Adventures in dumpster TAG finds

I agree hey. It’s certainly a classy and refreshing take in a sea of otherwise black dials.


Heh, the cynic in me says that it’s just cheaper to use a plastic ring on their entry level lineup. If the shock protection was so much better with plastic than steel, they’d use plastic on their higher tiered watches as well. Don’t get me wrong, using plastic is a perfectly good compromise to make to cut costs when cutting costs is your goal. But then I’d argue that retail on these is more than a Hamilton Khaki which doesn’t use plastic spacers nor Sellita movements but are certainly more rugged.

In other words, the Bill of Materials on a Khaki is higher than on a Formula 1 but it sells for less. A 7750 equipped Jazzmaster costs exactly the same as a caliber 16 Carrera, but the Carrera has a much higher retail. So you’re paying for brand recognition, nothing else. Does it make me hate TAG? No, certainly not - I’m still a big TAG fanboy. Unfortunately digging into the guts of many different brands’ products does bring some inconvenient realities to light though.

TAG is by no means the only company guilty of this but they get the most hate for it. Case in point: A Speedy using a Caliber 1151 (which is also a dressed up 7751) pre Co-Axial sells for a lot more than any of the others while using pretty much the same internals. But people don’t hate on Omega like they do on TAG.

See now you got me to write an essay when you asked me a simple question haha. So, short version: In the world of watches, you’re certainly not paying for what it costs to make something, you’re paying for brand recognition. That’s why some micro brands sell technically superior products for cheaper. ‘Tis a fact of life, you either accept it and live a happy life, or you don’t and be miserable 😁

Edit: and by the way, when you look at the balance in the pic above, you’ll notice a black screw jammed between the balance and the train bridge. When I opened the watch (which was a bear to open), I noticed that the automatic works had come loose and was just flapping about. That black screw is meant to secure the automatic works. I have no reason to think someone has been in there before, the watch is too new for it to have been due for a service. You are free to draw your own conclusions as to where QC failed, but it’s not like I’ve not seen this happen before on other watches, albeit very uncommon.

I see, thanks for sharing some of your thoughts on this. I agree 100% that one can argue why TAG is far from the 'best' watch for the money. I think all of us in this place are here for emotional reasons, we are hooked on design, heritage and how these watches make us feel when worn. A objectively better Hamilton does not make me aroused at all like a TAG.

Haha ok yes that black screw should obviously not be there!

Do you fix these pieces to keep and wear or do you sell them and make a little profit?

Totally agree with you. At the end of the day watches are Jewellery and you either like the style/history/backstory or you don't. That's why I'm still a TAG enthusiast even if it makes me cry on the inside when I open some of them up. Passion isn't exactly logical 😁


Well, I look for sad ones to fix up and sell. That's what I tell my wife. But inevitably most of them end up getting adopted and stay with me. When you consider the amount of time and care it takes to make them presentable again you can't help but become attached to them.

Some of those I don't bond with ends up being sold on again, like that Formula 1 will be (or any Aquaracer for that matter). Carreras and Links usually stay, and if I had to come across a Monaco it would stay as well.

An oldie but a goodie, a chronometer certified S-EL in pretty much perfect cosmetic condition. An acquired taste for sure but I love the concept behind what TAG went for with making that bracelet distinctively TAG Heuer, something you'll notice on someone even across a busy bar 😉. In the picture it looks like there's discoloration in the middle of the dial, but that's just how the light hit it. A real pity it sits a little small on my ape wrists. Maybe I've just gotten too used to big watches lately.


What a happy little watch. Yes, it needs a service as it's just outside of COSC specifications but if it were not for that I'd call it good considering it's age.


They certainly don't make them like they used to. And yes, there's a plastic spacer ring but in this case it doesn't bug me as it has that killer ETA 2892A2 movement in it, with it's COSC certification number.


I'll be doing a service on it to maintain its health for many years to come.

Maybe end shake? If that can be why excessive play up and down on the pivot might drag on the plate…….
If it is that is. The balance can’t stand much obstruction before just not working.,,,,,,
Right that screw from else where. LOL

Hehe, took me a while to figure out it was the screws in there