2023 TAG Heuer Solargraph Titanium (WBP1180.BF0000)

Mspeedster

Not saying the Cal 5 movement doesn't have problems, but the population sample used for Jim's study is way too small to be anything close to being statistically accurate. Yet it perpetuates a constant state of FUD about the Cal 5 on the forum. I have to say it's one of the reasons I've not bought the Aquaracer Night Diver I've had my eye on, even though I realize Jim's study isn't real science.

Aquagraph

And here you hit the nail on the head. LVMH bank on the fact that the majority of their customers (ie Joe Public who doesn't frequent watch forums) don't care, which is why the watch community pile on TAG whenever possible, because for a lot of the time they are right. Even more so for a quartz movement because most of the people who care about the details won't even consider any kind of quartz. I agree it seems there is some degree of shadiness going on (again...) albeit they claim to have made the solar panel larger, but for most people if the watch does what it says, charges in five minutes for 6 months or whatever it is, they don't particularly care if it is a lower spec than it could be or that it is also available in a much cheaper watch. Isn't the 2824 also available in £500 watches?

Aquagraph

Thanks, I thought someone told me Cal5 and Cal6 were the same. Guess I can rest easy that my Grand Carrera isn't going to suffer the same fate.

Jim Dollares

Not that I am not glad that you join us as the new movement expert in the forum, questioning if our long time members who spend hours every day here "even know what a calibre 5 is", but no you are not correct in saying it should look like that. In some watches you get a higher version of the movement with some automated robot finishing yes, but reality is that many of the calibre 5's are base level movements and the tendency seems to be that TAG Heuer put whatever movement batch they can get hold off (ETA and Sellita).

I am still curious to know why you think 3k price tag is better value when TAG puts the SW200-1 inside a watch compared to the solar powered quartz? I would not be surprised if TAG Heuer pays more per unit for the solar quartz, since they are a huge company and can buy Sellitas in huge batches and get very good bulk prices.

Chrisred71

Tag Heuer, or at least that's what I thought so far, supposedly only use élaboré or even top grade movements in their watches. They finely tune and adjust each mechanism before it ends in your timepiece.

However the recent developments in this thread suggest they just put whatever off-the-shelves stuff they have at hand, so I don't know..

Chrisred71

Well I've been questioning if they did know what a Calibre 5 is because they apparently have terrible fears of reliability regarding the movement, to the point and I quote they are "afraid to pull the crown" or that "solar quartz more likely to still be working 6 months from now than Calibre 5"

I'm sorry but that's nonsense to me

Aquagraph

I think he's just annoyed cos he likes it but doesn't want to pay the asking price.... we all know that feeling

bpsmith

I am intrigued by what you’re looking to achieve from your posts @Chrisred71? Are you just making a statement that you think TAG Heuer are overpriced or are you trying to convince us that we should no longer buy them? I am just confused as you state yourself that you really like the Solargraph compared to Citizen, but then argue how much better Citizen are for the money.

You are perfectly entitled to your opinion, no question about that, so please continue to do so. A lot of people have agreed with you on some points above too.

What amuses me is that you clearly recognise your movements, but clearly don’t recognise the zero movement in people’s opinion on TAG Heuer. 😀

Most of us pretty much recognise that this hobby is a mugs game, but we still like what we like and are mostly aware that there are cheaper ways to tell the time. The £250 Citizen is cheap in relation to the Solargraph, but then also very expensive in relation to a £25 solar powered Casio. In turn, the Casio is ultra expensive compared to a Sundial or your own body clock. All rely on the Sun to tell the time.

Chrisred71

Well I've been questioning if they did know what a Calibre 5 is because they apparently have terrible fears of reliability regarding the movement, to the point and I quote they are "afraid to pull the crown" or that "solar quartz more likely to still be working 6 months from now than Calibre 5"

Jim Dollares

I hope everyone reading that thing has the brain cells to acknowledge and understand that the H.W.R.M.E is not real and that the usage of phrases like "mega superb scientists" clearly show that there is plenty of sarcasm in the thread. But in case anyone is an idiot, yes that "study" is not scientifically proven 🙄 just a bloody survey among forum members to see how many have had shitty calibro cincos...

