By John Galt
TAG Heuer association with formula 1 racing started in the mid 80’s and has carried on to this day currently sponsoring the McLaren racing team with great success.
I have always had a soft spot for the Tag formula 1 series but always put off by the case size being predominantly 41 or 42mm, but now seems Tag have listen to the collectors and customers and released new versions including a 44mm, now I am very tempted.
Released this year at Baselworld I for one didn’t expect these with their clean new F1 design drawing on their heritage of some of the Heuer most famous models but this is definitely not a re-edition like some resent TAG’s but instead a new take on the series that will sit superbly alongside the others in the Formula 1 series they come in either brushed stainless steel or PVD black.
The Calibre 6 with it new case is not what I expected of a Formula 1 , but does remind me of the vintage Heuer Autavia with its tonneau-shape which in my opinion is a good thing.
Calibre 6 come’s in the normal TAG size of 41mm but wears very well, gone is the distinctive black rotating bezel which up to now has been in the Formula 1 DNA, but might make re-appearance in later models.
The black dial with small seconds at 6pm works well, hands are in my opinion just the right size to make them visually sharp with white date window at the usual place of 3pm makes the ascetics of this just right and a nice touch of a small red triangle at 12 for ease to position the rotating bezel perfectly back in place.
Tag calibre 16 is definitely one that I will look at when released as size is 44mm a very nice size personally for a chronograph.
The Calibre 16 comes with a dark grey anthracite or brushed black dial with date window at 3pm, the bezel features a tachymeter scale made of black ceramic so will not scratch easily.Cronogragh dials are located at 6, 9&12 for good legibility, hands are polished with luminescent coating .Each piece has something slightly different which I like, PVD with its orange scale ring and sub dials, but my favourite being the stainless steel with red accents on the second hands and two of the sub dials with ceramic inserts to the strap. As you will see the brushed stainless steel version come on a bracelet with black ceramic inserts, the PVD coated comes on perforated rubber strap.
Conclusion
I do like these new F1 versions but TAG maintain the formula 1 is their entry-level model but with rumours that the price for the calibre 16 chronograph being in the region of $2,900 in steel this opens tag up to a whole different market which at present is very competitive so only time will tell as to how these are taken in the market. For more info, please visit tagheuer.com
John Galt – Contributing Editor
John Galt caught the horology bug 4 years ago on his first visit to a London watch show and has snowballed since; John has become an avid writer and blogger of timepieces of all kinds, from everyday timepieces to modern Luxury Haute Horology, his favorite brands being HYT and Greubel Forsey that push the bounders of modern watch-making. John keeps a keen interest in the UK watch scene with their many emerging brands and timepiece’s. John Galt currently contributes watch related articles for online publications in the UK and USA. You can follow John on Twitter @johng73 Read his articles here.
