VIDEO: TAG Heuer 'Mastering Time' Book... Hard Pass by Hobby of Hours

 

SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer Carrera 'The Race Never Stops' by Nicholas Biebuyck

 

As part of the 60th Anniversary celebrations for the Carrera, Nicholas Biebuyck (heritage director at TAG Heuer) has written a large-scale book detailing the history of the model. Most excitingly for me it also contains a large number of illustrated references showing many of the pieces right back from the start and up until 2023, with pieces such as the CBN5A91 Plasma and even the Porsche Chronosprint (albeit unfortunately in that particular case the dial design changed between the book being finalised and the watch being released).

It's a stunning looking book, satisfyingly large in size and weight and while I'm sure I will read the first half of the book eventually, my main interest was of course the guide to references contained in the latter half of the book. As most of you will know, I have been working on my 'History of the Carrera' posts for a very long time and as a new (and official) resource this was prime fodder for finding references that might thus far have slipped through the net.

BOOK REVIEW: Jack Heuer - The Times of My Life

 

Generally speaking I only read books which are factual and/or auto/biographies, so this was right up my street... but since copies of this book sell for hundreds of pounds on eBay it wasn't until I came across a download link on Calibre 11 that I actually got an opportunity to find out more about Jack Heuer and his contributions to the brand I put so much time and effort into. 

To be honest, I knew very little about Jack before I read this since my interest in the brand really starts in 1985 when the company was bought by Techniques d'Avant Garde. Obviously Jack has been involved with the company since and there have been several special editions created to honour his birthdays etc... but even so, I'll be the first to admit my pre-1985 knowledge is (or perhaps was) rather limited.

So it was interesting to pick this up, and I have to say 'Mr Jack' has a great writing style which is easy to read and get invested in. He has also paced the book well; there's nothing more tedious than an autobiography which spends waaaay too long on the author's childhood but Jack gives us the salient details without droning on and I never once wanted to skip a bit to get to the good stuff.

Jack has certainly had an interesting life, from his skiing exploits, to flying on private jets with JFK's mother Ethel, to taking over the company at quite a young age (when Uncle Hubert wanted to sell out to Bulova) and then on through the trials and tribulations of running the company through the 60s and 70s until the quartz crisis and his departure from the firm in the early years of the 1980s.

Along the way Jack discusses the origins of such important pieces as the Monaco, Carrera and Autavia, the takeover of Heuer by TAG and later the sale to LVMH (which led to him being invited to become 'honorary chairman' of the company and also the re-release of the Autavia in 2003). Interestingly along the way he also busts the often repeated 'myth' that the crown of the Calibre 11 was placed on the left of the case as an aide-memoire to the user that the watch didn't need winding every day... it turns out it was simply a piece of marketing 'spin' to explain the weird looking design which was done for ease of construction. 

Also, Mr Jack reveals that Steve McQueen chose to go with the Heuer Monaco in the Le Mans film primarily because he liked Jo Siffert's white overalls, and (amusingly) because he was worried that Omega would exploit his fame - if only he knew!

This was a fantastic book which I'm sure I will read again. I couldn't bear read it on a PDF though so I printed it out on A4 paper, which while somewhat bulky was still preferable to spending £300+ to get a copy!

Thanks must go to Calibre 11 and TAG Heuer for making this available for free.

PDF Download link:

https://www.calibre11.com/download-jack-heuer-biography-times-of-my-life/

BUYING EXPERIENCE: Heuer: The Haslinger Collection / Bonhams Auction Hardback Catalogue

Admittedly my focus here is largely on the 'TAG Heuer' era (ie 1986 onwards), but with so much of the range rooted in historical models I can't help but have a passing interest in the Heuer era as well, even if a lot of it doesn't really appeal to me all that much.

But maybe that could change... this book is certainly a convincing place to start, featuring as it does a plethora of models including some that I actually like already such as the Jo Siffert Autavia.

The book was printed in 2010, has very nearly 200 pages and a hard cover (which is in excellent condition), I don't know if it's normal to print such a book as an auction catalogue, it seems an awfully expensive way to go, I would have assumed it would more likely be a paperback, but it seems no expense has been spared here with each watch getting its own double page spread and forewords from both Arno Haslinger and Jack Heuer.

One thing which is interesting is the guide prices, which seem awfully low considering the provenance of the pieces sold in this auction; but then in the last ten years Heuer prices have risen considerably. If only we knew then what we know now... anyway, I can't help thinking that in this instance the old adage 'show don't tell' applies, so here you are...

This is a fantastic book and I'm sure some of you are salivating at the prospect of finding one of these for your own book shelf. Surprisingly, it does seem like there are some about, there's one on eBay currently for a very reasonable £35, but if you are prepared to wait and hunt one out, or as I did - stumble across one by accident, you might be able to get yourself a bargain. I watched this for a few days on eBay at £15 and eventually bid £33 for it, but secured the lot for just £17, which I think really has to be the best £17 I've ever spent.

STATE OF THE COLLECTION: December 2019

Well, here we are again, it's that time... I started off with the idea of condensing the photography somewhat, by shooting groups of items... but somehow that idea fell by the wayside as I got going and so there are a LOT of photos! I shall have to try and think of a better way of doing this next year, but for now, here is the 'State of the Collection: December 2019'.

You can click on the first photo and it will enlarge and then you can flick through the pictures.

