of Switzerland / Canary Wharf, London

I haven't really been to any major towns since the new Formula 1 Solargraphs launched a few weeks ago, so I haven't had a chance to try one on until today's visit to Canary Wharf in the financial district of London. I visited on a Saturday afternoon and initially there was no one free so I went next door and sampled the delights of Laderach chocolate. It was pleasant enough, but it reminded me of the 'Swiss Chocolate' you get in Marks & Spencer, nice enough but not worth £10.50 per 100g! 

Sample consumed, I returned to Watches of Switzerland to find the store empty and two salesman vying for my attention. Incidentally, before we go any further regular readers will probably remember that I tried on the new black/blue Calibre 16 Formula 1 chronograph a few weeks ago and I said I wanted to see the black/green version because on the website it looked green in one picture and yellow in another.

Well, I didn't try it on, but Watches of Switzerland had it in the window and it definitely looks green. It's not as bright a green as I would like it to be though, I was kinda hoping it was going to remind me more of those glorious PVD coated Aquaracer 500M models with the green lume, but it's a little more subdued. Still nice and I'm glad it's green not yellow... and I'm not completely opposed to the idea of maybe getting one in the future (once someone else has taken the depreciation). But honestly it would be a lot cheaper to get one of those black/green Aquaracers!

But anyway, back to the WBY1111...

Friday, 25 April 2025

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer 41mm Day/Date Carreras & GMT

 

Let's be honest, this year's 'Watches and Wonders' was all about the Formula 1 for TAG Heuer. Sure they released a 10 piece limited edition Monaco that barely anyone can afford, even if they actually wanted a white ceramic cased rattrapante that looks like a fight in a candy store... but all eyes were on the worst kept secret in modern watch history, and rightly so.

But while everyone was looking the other way TAG Heuer quietly released a bevy of new 41mm day/date Carreras that while honestly not inspiring that much reaction from me are, of course, still worthy of inspection by the Council. It's a funny thing, the 41mm day/date Carrera, it's kind of seen as a 'lesser' Carrera because historically a Carrera 'should be' a chronograph. Mind you, the same people that say this also generally say at 41mm it's too big and should be 39mm, but... whatever. 

Sunday, 20 April 2025

FEATURE: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraphs - Pricing


Seems like everybody has an opinion about the pricing of these new Formula 1 Solargraph models, and frankly some of it is plain unrealistic. Unfortunately for TAG Heuer the MoonSwatch set a very low bar when it came to pricing, but at the same time the quality was pretty dismal and when people actually got hands on with them even they were deemed to be 'over-priced'.

Before the new Formula 1s were announced people were talking ridiculous figures, I saw £300 banded about which was a complete joke, no way was TAG Heuer ever going to be selling a Formula 1 of any description for £300. But, said the dolts, at £300 TAG Heuer will clear up, they will sell millions... 

I'm not so sure about that, honestly. The MoonSwatch was a phenomenon, the chances of repeating its success were slim and more likely TAG Heuer would be left with egg on their face and a lot of unsold stock, meanwhile the watches they did sell would likely make very little (if any - bearing in mind selling at scale would definitely involve selling through third parties) profit and that's hardly the business model the Swiss luxury brands aspire to, is it?  

Wednesday, 16 April 2025

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Monaco Rattrapante 'Formula 1 75th Anniversary' Limited Edition

 

When TAG Heuer launched the Monaco Rattrapante last year the media was all over it, meanwhile in the real world all I heard was people grumbling and throwing out comments like... why would I pay £121,000 for that when I could buy an IWC Rattrapante for a tenth of the price. Well, you have to admit it's a good question. After all, the rattrapante complication is nothing genuinely new in the watch world and while the construction of the Monaco may be impressive and high tech, it let itself down in one incredibly important respect. Yes kids, the truth is it's ugly as all hell.

This (alongside the astronomically high asking price) was reflected in the end of year scoring and the Council of Considered Opinion eventually handed the pair of them an embarrassing 4.4/10 (blue) and 4.7/10 (red) respectively, making them the second and third least liked Monacos since the C.O.C.O. began back in 2020 (only the truly hideous Monaco Riviera rated worse!).

Saturday, 12 April 2025

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.

Tuesday, 8 April 2025

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph (Standard Models)


As many of you probably know, up until a couple of years ago I had a collection of fifteen of the original 1980s/1990s Formula 1 watches that I eventually decided to sell because a) I developed a taste for Grand Carreras and I needed cash to buy them, b) I felt they were too small for my wrist and c) I was concerned that they were getting old and would cost more to repair than they might be worth. 

Then, having divested myself of all but one (my original 383.513), TAG Heuer teamed up with Kith to produce the KITH Heuer watches and seeing the prices of mint originals rocket, I decided to cash out on that last remaining one, leaving me with no originals for the first time in six years! 

But then it wasn't long before we started hearing rumours about new, larger F1s and then a few months later there was talk of solar movements and now here we are in April 2025 with nine new models announced, albeit only two are actually 'available' straight away with six of the remaining pieces being 'limited editions' that will be released to coincide with certain Grand Prix races throughout the year.

Friday, 4 April 2025

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Carrera Panamericana Rallye Limited Edition Tourbillon


TAG Heuer Boutique / Meadowhall, Sheffield 15th March 2025

When I walked into the Meadowhall boutique a couple of weeks ago it never for one second entered my head that they might have the TAG Heuer x Porsche Carrera Panamerican Rallye Tourbillon in stock. Not for one second! With only 255 pieces worldwide, I figured this would much more likely be found in the flagship Oxford Street store down in London, but after looking at the new blue dial Solargraph I turned around and there it was. Crikey!

