My TAG Heuer Story + Daily Wearer
About two years ago, I won a TAG Heuer Formula 1 in a raffle aboard a cruise ship. It was the entry level 3-hand quartz model (blue dial & bezel, orange second hand) and I fell in love with it even though I don't think the retail price is very good for what you get. For $1,500, I can point you to a plethora of nicer watches, but that's neither here nor there. That watch was my intro to TAG Heuer and it sent me down the rabbit hole. After wearing it regularly for 18 months, I stopped into a local TAG Heuer boutique in July of last year to see what I could get for an automatic.
I thought about getting the Carrera Porsche model with the in-house HEUER-02 movement but in the end, I walked out with the daddy of the Formula 1 line instead. This is the F1 Calibre 16 Automatic Chronograph (CAZ2012.BA0970). I love how subtle it is, yet it still somehow makes you take notice. That anthracite dial is just beautiful and I love the ceramic bezel and the nice ceramic layer down the middle of the bracelet as well. Suffice it to say it's beautiful and I also admire how they got all the little things right here. I'm talking about how the minute hand hits the indexes perfectly, how the date turns over right at midnight, those kinds of things. In addition, it also keeps excellent time, normally within the realm of -5 to +3 seconds per day, but that's not surprising considering it's an ETA 7750/Sellita SW500 movement. I know that the early versions of this model came with a pressed metal clasp and a lot of people complained, but I was very happy to see that mine came with a milled clasp. Maybe TAG Heuer listened to the complaints? 🤷🏼♂️
Anyway, I know a lot of watch collectors have issue with TAG for this reason or that, but I really don't see the problem these days. In current times, they have a ton of great watches that are competitively priced (the automatic models at least). Whenever I decide to grab a new one, I think I'll probably spring for a Carrera, but that's still a ways off.
A little bit of this, a little bit of that, a dash of this, a pinch of that and boom. I exist.
I bought a Carrera full carbon case with the Heuer 02 movement in beginning of December and let me tell it’s been such a pleasure to own. I was reluctant at first but when I learned more about their in-house higher end stuff I couldn’t stop drooling over it.
I’m happy that you enjoy your watches and hope you will enjoy your Carrera in the future.
Maybe 2024 eh ? 😉
I love my Tag Aquaracer and had a F1 chronotimer until I sold it last year. Heuer make great watches! Well done on your F1, it looks great!
I don’t have grail watches but I do have some grail brands and Tag was one of them. It’s why I got my Grand Carrera Calibre 8, and I love it.
My first watch given to me by my parents was a Heuer Professional, pre Tag. Since then I owned the first Formula One green and red plastic one which I gave to my son. Now I own 4 other Tagheuers and targeting a Monaco. I even buy and sell them as a hobby. My favorite ones are my Aquaracers. They are great watches.
My first watch purchase and first serious purchase for that. Loving it. TAG Heuer is a good way to start
Love Tag!
Tag was the watch that infected me with this disease back in 2015. I've been wearing this consistently ever since. They've been knocking it out of the park with their recent releases.
Very nice watch.