1. Kirum Quartz Chronograph

2. Formula 1 Kirium Quartz Chronograph

3. Carrera Heuer 01 Chronograph

4. Carrera Calibre 16 Day/Date Chronograph

5. Aquaracer 'Chronotimer' Quartz Chronograph

6. Aquaracer 500M Quartz Watch

7. Aquaracer Calibre S Quartz Chronograph

8. Pilot Quartz Chronograph

9. 1500 Series Quartz GMT

10. Link Searacer Quartz Regatta Chronograph

11. S/EL Quartz Chronograph

12. S/EL Quartz Watch

13. S/EL Quartz Chronograph

14. 2000 Exclusive Quartz Chronograph

15. 2000 Exclusive Quartz Watch

16. 2000 Exclusive Quartz Watch

17. Microtimer Quartz Chronograph

18. Multigraph Quartz Chronograph

19. Aquagraph Calibre 60 500M Chronograph

20. 4000 Series Quartz Watch

21. 6000 Series Quartz Watch

22. 6000 Series Quartz Chronograph

23. 3000 Series Quartz Watch

24. Aquaracer Calibre 5 Watch

25. Formula 1 Quartz Watch

26. Aquaracer Quartz Watch

27. 3000 Series Quartz Watch

28. Formula 1 'Senna' Limited Edition Quartz Watch

29. Monaco (The Paradoxical Superstar) Book

30. 2016/2017 Catalogue

31. 2017/2018 Catalogue

32. 2018/2019 Catalogue

33. 2019/2020 Catalogue

34. Ladies Link Pamphlet 2016

35. Autavia Isograph Catalogue 2019

36. Highlights Pamphlet 1994/1995

37. Mastering Time 'Supplement' 

38. TAG Heuer Manufacture Visit Photobook

(Self-made / Unofficial)

39. Red Notebook

40. Black Notebook

41. Armrand Uhren TAG Heuer Special Softback Book

42. Grand Carrera Catalogue

43. TAG Heuer 'Art of Manufacturing' Booklet

44. TAG Heuer and Motorsport Booklet

45. 2009-2010 Catalogue

46. 2011-2012 Catalogue

47. 2012-2013 Catalogue

48. 2013-2014 Catalogue

49. 2014-2015 Catalogue

50. TAG Heuer Motorsport Booklet 2018

51. TAG Heuer Motorsport Booklet 2016

52. TAG Heuer Manufacture Visitors Booklet

53. 1994 Promotional Leaflet

54. 2001 Promotional Pamphlet

55. Grand Carrera Hardback Book c/w Slipcase (2008)

56. Formula 1 Chronograph Booklet

57. 1992/1993 Selection Booklet

58. S/EL Booklet 

59. 6000 Series Booklet 

60. Kirium Booklet

61. 1995/1996 Selection Booklet

62. 2000 Series Booklet (1995)

63. 2006 TAG Heuer Catalogue

64. 1990 Selection Booklet

65. 4000 Series Booklet (1990)

66. TAG Heuer Catalog 1999 

67. 2002-2003 TAG Heuer Catalogue

68. 2004 TAG Heuer Catalogue

69. 2006 TAG Heuer Catalogue

70. 2001 TAG Heuer Catalogue

71. 2001 Catalogue Insert Supplement

72. 2006 - 2007 TAG Heuer Catalogue

73. 2006 - 2007 Dealer Catalogue

74. March 2007 Dealer Catalogue Update Insert

75. December 2006 Dealer Catalogue Update Insert

76. 2004 - 2005 Dealer Catalogue

77. 1991 Dealer Catalogue

78. 2010 - 2011 Dealer Catalogue

79. 2008 - 2009 Dealer Catalogue

80. February 2010 Dealer Catalogue Price List

81. May 2009 Dealer Catalogue Price List

82. 2007 - 2008 Dealer Catalogue

83. 1999 Catalogue Price List

84. 2004 Catalogue Price List

85. 2006 Catalogue Price List

86. 2001 Insert Supplement Price List

87. Selection Price List (April 1996)

88. 2000 Series Price List (October 1995)

89. 1990 Selection Catalogue Price List

90. 4000 Series Catalogue Price List (1990)

91. August 1997 Price List

92. October 1998 Price List

93. Selection Leaflet Price List (August 1994)

94. 2000 Series Leaflet Price List (October 1998)

95. Selection Leaflet Price List 1992

96. 6000 Catalogue Price List (September 1992)

97. S/EL Leaflet Price List (March 1995)

98. 2017 Action Magazine

99. 2018 Action Magazine

100. TAG Heuer / Ayrton Senna Shades

101. Carbon Effect Watch Carry Case

102. Travellers Plug Adaptor

103 & 104. TAG Heuer Pens

105. TAG Heuer Wallet

106. TAG Heuer Belt

107. TAG Heuer Whisky Tumbler

(50th Birthday Present / Unofficial)

108. TAG Heuer Mug

(Self Made / Unofficial)

109. TAG Heuer Holdall Bag

110. Baseball Cap

111. Heuer Scarf

112. TAG Heuer Coffee Flask

113. TAG Heuer Flask

114. Mastering Time Book

115. TAG Heuer 150 Years Book

116. TAG Heuer Watch Stand

117. Bracelet for Aquagraph

118. Bracelet for Aquaracer Calibre S

119. Bracelet for 2000 Multigraph

120. Rubber Strap for WAY208C Aquaracer

121. Small Aquaracer Plaque

122. TAG Heuer Display Block (Unofficial)

123. Travel / Service Case

124. TAG Heuer Sticker (Unofficial)

125. TAG Heuer Rubber Keyring (Unofficial)

126. Watch Box Insert Booklet

127. TAG Heuer Envelopes

128. TAG Heuer Patch (Unofficial)

129. 2017 Christmas Card

130. 2018 Christmas Card

131. 2019. Christmas Card

132. TAG Heuer Holdall

133. TAG Heuer Rain Jacket

134. TAG Heuer Umbrella

Well folks, I think that is just about everything... though I'm bound to think of something I've missed in a day or two. I wonder what the 'State of the Collection' will be like by December 2020?