I suppose given my surprise I should have been more excited, but honestly I wasn't actually that fussed. Nevertheless I decided I ought to at least have a look and see how it felt to wear a £30,000 Porsche tourbillon on the wrist and, well... yeah. It's okay I guess.

My feelings about the glassbox Carrera are well established by now (which is probably not good for me, because I can imagine there's going to be plenty more of the bloody things and probably starting tomorrow on the first day of Watches & Wonders 2025), at least this one is in the 42mm case so it doesn't look like a child's toy on my 7.1/2" wrist.

Wednesday, 2 April 2025

SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer's New £3500 Bracelet...

 

Well Watches & Wonders has arrived, and with it an absolute avalanche of new TAG Heuer releases (18 in total, can you believe that?) and understandably most of the attention has fallen on the new 38mm Formula 1 Solargraphs, but there were other releases... a bevvy of new 'in-house' Carrera Day/Dates, a rather odd looking teal-dialed Carrera GMT and a very limited edition white ceramic Monaco Rattrapante (which you almost certainly won't be able to afford even if you really wanted one).

As usual, we'll be getting to all these in due course (the Council of Considered Opinion has already begun musing over the non-limited edition Formula 1s), but something caught my eye while perusing the new releases on the TAG Heuer website. 

Sunday, 30 March 2025

BUYING EXPERIENCE: Wrist Envy Sailcloth Strap

 


You probably haven't noticed (because why would you), but I am not a fan of aftermarket straps. I know a lot of people are, they see a new release and they can't wait to buy it and switch it out onto ten different straps... (all of which look absolutely terrible to me - especially those suede looking things with the sideways stitches near the lugs, 🤮), but that ain't me. 

No, I tend to think the manufacturers know best and even on the rare occasions when they don't I still think it's best to stick with other straps from the same product/model range, hence I bought the black rubber strap for my Aquaracer WAY208C from TAG Heuer and of course it fits and fills the lugs perfectly.

So with all that said, why on Earth am I talking to you about an aftermarket strap I bought from 'Wrist Envy'? Well, it's a long story... and that story tarts way back in 2019, when I spied this CV2A80 Carrera Calibre 16 in TAG Heuer's Bicester Outlet store.

Wednesday, 26 March 2025

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Solargraph & Formula 1 Calibre 16 Chronograph

 


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).

Friday, 21 March 2025

BUYING EXPERIENCE: TAG Heuer Kirium Chronometer



Well I guess this had an air of inevitability about it didn't it? Delighted as I was with my last purchase (my Aquaracer Regatta Calibre S, way back in... January) it clearly also reignited a desire in me to finally pick up that WL511A Kirium chronometer I've wanted for I don't know how long. But of course, I couldn't find one and the ones I did find with 'SOLD' on them seemed to go for more than I really wanted to pay... considering, you know, I already have three Kiriums. So, deeply disappointed, I saved my eBay search and waited for the email. 

Well I didn't have to wait long, just a week or two passed and then there it was, looking mighty fine and starting cheap at £199, which would have been awesome, but highly unlikely. So I debated... should I place a bid at £199 to stop anyone using the £400 'BUY IT NOW' feature, or should I just buy it now myself?

Monday, 17 March 2025

ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer x Porsche Carrera Chronosprint Rallye

 


TAG Heuer Boutique / Milton Keynes, 1st February 2025

On the same day that I got to try on the first three new Formula 1 Calibre 16 Chronographs, I was also able to get my hands on this recent limited edition Porsche Carrera Chronosprint Rallye. Limited to 911 pieces (because, Porsche) and coming in at a hefty £8950 this one costs a notable £900 more than the original (unlimited) Porsche Chronosprint.

Oddly, despite 'knowing' that this is a 42mm model, I still had to check with the guy in the boutique because it just doesn't look it. Once I put it against one of the 39mm models in the case I could see the difference, but even with a bracelet this watch wears nothing like a 42mm. I'm not crazy about the bracelet actually, it looks like a slightly melted version of the old Grand Carrera bracelet and just like those it has no micro adjustment, which is a shame in a watch at this price point. Saying that I've never had a problem with my Grand Carreras just using the half links, so it's probably not a massive dealbreaker. 

Thursday, 13 March 2025

INSTRUCTIONS: TAG Heuer Golf Battery Change


This may sound a little silly, but I've been dreading the day when my Golf needed a battery change... because not only does it have four tiny screws holding down the square caseback, but I was also concerned that once the screws were removed and the backplate was removed, what would happen with the buttons that hold the folding parts of the watch together? Would they just ping out and I'd be left with a mess of parts in a bag to take to my local watch repairman?

Well thankfully no. As you can see they are still held firmly in place, which is logical... but then you can't always assume everything will be okay with watches just because it makes sense in your head. The only problem I actually encountered was that I had never come across a 315 battery before (very thin that one) so it wasn't one I had in stock. I was also slightly confused about the lack of a gasket, but then the watch is only rated to 50M, in other words 'not very waterproof'. 

Sunday, 9 March 2025

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Aquaracer Solargraphs



TAG Heuer continue to roll out their Aquaracer Solargraphs with two new pieces, a dusky pink 34mm and an 'Ice Blue' 40mm. You may remember that TAG Heuer released an 'Ice Blue' quartz chronograph a couple of years ago (actually I thought they had been discontinued, but the mid-blue and ice blue versions are still available on the TH website; oddly it was the silver and black dial models that were deleted) and this looks like the sun-powered, three handed version of that. 

From the pictures we've seen so far though, this looks like it might be the first coloured-dial Solargraph that actually looks better than it's non-solar equivalent. The chronograph had a definite lilac edge to it in person, whereas this looks like more of a pure blue. I hope so anyway, I guess we'll have to wait until it hits the stores to be sure.