https://kith.com/collections/earlyaccess-tag-heuer-formula-1-kith




Remember the good old times of colourful plastic Formula 1 models from TAG Heuer's prime era?

Is TAG Heuer pumping out stories like these through watch media to get people hyped up? Am I crazy or is this a sign that we will see new colourful plastics from our fav watch brand? I suppose one can dream! Imagine a cheap plastic entry level quartz F1 in fun colours super cheaply priced around $2500-3000.

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/time-m...first-generation-tag-heuer-formula-1-watches/


Special thanks to TAG Heuer Heritage Director Nicholas Biebuyck and the brand’s heritage collection for loaning these museum pieces, as well as providing backstory on the line, without which this article would not have been possible

I wonder why there is a sudden interest in these old plastics? Best grab em' cheap on ebay before everyone suddenly wants one?

a revival of the original colorful-but-capable Formula 1 could be just the thing to inspire another new generation of TAG Heuer fans. Time will tell if this comes to pass, but in either case, the original Formula 1 is a enjoyable, eminently collectible series

 

My favourite of the original F1 is this full lume dial model

 

Would have been cooler with a black case though

 

It’s an interesting time. If they bring them out at too high a price, with the Calibre 5 inside, then it will be too expensive and miss the mark. If they stick with Quartz and do them in a cheaper plastic case, then they can knock them out by the bucketload and make a decent short term return, but you’ll struggle to get one in all the hype. They’ve clearly been watching to see what the MoonSwatch does for Omega and decided that it’s been almost all positive for that short period and boosted sales of Speedmaster’s too.

My gut is telling me that they need to go midway and bring them back with a quality mecaquartz movement and carbon case, much like the Breitling Endurance Pro. I would be all of that, being a fan of the Breitling.

Another option is to go Ceramic case and whack a new Kenissi in there. Just depends on how plush they are vs the price.

 

This is my favourite shot from that ABTW post, as both rock with that jubilee…

 

Adjusted for inflation the price should be about £400, but that ain't gonna happen. It is hard to know where they will aim them, if they aim them... because I don't see how this ties in with wanting to go upmarket and TAG pretty much hate referencing their 80s/90s watches. It's almost like they would rather we don't remember what came after the 70s and before 2016.

 

Tapping into that 90s heritage.

 

I dont even think you can get a low quality Swatch fifty fathoms shitter for 400?

Your point about moving upmarket (the Swiss way i.e upping prices madly without changing the product) is an interesting one and I agree that quartz pieces in plastic cases don't seem to go well with luxury. However, what they could do is give the plastic a fancy name, like how Swatch named their low quality plastic "bio ceramic". And if these new plastic F1's start at around 3 or 4k in price it makes a cheap entry level price for a brand aiming to have an average price point of 10-15k per sold watch.

 

With the popularity of the Moonswatch (and it's pricing of <$300) there could be a notable interest in the F1 but not being as iconic as swatch or the speedy, and only being 34mm, I don't think it would garner as much enthusiasm. But those F1s did come out in some great colors!

 

These are my absolute favourite TAG Heuer full lume dial watches.

Number one, the absolute best is an obvious one



Second best would be the current night diver. Some what of a not as good, wannabe WAY108A, but still rather sexy ey.

 

You prefer the WAY to the current night diver? Why?

 

Yeah Jim, why?

 

No cal cinco right!?!?

 

Gentlemen, please, calm down. The WAY108A is clearly the better watch and the most obvious reasons are:

- The bezel is lumed (what utter moron would design a night diver without a lumed bezel?)

- The rubber strap looks so much better and unique, plus it has the TAG shield on it which is super cool

- The clasp, oh the clasp, is superior in every way. It is smaller, looks better and has endless adjustability, you don't need to cut that shit to fit your wrist

- The bezel is high polish giving a more blingy look which will draw attention to your sexy wrist

- The indices are lumed which makes sense on a night diver in my opinion

- The hands and 3, 6, 9 and 12 indices have two colour lume which looks mega cool

The only negative I can think of, Dom, is that the WAY108A doesn't have the mechanical movement. I do love me a good ol' calibro cinco. And as we all know, if the second hand ticks 8 times or more per second, the watch has a soul. The WAY108A only ticks once per second and therefore clearly has no soul.

 

Don’t forget the WAY is titanium and much slimmer, so it’s barely there.

When are you buying a night diver Jim? Goes well with snow:


I do think @Mspeedster’s original night diver takes the coolest full lume thou, that classic 1000 shape with nice patina..

 

Still available at Bicester Village by the way...

 

Oooh thats right, I forgot the case is in titanium before TAG Heuer cheaped out on that as well!

 

What price?

 

It’s on there for £1,600 I believe Jim. Sometimes there’s 10% off too.