GALLERY: TAG Heuer Executive Quartz Watch

 

FEATURE: Another Crazy Year of Watch Buying

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'Happy New Year' to all my readers, this post was supposed to be posted at the end of 2021, but due to me not being able to post my 'Buying Experience' for my blue F1 until I got it for Christmas I had to move it back a few days...

At the tail end of last year's 'Another Crazy Year of Watch Buying' (posted on the 29th Dec 2020), I said:

"Honestly though, I think this will probably be the last 'crazy' year for me. I've amassed so many watches now in a relatively short time that I've kinda 'got' most of what I want. There are things, obviously, that I would still like if they come up at reasonable prices; I'd love a 3000 Series chrono or perhaps a Super Professional and if a full size Tristar came available for sensible money I'd be up for that too. Sometimes I even look longingly at Executives, but usually the bracelets are too short and I'm willing to bet spare links for those are like hen's teeth!

Perhaps it's time to slow down and put a bit more thought into what I actually want, I can see that I've bought a couple of things this year that maybe I didn't really 'need' (if that's not too ridiculous a word to use in this context!) and I can see where I might decide to thin out the collection a bit in the not too distant future, because it's definitely getting a little out of hand."

No really, I actually said that... 

So, with that in mind, I guess it's time to take a look at the small number of carefully selected pieces that I picked up this year. 

BUYING EXPERIENCE: TAG Heuer Executive Quartz Watch

915.613

Those of you who have been reading my blog for a long time will perhaps remember the trials and tribulations I have experienced when it comes to watch sizes. I bought a 35mm 2000 Series in 2015 and immediately sold it on because it was too small for me, then I bought a 37mm 2000 Series, wore it for a year and decided it too was too small for my 7.5/8" wrist and sold it (my biggest watch regret to date incidentally)... but then fast forward to 2021 and my collection is festooned with 35 and 37mm watches, in fact so much so that the average size in my collection is currently standing at 38.7mm!

But aside from my classic F1s, the smallest 'normal' watch I own is my 36mm blue dial Kirium (on a blue leather strap). This works in a smaller size because the whole thing is highly polished and the blue leather strap makes it feel more substantial somehow. I think, much like gold, when you have a very eye catching and highly polished watch it doesn't need to be quite as big, in fact a watch like that in 40mm could be a bit too big for its own good.

FEATURE: My Top 5 Gold and Copper Coloured Dial TAG Heuer Watches

 

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You may be surprised to learn that there have been quite a number of gold dial TAG Heuer watches over the last 35 years, including some featured on 2000 and 3000 Series pieces that were carried over from the dying days of the Heuer Watch Co. But as is now customary I've decided to open this piece with a watch that doesn't actually make it in to the top five; partly because it's not quite good enough, partly because I don't want to spoil the surprise of what is in the top five and partly because I'm not 100% sure it is actually gold coloured. 

Right enough it looks gold here, but looking at other images it appears much, much lighter, almost sand like in appearance, which would make sense since this is a watch made to commemorate the Baja 1000 (a race which takes place in the desert). I've also seen the watch dial described as 'beige' in a listing (mind you another listed it as grey so that's hardly conclusive), but either way it didn't make it, so let's take a look at what did...

Oh and before you get your hopes up, I've excluded the Ronnie Peterson solid gold Carrera on the grounds that: a) it's a piece unique so not something most of us can aspire to owning, and b) I can't be doing with that 'Milanese' bracelet.... sorry, I know - I'm absolute scum.

#5: 2000 Series (966.006) Quartz Watch

Our first entry is one of those aforementioned carry over pieces from the Heuer days, and a fine looking little watch it is too! I'm a sucker for anything black and gold, but it's harder to find a black and gold watch with a gold face than you might imagine. This one would look great on my wrist but finding one with a bracelet that hadn't lost at least some of its 'black' is bound to be a challenge.

It was a toss up between this and the copper dial S/EL (WG111D) as to which got the final place in this list, but I gave this 2000 Series the nod because it's a little more flamboyant and a little more interesting than just a rather plain S/EL with a copper dial... although I'd gratefully welcome either into my collection!

