Heuer catalogue confusion...

Aquagraph
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Why is it every time I delve back beyond 1985 I am thrown into utter confusion. So I am researching the 2000 Series which starts in 1982 with a huge range of watches, only about 2 of which then appear in the 1983 catalogue... but then there are two bizarre looking things which are apparently special 2000 Chronographs (they even say 2000 on the dial)
55d74be0-4e3c-487a-965a-dd31cbcac076.jpg
Also, I was under the impression that the Monza that the 40th Anniversary was based on was a 70s piece, and yet it is in the 1982 catalogue (well I guess it could still be in the catalogue if it was late 70s).

Also, the 1000 is described as a Diver and the 2000 is described as a sports watch, yet the 2000 spawned the Aquagraph (in fact the Aquagraph is an oversized 2000 Exclusive) so exactly when did the 2000 become a dive watch?
 
Calibre11
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Yes, they got a bit fast and loose.

Initially, the 1000 series covered both the divers watches we know as the 1000 series and a range of automatic watches- they tried to force all watches into a few sub0ranges

https://www.calibre11.com/catalogues/vintage-heuer-catalogues/1985-catalogue/#1985-02

As you rightly say, there were some watches that were part of the 2000 "family" that have no connection at all with the Heuer/ TAG Heuer 2000. The 2000 was always a dive watch..but agree that sports watch/ dive watch were used interchangeably.

Lastly, the last series of the Silverstone, Carrera and Monza are even more confusing, as they don't carry these model names on the dial, just a reference number 馃槙馃槙馃槙
 
Aquagraph
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Yeah, I noticed a lot of the 1000s didn't have 1000 on the dial either... like in the 1982 catalogue.

Is that watch I posted above made of plastic? The black case looks kinda strange...
 
SteveP
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
Yeah, I noticed a lot of the 1000s didn't have 1000 on the dial either... like in the 1982 catalogue.

Is that watch I posted above made of plastic? The black case looks kinda strange...
Originally they didn't have 1000 on the dial but the later revised models with 'L' at the end (i.e. 980.013L) always had 1000 on the dial, which was kept after the 'merger' mostly. That said, the revised models were never titled with the 'L' in the catalogues. (Heuer apparently always liked to keep us guessing!)

AFAIK the above case is still PVD coated but I always think of these as more of the Sports type models, like the Soccer timer etc...(is that this one?)
 
Aquagraph
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I think it might be called the 'Referee', but it clearly says it is a special 2000 model.
 
Aquagraph
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It's actually from the 1983 catalogue no the 1982 and you are right it is steel..
1983-60.jpg 1983-61.jpg
 
Aquagraph
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Also, I can't help but chuckle at this catalogue - the Formula 1 in chronographs!
1983-33-960x666.jpg 1983-34-960x682.jpg 1983-35-960x668.jpg
 
SteveP
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
It's actually from the 1983 catalogue no the 1982 and you are right it is steel..
1983-60.jpg 1983-61.jpg
Ah no, referees aren't allowed to use that one-it is specifically for Car races, aviation etc. 馃槣

Interesting if they are actually SS though, all (?) the previous PVD models were brass cases...
 
Aquagraph
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Yes, the grey dial one is for referees...

This, ahem, mess... kind of makes of mockery of when people say 'x' watch isn't a 'insert model here' because it doesn't conform to 'xyz' doesn't it?
 
abrod520
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
This, ahem, mess... kind of makes of mockery of when people say 'x' watch isn't a 'insert model here' because it doesn't conform to 'xyz' doesn't it?

The 1980s were an especially dark time for Heuer, as they were essentially circling the drain. Out of desperation they just shotgun-blasted a bunch of stuff out the door, using whichever name they thought would sell.

Today's TAG is doing the same, except they're not doing it out of dire financial desperation...
 
Jim Dollares
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abrod520 abrod520
Out of desperation they just shotgun-blasted a bunch of stuff out the door, using whichever name they thought would sell
Do you seriously think this is an accurate description of TAG Heuer today? Sure they do some weird and "bad" things but they sell a lot of watches and watch fans as well as casual luxury watch buyers seem to love most of modern TAG Heuer. As you say, TAG Heuer is not in a financial crisis, the reason is that they are running a good and profitable watch company, right? I know you, just like me, love to be very dramatic in your ways of expressing yourself but saying that today's TAG Heuer is equal to 80's Heuer is just plain wrong and unfair in my opinion.
 
abrod520
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Jim Dollares Jim Dollares
Do you seriously think this is an accurate description of TAG Heuer today?

I'm not saying TAG is doing the exact same thing, but they sure do like plastering the Carrera and Autavia names on just about anything these days
 
Aquagraph
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That's cos in 2021 all anyone cares about is 'branding'. If they made two identical new watches, one with Carrera on and one with 7000 Series on the other, I wonder which one would sell more?
 
Mr_Orange
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abrod520 abrod520
I'm not saying TAG is doing the exact same thing, but they sure do like plastering the Carrera and Autavia names on just about anything these days

I agree. There is little in the way of design direction or cohesiveness in the collection.
 
abrod520
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Aquagraph Aquagraph
That's cos in 2021 all TAG cares about is 'branding'.

FIFY 馃槈

Nah, most other companies aren't diluting their line names with completely unrelated models. Can't buy a 3-hand Speedmaster... hell even the nasty skeletonized ones still look like Speedmasters and don't require being called "Speedmaster" to sell.
 
Calibre11
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OK, this isn't a Catalogue, but I find this ad from 1988/ 1989 very odd. The Heuer Formula 1? The company hadn't been Heuer since 1986, but here we are 2-3 years later using the old name....

425.jpg
 
Mr_Orange
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Calibre11 Calibre11
The Heuer Formula 1? The company hadn't been Heuer since 1986, but here we are 2-3 years later using the old name....

Yet the dial of the watch in the advert clearly has TAG Heuer on it!
 
Calibre11
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Mr_Orange Mr_Orange
Yet the dial of the watch in the advert clearly has TAG Heuer on it!
And there never was a Heuer Formula 1. Even in the body of the ad, it says "With a Heuer, you'll keep running when others come to a halt", so it's not an accident that they've chosen the Heuer name, despite the watch, the ad and the car clearly showing TAG Heuer.
 
kappa_md
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I think there was a typo in that marketing ad. Instead of "The Heuer Formula 1", it should have been "Tag Heuer Formula 1" IMHO

It was turbulent era, please forgive them LOL 馃槈
 
Yago
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Wasn鈥檛 the Formula 1 envisioned and partly designed under Heuer? I always wondered why they have Heuer signed crowns.
 
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