Jim Dollares

Are you not arguing with yourself now 😁 the whole point is that purchasing a 100 dollar quartz watch for 3k is entirely based on feelings. You're the one who showed up arguing about value for money and specs 👎

Chrisred71

If you scratch the surface even just a little bit you'll realize Solargraph is a lot more style than substance.

Mspeedster

Regardless of whether people get that you're joking around with your wording, the net result is that it creates FUD. Not just your study, but whenever someone brings up an issue with their Cal 5. Is it really as bad as it seems on this forum? Probably not. But it's planted a seed of doubt in me, even though I have a background in engineering, business and manufacturing.

Aquagraph

I think he's just annoyed cos he likes it but doesn't want to pay the asking price.... we all know that feeling

bpsmith

That isn’t the best of feelings, I have to agree there.

Chrisred71

I've seen the thread and I just thought I'll let people know : you're absolutely not getting what you paid for with that watch. That's it.

Chrisred71

I'm not annoyed by the asking price, I'm annoyed by Tag lying to everyone's faces by telling us TH-50 is a bespoke calibre developed just for them. Then, to add insult to the injury, they ask 3K for the Solargraph.

Which would suggest not only TH-50 is a bespoke development but Tag just invented the very Solar quartz technology themselves. Of course they didn't.

Just thought I'll let people know 😉

Chrisred71

Well, I disagree. The whole point of purchasing a 100 dollar quartz solar for 3000 is based on feeling AND ignorance. If you scratch the surface even just a little bit you'll realize Solargraph is a lot more style than substance.

Mspeedster

Regardless of whether people get that you're joking around with your wording, the net result is that it creates FUD. Not just your study, but whenever someone brings up an issue with their Cal 5. Is it really as bad as it seems on this forum? Probably not. But it's planted a seed of doubt in me, even though I have a background in engineering, business and manufacturing.

Jim Dollares

I had to google FUD but now I understand you feel fear, uncertainty and doubt. It was never my attention to make you feel this bad, I was just doing public service for the forum trying to bring some clarity to the cal 5 discussions. It is not as if TAG would ever admit there are issues with the movement. Neither would the watch "journalists" who only dare saying positive things about the brands. And look at me, even though I did the damn survey I just bought the Ice Diver! So feel not this strong fear and try to find love in your heart, the love that allows you to take a leap of faith and go Aquaracin'. Cause doing so, is certainly something I now wish I would have done for many years already.

Scientific regards
Dr "let me hand wind you" Jim

Disclaimer: these regards are not actual science.

Chrisred71

Well I've been questioning if they did know what a Calibre 5 is because they apparently have terrible fears of reliability regarding the movement, to the point and I quote they are "afraid to pull the crown" or that "solar quartz more likely to still be working 6 months from now than Calibre 5"

I'm sorry but that's nonsense to me

From my experience with the movement that I know experienced through various brands & watches, it's reliable & accurate. Basic, but easily serviceable by any competent horloger.

However I must acknowledge the study conducted on this sub, with many issues regarding calibre 5.
I'm divided between "maybe it's legit" and "when everything's fine you don't report about it on the internet".

Well, even through their contract with Sellita, I highly doubt they can have SW200 for less than 10 bucks a piece, which sounds accurate regarding how much Citizen is selling them the E168.

it's a bare bones quartz solar, while SW200 still is a swiss made mechanical automatic, doesn't matter how basic you want to put it.

But hey I never said a Calibre 5 Aquaracer was good value, just that the Solargraph, being more expensive and quartz, is de facto a worse value.

bpsmith

Do you honestly believe that all of us thought this was brand new tech invented by TAG Heuer?

dtf

I wouldn't say it's a fear, I'm just constantly amazed when I wind my calibre 5 and discover that it's still working 😁