#4. Executive (915.413) Quartz Watch

Another 'transitional' piece, the Executive was available with either Heuer or TAG Heuer on the dial depending on the year of manufacture. I wrote about a blue dial Executive a few days ago and unfortunately the same problem I had with that one applies here too - namely that it was only available in two sizes: midsize (34mm) and ladies. It's a real shame as I would love a non-chronograph Executive, but unfortunately that's the only way to get a full-size piece... not that they're exactly 'abundant' you understand!

#3. Kirium (WL5113) Automatic Chronometer Certified Watch

A piece I've long had my eye on, but one I'm yet to find one in good condition at a reasonable price. Yes it's a chronometer and yes the dial is obviously harder to find than the regular blue or black pieces, but I still don't think prices north of £1000 are realistic. The chronometer Kiriums only come in 36mm as well which is a little on the small side, but since my blue dial WL1116 is also 36mm I at least know it's wearable. The problem is there are so many other Kiriums I'd like to own that I'm not sure this one will ever quite make it to the top of the list and into my collection. Nice though...

#2. 3000 Series (237.406) Quartz Chronograph

Obviously I've chosen this particular model because I've recently purchased it, but I could just as easily have picked the automatic version (137.406) or the three hander (937.406). This was another carry over from the Heuer days and this watch can be had with either logo on the dial and also (rarely) in a gold bezel variation (237.406G or 937.406SG). I prefer the black bezel version myself, I think it gives a good bit of contrast and frames the rather wonderful dial nicely. I also think if I was going to have a fully gold watch then I'd prefer it to actually be made of solid gold rather than just gold plated (as this is), which leads me rather neatly to...

#1. 6000 Series (WH5140.BG0675) Chronometer Watch

This one, which genuinely is made of solid 18k yellow gold. These can also be had in a a variety of dial colours including white, green or blue and I think if I was given a free choice I might choose green as it is absolutely stunning - but if you're going to go gold you can't really go wrong if you go all gold. I actually got to try on a white dial solid gold 6000 a couple of years ago and it was everything I'd hoped it would be (and heavy into the bargain), the gold really accentuates the intricacies of the complex bracelet and it also really suits the overall rather 'regal' design elements of the 6000 Series. 

Obviously though, you're not going to pick one of these up for a few hundred quid. Prices start at around £6-7000 for the white dial version and go up to £9000+ for the green and blue. The problem is once you get to those sort of prices you are opening up a world of attractive options, so you need to be really focused to take one of these home. 

Click here to visit the TAG Heuer Enthusiast 'Top 5' Menu

SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer Executive Quartz Watch

 

915.613

It's amazing how even now I manage to learn new things about TAG Heuer and the watches they have produced over the last 35 years. Flush with excitement from my recent purchase of a gold plated 3000 Series chronograph from the mid 1980s I decided perhaps I should seriously think about adding some of those other 'crossover' pieces to my collection. I'm talking of course about the pieces that started life as late era 'Heuers' and which carried over into the post buyout years with TAG Heuer on the dial but not necessarily on the clasp, crown or backplate...

And so I headed to eBay, keen but expecting to be disappointed and typed in 'TAG Heuer Executive', really not believing that anything would come up in the UK, and probably not that much from the rest of the world. Imagine my surprise then when this lovely looking Executive 915.613 popped up at the top of the listings with what looked like a very long bracelet and a 'Buy It Now' price of £500. I was more than intrigued and wondered if I should buy it and stash it a while to avoid an unnecessary 'consultation' with the wife over yet another TAG Heuer appearing in my collection. 

The seller reckoned the watch was 36mm in diameter, which I can just about live with; my Kirium WL1116 is 36mm and it's surprisingly okay. It is a little small, but somehow with the leather strap it looks quite good, almost dressy actually... but realistically (plastic Formula 1s aside) 36mm is a hard bottom limit for me really. Sadly I noticed that the part number ended in a '13' which suggested 'mid-size' so I fired off a message asking for clarification.

Sure enough the seller confirmed my fears, the watch was 36mm including the crown, so realistically we are talking 34mm (about the same size as a plastic Formula 1) but even more catastrophically, the bracelet wasn't as long as it appears in the photograph, the seller claiming a maximum wrist size of 7".

Discussing this with our friend Jim Dollares, he brought up a very good question: 'Did they make it in a larger size?'. I assumed they would have and that the part number would be the same but with an '06' on the end instead of the '13'. But looking in the 1987/1988 catalogue I was extremely disappointed to find that actually no, they did not make this exact watch in a larger size, it only came in two sizes: midsize (13) and ladies (08).

