It's been a little while since I've visited a TAG Heuer boutique, so I was expecting to see lots of new and exciting things... well, maybe that was a little optimistic (what with so many new things being limited editions), but I did see the new Formula 1 Solargraph for the Dutch GP, which looked quite cool. I also saw the new 'Watches of Switzerland exclusive' 41mm Carrera with the metallic Tiffanyish dial.
That's a bit of a mystery that one, the UK website claims it is a limited edition of 250, but the US site makes no such claim. Talking to other people about this I've heard it's not limited by number but by production so who knows. It looked okay, but a bit too shiny for my liking. Still I'm pleased that they are starting to make this kind of dial in more wearable sizes (not just 36mm).
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As I mentioned previously, the new 42mm Carrera Chronograph Sports are supposedly not released until the 7th of September, and yet here they are on the website, in store and now on my wrist. It makes zero sense, honestly, but whatever. I just think when they are 'released' on the 7th of September everyone gonna be like 'eh?'.
Personally I find them a little on the small side. I guess that's because I own a 44mm Carrera Sports Dato 160 so I'm used to that, but I'm sure many people who prefer their watches in the 39/40mm range will find them more acceptable than mine. I have to say this silver dial one is easily the nicest, the blue is okay, the black is a little overdone with those bright red hands and the green one is not very nice at all. Too much green and not a very nice shade at that.
The only thing I will say about the silver dial one is that it screams 'I can't afford a Daytona' and those tiny printed numerals suck ass. Years ago there was a 'Bicester Village' Carrera that was made to be sold cheaply and you know what it had? A printed dial. Hmm. Does it really save that much money? Is this how TAG reposition themselves in the market and offer more reasonable prices? I don't think it's gonna work.
Last but not least we have this bevvy of new Aquaracer Solargraphs, each featuring the new 'Yachtmaster' bezel (at least that's what it makes me think of). I dunno about these... the titanium one (pictured above, there is another one) is actually quite nice and definitely the pick of the bunch, but I can't help thinking I could pick up a pre-owned original Ti Solargraph for £1600 no problem and it is looks just as good, if not better.
As for the others, the shiny titanium doesn't work for me and the green... initially I thought it looked a bit better than the old version, a little less plasticky in the dial, but then when the light hit it I'm not sure; it may well be exactly the same as the old one! Matt titanium is streets ahead and the bezel isn't too bad, but I don't know... the bezels generally look a bit out of place. Maybe I just need to get used to them?
When they took the over-riders away I thought the plain bezels looked weird but now they've brought them back again, they look even weirder. They seem very blingy to me, which is probably why my good friend Jim Dollare$ likes them so much.
Yeah, the jury is definitely out on these...
