Tag Heuer is Underrated

TAG gets a lot of hate, but as you point out they've got some very good models in their line up. You can throw the Monza into that mix too, it's an absolutely cracking watch.

There's a school of thought that they're overpriced, but you can say the same about plenty of other brands, so to single out TAG is a little harsh in my opinion. 

I've said before that there's a premium you have to pay for various brands. Just as there's a premium for a Seiko over an Orient, there's a premium for a TAG over other similarly spec'd  watches.

Whether that premium is worth it is up to the buyer in the end, but you can't argue that TAG is a very well known brand, they have historical significance with their links to motor racing (Formula One, Ayrton Senna, Steve McQueen etc) and there's a certain prestige that comes with that. 

You certainly can't knock them on quality. A couple of my TAG's are now 20+ years old and look and run as good as the day I first bought them.

In the end, each to their own but I will always have a soft spot for TAG and have no problem recommending them. I've had nothing but great experiences.

Yeah I was going to buy the gulf edition F1 watch as my first but 43mm was too big. I was new to watches but a big F1 fan so I don’t mind Tag. 

My in-laws gave me an Aquaracer Chronograph as a wedding present. My mother-in-law worked at a chain Jewelry store and got a discount. It was my first luxury watch and I still love it. The build quality is really good and it keeps fantastic time at +2spd. I never understood the hate for TAG.  

I think people hate TAG because it's the cool thing to do online. There are three simple steps to be cool in the watch community online:

1. Call the F91W GOD TIER. 
2. Say that everyone needs to own/"experience" a Seiko.  
3. Mock TAG Heuer.

I think Tag makes good watches for its market position. I personally like the Carrera line and Aquaracer Professional 200.  I don't own one but have seriously considered buying one in the past. Intrigued by the new Solargraph.  While they do dabble in higher end watches above $5k (and even $10k) their bread and butter is offering quality watches for a few grand that are a jump up in terms of quality over more budget type brands like Seiko or all these new microbrands. I think Tag is a great choice for people who can't afford a watch in the $5-$10k range but want to step up a bit to a finer piece. 

I think TAG shoots themselves in the foot with their advertising, but I have relatively little against their watches.

And pretend that every 3-6-9-12 three hands watch with decent WR is an explorer 1 homage !

I have to say that the new solargraph titanium is pretty appealing to me. 

and Hublot.

All of these are nonsense.

Tag are slightly trying my patience, but to be honest most Swiss low-mid tier are hiking prices, so this is just the way it is. I think £6100 is a little bit rich for the new Carrera Chronograph they are releasing this year, it’s nice, but it’s positioned strangely when you consider other brands in the LVMH portfolio as that is putting it near to an entry-level Hublot, Bvlgari Octo, or even closer to a Zenith El Primero. If I had £6100, for a couple of grand more it’s better to take a punt at a Zenith. It’s a lovely watch, but it’s hard to argue for it at said money. The thing is, when they get it right, they really get it right. I have a Carrera Calibre 6 Chronometer in the vintage style, silver with the blue subdial, it’s gorgeous. I regret not picking up a Calibre 18 Telemeter when I had the chance to at retail because they‘ve gone up in price on grey market. I don’t particularly find the new F1s or Autavia pretty inspiring, and the Aquaracer I’ve got out of my system having owned one previously, and the fact I still have some vintage 1500s / 2000s.

Tag are fine… 

It's not a bad brand, remember when you do something good, you're always gonna get complaints. 

I love their tie to automotive history but I do think they are a bit overpriced...I think their lower end stuff lacks in the design department

I am seriously considering one, despite it costing about twice the amount I said was my maximum... 

I love Citizen Eco-Drive watches, so a LJP solar movement based on Eco-Drive technology, in a Swiss made case is tempting to me. 

I think its because they still have the fashion brand Essence where they have really pricey quartz pieces or pieces that use ETA or Sellita movements but cost over 3K and over. My first luxury watch was the black F1 quartz that my parents bought for me on a cruise on 2016 as a birthday gift and I wore it all the time until I got my Omega SMP on Nov 21. Then I just stopped wearing the F1 and continued to amass bigger mechanical watch collection. The old Autavia watches are awesome, like the original Monaco and Carrera chronograph. But to pay a few thousand for a basic movement isn't well received. Also some of their designs just aren't appealing. Like when they had the cyclops on the aqua racer.

For me it's out of my league regarding the price but it sure has some serious argument.

I can’t agree more 

I've made this point in the past.  TAG makes a decent watch, provided that you're willing to accept their use of highly decorated but "off the shelf" movements.

My Carrera Twin-Time:

Completely agree 

I 100% agree. Tag Heuer is fantastic. 

I really love their watches from the 80s and 90s. IMHO, the quality isn't the issue. Or really even their price. It's that for me, their latest designs are a bit bland. I don't see anything unique that isn't available from other brands, at even lower prices. Especially when you count micro brands. 

Considering their “lower end” is a culmination of their “Six Features” ethos which they developed from the late 80s and throughout the 90s, its DNA is clear to be seen in the watches. Some would call that a design language, or an identity. Some…

Which makes them different to who then? Plenty of brands do it, but Tag seems to cop the most flack it seems… 

Absolutely…strong 90’s design language which I’m not a fan of…especially when you look at their vintage chronos which look amazing 

It's no secret that I am a long time TH fanboy.  I think at one point TH got a little bit too much on the fashion side but they still made the good stuff all along.  Then, they were caught using a Seiko patent in their supposed manufacture movement, also not that good.  My biggest gripe is their spare parts and repair policy.  Basically they expect you to replace your watch when it's like more than 10 years old they stop stocking the parts.  That is my biggest complaint with TH.

Completely agree. Severely underrated. It’s the best watch in my collection. 

My second 'luxury' watch was a TH Series 6000. Bought it in 1993. Still have it and it works perfectly yet today. 

True, a lot of brands do this, but not all. There are others in a similar price range who use their own movements, e.g. Tudor.

I recently purchased the Tag Heuer Carrera Twin Time Calibre 7 with the blue dial on steel, and it's an exquisite piece! I really don't understand the hate Tag gets between the Monaco, Carrera, Autavia, and Aquaracer lines they have a ton of great offerings. The msrp on the Carrera I purchased is $3,650 which is a tad bit high, but I was able to get it much cheaper through the grey market. I'd say $3k even would be a fair price for the Twin Time on steel, and I paid significantly less then that. The watch looks the part, and the movement inside keeps great Time (its been running pretty spot on for the last week), and the bracelet is one of my most comfortable. I could have gotten a Tudor BB36 on a strap for the same price, but on the steel it would have been quite a bit more then the Tag. While Tudor, and Omega are my two favorite brands by a large margin, the Tag gets more wrist time then both my Speedy Racing Reverse Panda, and my Tudor 1926 2-Tone 39mm white dial. I don't see myself necessarily buying anymore Tags, however the one I do have will likely stay in my collection for a long while!

Let the haters hate, Tag make some beauties. If you know, you know😀

I love the brand (especially before TAG came into the picture) and I love their watches. I have an "entry-level" F1 quartz and it is the most expensive watch I own. I value their motorsport heritage (a set of old Heuer dashboard-mounted rally clocks would be a conversation piece) and while TAG Heuer may not be everyone's cup of tea, you can include any brand in that list if you wish.

My dream watch is an Autavia COSC GMT but it will probably remain aspirational.

Would love those desk clocks as well!