In fact the Executive range is largely midsize and ladies throughout, with the exception of three full size pieces (215.406, 216.406 and 214.306), all of which are chronographs. This is a bit of a shame really, because that means I can't get a nice three handed 'full size' Executive, I'd have to get a chronograph, which no doubt will be more expensive to purchase and more likely to be faulty. Sigh...

I tried Googling those chronograph part numbers by the way, two of them brought up absolutely nothing at all, but a Heuer branded 214.306 was sold at auction in 2019 by David Duggleby Auctioneers in 2019 for £300! It looked in pretty nice condition as well, but there's no detailed description, length of bracelet or confirmation that it was in working order so it's of limited value.

I checked Chrono 24 too and all they could offer me was the watch I found on eBay and another mid size piece being sold in the USA (for a slightly unrealistic - I feel, £1008!)

Despite the size issue, the one I found on eBay certainly looks in good condition, especially the bracelet with it's gold plated tips. I can't help but think a more careful seller might have deigned to wipe the fingerprints off the crystal before taking the photographs, but there we are. I do like the watch as it is, if only it was 37/38mm... and if it had a few spare links for the bracelet.

I can see why the Executive range might be a bit of a hard sell in 2021 though, it does not look particularly 'cool' like say a '3000 Series' does. It's also rather uncharacteristic of TAG Heuer generally and many TAG Heuer enthusiasts may find it rather, umm... dated, perhaps?

I must admit I quite like it, much more than the 'Titanium' from the same era, but I don't really like the chronographs as much as the three handers and it seems a bit of an odd choice to put a chronograph into a watch which is clearly meant to be rather 'dressy'. 

Link to the eBay sale page:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tag-Heuer-Executive-915-613-Blue-Dial-Stainless-steel/333375761303

Link to the Auction page on the David Duggleby site:

https://www.davidduggleby.com/auctions/29062019816/0/1157/GentlemansTagHeuerExecutivequartzchronographwristwatch214306.aspx?search=

Link to Chrono 24 page for the 915.713 grey dial variant

https://www.chrono24.co.uk/tagheuer/915713-executive-professional-200m-two-tone-steel-quartz-mens-watch--id17503876.htm

FEATURE: Surprises in a Japanese TAG Heuer Catalogue

Over the past couple of weeks I've spent an inordinate amount of time searching out part numbers and photos to add to my Gallery blog and my list of TAG Heuer part numbers. I started out trawling my physical catalogues and then hit on the idea of utilising the scans on the Calibre 11 website (it's actually easier, and I don't have all the catalogues David has put up there). 

I completed the first line of catalogues and then opened the 'Japanese 1988' catalogue thinking 'this will be a waste of time' it'll just be a 'greatest hits' mini-catalogue. How wrong could I be? Very wrong, actually. In all I found 18 watches that I didn't already have in my list, albeit some of those were duplicates in different sizes.

First off we have what I initially thought were solid gold versions of the 3000 Series, but I've subsequently discovered are merely gold plated. These come in four different sizes with the 006, 008, 013 and 015 suffixes. 

937.413SG

I naively assumed that SG stood for solid gold, but a quick look on eBay shows one of these and the backs of the bracelet links are clearly steel, so I am rather disappointed because I rather liked the idea of a solid gold 3000.... bah! And given that information I think the seller is rather optimistic if they think they are going to get £750 for it...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Tag-Heuer-3000-Gold-38mm/254541767005?hash=item3b43df215d:g:GdYAAOSwLB5ebo6b

Next up we have something which is not quite as interesting perhaps, but still something I hadn't come across before, that being the gold dial variant of my own two-tone 3000 Series. Actually, there are plenty on eBay, I just never noticed so that's a failing on my part!

935.413

Again this comes in multiple sizes, but only three this time (406, 408 and 413). Incidentally, if you are not aware, the number ending in '08' is the smallest and definitely a ladies watch, the '15' is slightly larger but still a ladies watch, the '13' is what was back then called a 'boys' watch, or 'midsize and finally the '06' is the full size man's version. I'm sure many, many people have been caught out by this when buying 3000s on eBay as in the photos they all look incredibly similar (in fact the same thing happened to me one time when I accidentally bought a very small S/EL!).

