Why is Tag Hueur Notorious?

I’ve heard they lied about the Cal. 1887 being in house, that it’s just a modified Seiko movement. I’ve heard hate flung because TAG’s acquisition of Heuer created quality control issues.

Here’s a video from The Time Teller I remember.

What sharperthebetter said. I’ll lead with they make some nice watches including the Monaco. 
 

However, in addition to the ”in house” shenanigans, while they are often sold in boutiques next to other brands, they are also sold in mall department stores like Macy’s next to Movado, etc. Some may care about that, some may not, but one can say that isn’t a luxury market. Someone spending as much, may want a better experience. Throw in the fact most of their watches tank immediately after purchasing, you have a perfect mix for  criticism.

Very interesting insight, I didn’t know about the lying about the in house movement thing - I can imagine they lost a lot of trust as a brand as a result. It’s a shame too because some of their watches are nice

They’ve been turning it around. again, they have some nice pieces in their price poinT and one can argue the Monaco is one of the most iconic watches of all time, even if not a true Heuer now.

They aren't like awful or anything, you are getting a household name on your watch which is a benefit to some. I am not a fan though I think they are overpriced and you just aren't getting your moneys worth, there are better watches in the price bracket (Longines, Oris, Tudor, Omega). I hope they turn it around and their new Aquaracers seem to be a step up but it isn't enough they either need to drop prices or start using their own movements again or at the very least modify the movements more cause leaving them fairly standard ain't enough.

Sidenote: I know Longines use ETA like Tag but they aren't nearly as expensive

Tag are overpriced for what they are BUT they do make some nice watches like the aquaracer. If you like the look of a tag go get one just get a used one so you don't take the depreciation hit. At the end of the day your the one wearing it. Just because everyone says certain makes are brilliant don't mean a thing, example I could buy a Rolex because their supposedly the best but I'd never be happy with it cause I don't like Rolex. So if theirs a tag you like just get it and wear it and be happy 👍

I'm going to say it and risk the reputational harm. I like the new Aquaracer. There... I'm out. Yes, it's overpriced, but there are plenty of brands that are guilty of that. Do we really think Omega and Rolex (for example) aren't massively inflated? At the end of the day watches, like many things in life, are a matter of personal choice and it's as simple as that. Some people like One Direction others like System of a Down, neither of them is wrong. 🤘

Tag bought heuer in the 90's and cranked so so quality models with huge marketing campagnes without any regards for what made vintage heuer so great. That's probably a part of why  nerds like us don't like Tag heuer like most normies do. As you see yourself it is still well know as luxury name brand in mall by most people.

Like two tone rolexes in the 80's and breitling and panerai in the 00's they were so ubiquitous that there is a rejection feelings as gaudy mainstream choice of past decenies.

Hublot is 10's equivalent apparently and maybe rolex will be again in the 20's 😉

Yes that was definitely a big back clash in recent tag history.

They are nice, especially at the right price. Tag is the perfect brand to get from a grey dealer like Jomashop, world of watches, etc.

They legitimately bought the IP of an existing movement to use as the base of their new Calibre. This happens a lot but is seemingly unacceptable as it was Tag. It was blown out of proportion.

As an Heuer fan, I think they unfairly get a lot of hate because they are relatively popular and sit in that mid-range affordable luxury spot. Heuer was on its arse after the quartz crisis, got acquired by TAG, and went mass market with the F1 watch and saved themselves. They produced a lot of mid-quality watches in bulk to revive themselves, and I think it might have upset a lot of fans and customers from the 60s-80s. 90s Tags are pretty uninspiring; the whole Six Features philosophy effectively churned out the same watch over and over again, but it worked for them although at a cost to their reputation and standing within those “horological” types. Late 90s - 00s saw some innovation (Kirium, Golf, 2000s slowly morphing into the Aquaracer), so it started to pick up again.
They have an amazing history of models, so I often cite 60s-80s Heuer as probably the coolest brand in the coolest period. The tie with racing is probably the ultimate boys with their toys fantasy.

My main issue with them is that I don’t really think that they know what to do with themselves and their heritage. It seems like they are obsessed with the Monaco and the Autavia, and the Aquaracer and F1 are fine and all but there are so many models they could reissue and they just do nothing, or pretend to be a Privateer racing team with Porsche. Oh… and the Connected can do one.

Carol Forestier-Kasapi formerly the Head of Movement Creation at Cartier for many years is now at Tag Heuer. She is one of the great movement experts of our time. If Tag Heuer takes advantage of her great skill set the brand will benefit. 

I actually own some TH - all vintage pieces - but they have this bad habit of assigning $2400 list prices to some rather jejune quartz watches, among other pricing atrocities. And, I know that their advertising - usually featuring some youth culture musicians and actors that they threw bushel baskets of cash at to endorse - turns a lot of people off.

I agree. Alec Monopoly? Spare me.

I like the Aquaracer line and many of the vintage inspired chronographs.  The Aquaracer series are typically 1/2 the price of the Omega Seamaster Diver which is 1/2 price of Rolex Submariner.  I don't think you can go wrong with an Aquaracer as long as you know it's not an investment piece and you love the design and colorway.  I just bought a NOS Aquaracer 41 mm in Polar White/Automatic.  A great watch for $1500!

As been stated many times above : heuer loved, tag wasn’t, so tag buying heuer dragged the company down. I remember the well to do high school kids wore those plastic quartz tags.

I think this bit of history is now mostly forgotten by new collectors however, and Tag is re vitallizing with Porsche and Red Bull partners