I have to say, I definitely prefer the look of my two-tone 3000 with it's grey dial and plain black logo, this is a bit much and the gold on the dial doesn't really seem to match the bezel. It could be the photo of course but it kinda looks like it has a bit of a green tint to it as well, which I'm not too keen on either.

916.413B

Next we have the black dial variant of the 'Executive' series. That series is something of a forgotten one, but this black dial variation is even more of a rarity. Pretty much all 'Executive' models are two-tone of one description or another, I guess luxury was very much tied up with gold plating back then... but I think this black and gold design is one of the best. 

Only two sizes of this one, the mid-size '13' and the smallest '08' ladies. It's a pity the light is shining on the bezel in this picture, but I'm pretty sure it's largely black with a gold quarter running from the 12 to the 3 position.

280.001

Bearing in mind this catalogue was from 1988, a good couple of years after the TAG takeoever, it's slightly surprising to see the 'Heuer' branded Moonphase pieces in there. especially as they don't feature in any other catalogues I've looked at so far. There's three models on offer. two sizes of this gold dial / gold case on a tan strap and a white dial version on a black strap that looks like it might be steel, but again the picture is hard to read so I can't be 100% sure.

936.006SB

But this might be my absolute favourite of the lot. There are gold and black two-tone 3000 Series in the general catalogues, but they always have gold bezels (and sometimes gold centre links), this is the first time I've seen a full black 3000 with only the bezel markings and crown in gold. I think this is stunning, especially with that gold ring around the dial.

However, we are looking at a watch that, if one could actually find one for sale, is 32 years old now. What are the chances of that black finish still being intact? And even if it is, is it actually as black as it looks in the photo or is it a kind of dirty grey? On paper I would absolutely love to get hold of one of these, but I would need some convincing before parting with my cash.

Again though, it's odd that this particular range is branded as Heuer, not TAG Heuer - especially as there are definitely TAG branded 3000s by this time. So here's my theory... if you look back to the 1985 Heuer catalogue, it appears that there was a watch largely similar to this, but with a gold bezel. So perhaps what they did was they had some left over stock, or maybe incomplete watches and they just decided to put a black bezel on it? And maybe because they didn't have too many pieces left they just put it out in one market - in this instance Japan? It's only speculation on my part but the Heuer dials certainly suggest it's a possibility.

Once again this model comes in all four sizes, though whether any of them will ever come up for sale I really don't know.

The catalogue also contains a 'gold' 3000 cronograph, a different take on the black/gold 3000 chrono and a couple of pocket watches (with no part numbers, annoyingly). Also if you look right at the back end you'll even find something called a Heuer Anenometer, which I assume measures wind speed! I really couldn't have been more wrong about this catalogue could I?

Check it out here:

https://www.calibre11.com/catalogues/tag-heuer-annual-catalogues/1988-japan-tag-heuer-catalogue/

THANKS TO ROCKBURNER FOR HELPING ME GET BETTER IMAGES FOR THIS POST!

VIDEO: Heuer Executive by Birth Year Watches

SPOTLIGHT ON: Some Interesting Finds on Ebay...

Due to Ebay's new policy of deleting listing pages the second the auction is finished I won't be posting links to the auctions, but these are all currently on eBay and shouldn't be too difficult to find if you want to.

WK111D-0

My first pick is a WK111D-0 2000 Series which is pretty standard except that it features the Royal Crown of Jordan on the dial, which is pretty darned cool I'm sure you'd agree! Also, can you think of any other watch where the TAG Heuer logo is at the 9 position? Neither can I... This is a Buy It Now listing and will set you back £474, which is quite a hefty sum for a 2000, but then few 2000s have this one's 'gravitas'.

165.806/1

Next up we have one of the much sought after 2000s with the Breitling style bezel. I believe there was some kind of court case where Breitling served TAG with a copyright suit, though I don't know anything more than that unfortunately. Considering the amount of copying that goes on in the watch world it seems kind of hilarious that two companies should be going to court over it, but then again this one absolutely screams Breitling. Yours (with no strap) for £625, or bidding starts at £299...

S93.306C

Our next pic is this gloriously tacky S/EL in two tone black and gold. This is kind of horrendous, but it's so horrendous that I love it! Believe me, if this was on a bracelet not a leather strap I would be after this, big time. Sadly, there's no bracelet, and this piece is on a Buy It Now for £999, which is a chunk of change. Still, for the right person I'm sure this is going to be a dream buy.

214.306

A pre TAG Heuer watch next, this is a Heuer Executive, which is gold plated - though it's not at all apparent from the pictures. Surprisingly for an older piece, this watch measures 41.5mm including the crown, but is a decent diameter enough to make this wearable today? It's a unique look and I can't see many really falling in love with it, my guess is it will end up in the hands of a Heuer collector and live in a display case somewhere. £642 will get you a piece of Heuer history, if you want it...

WA1214

Something less unusual and rare, this 80s Formula 1 is being sold as a 'ladies' watch, but I'm pretty sure that it's the regular 35mm mens model. This really is crazy because it's being offered at a price of £175, which is ludicrously low for the condition. I've tried to enquire about the diameter and bracelet length but as yet the seller hasn't come back to me. If it is 35mm that's still too small for me, but I might be tempted to buy it anyway, just to add to my collection.

264.006

Here's a 2000 you don't see every day, and again this is from the very early days of the TAG Heuer brand and probably originated in the Heuer days. The watch looks to be in immaculate condition and its 40mm diameter makes it a perfect modern wearer, but this classic 18k gold TAG does not come cheap, you'll need to part with £828 to acquire it. Good news for the larger wristed though, as the band supplied will fit a 7.95" wrist.

WH5253

Last but not least we come to this lovely 6000 series with a two tone case, a leather band and an unusual green dial. This one is for sale from Japan, which means there's extra import taxes, so that's something to bear in mind. I really like this, but I've already got one 6000 and I don't really 'need' another one. Like mine, this is on the smaller side with a diameter of just 38mm (which is my bottom limit) and just 9.5mm thick. Could be worth keeping an eye on this one as it might possibly turn out to be a bargain, with a starting price of just £151 I think this will go a lot higher, but you never know... 

Finally, if you've already got all the watches you need, why not fill your room with the scent of 'TAG Heuer' courtesy of this promotional candle, yours for just £45. No mention of what 'TAG Heuer' actually smells like, I'm guessing a mixture of sandal wood and engine oil...

SPOTLIGHT ON: Executive Quartz Watch 915.813

Browsing eBay yesterday I came across this little nugget, and I have to say, those unfamiliar with TAG Heuer's of the past might well take one look at this, point, laugh and declare it fake as fake can be. But, while the logo on the bottom part of the dial does raise a question mark, the watch as a whole is perfectly plausible.

As you can see on this picture the standard version of this watch featured the model name 'Executive' across the lower part of the dial along with two more lines of text, whereas the model I found on eBay has that pesky logo. But this is not at all unusual for TAG after all, a company who loves making limited runs with all manner of badges and logos on the dial. 

As with most models in the 80s, TAG made this model in three sizes, 36mm, 34mm and 30mm - commonly referred to as 'Mens', 'Midsize/Unisex' and 'Womens'. The model pictured above is actually the 30mm version, which rather surprisingly has a 19mm wide bracelet.

The 'Executive' range isn't one that's exactly fondly remembered, it's no Monaco or Carrera and I can't imagine anything would entice Mr Biver to put it back into production as it's very much a watch that's 'of it's time'. This watch was made in 1986, at a time when most of the TAG range was made up of re-branded Heuers (the 'Formula One' series being a notable exception, and despite looking larger it measures a fairly small 36mm across the face (38mm inc crown).

As you would expect from such an elegant design, the watch seems quite thin and features a quartz movement but befitting it's 'Regatta' style it's water resistant to 200m, so quite safe to take on the yacht! 

I'm sure a lot of people don't, but I kind of like a lot these old TAG designs and if I had unlimited funds I would buy this just to have it. I dare say it would never trouble my wrist, but it would look lovely in a display cabinet. It's not even as if this was a 'lot' of money, it seems to have disappeared now but I'm sure it was on there for £300-400. But for £400 I could get quite a lot of half decent watches that I would wear, or half way to something properly worth while. Ah well, maybe when I win the lottery I'll collect one of everything...

More pics and info available in this advert here
https://www.instantluxe.co.uk/watches/wrist-watch/tag-heuer/silver-gold-plated-unisex-executive-A89093

Part Numbers for the Executive

114.306
214.306
215.406
216.406
914.308
914.313
915.408
915.413
915.608
915.613
915.708
915.713
915.808
915.813
915.813*
916.408
916.408B
916.413
916.413B