The Heuer 01s are gone and certainly far fewer Heuer 02s...also a big reduction in the Calibre 16 Carrera models.
I'd say by next year there'll be four branches to the Carrera family tree:
- Carrera Sport Heuer 02 44mm
- Carrera Elegant Heuer 02 42mm
- Carrera Calibre 5 watch 41mm
- Occasional Heuer-branded re-edition
That's far more coherent range than we've had for a long time
I feel that there should be a permanent 39mm choice in the range (whether heritage or not). Not everyone can physically wear a 41mm watch comfortably.
Agree- but here are some thoughts:
- Assume that last year TAG Heuer made 400,000 watches (COVID impacted)
- Assume that Carrera makes up 30% of the volume- 120,000 watches
- Last year TAG Heuer made 2,860 39mm Carreras- so 2.3% of Carrera production, and less than 1% of TAG Heuer total production
- These 39mm Carreras did not sell out in 2020 and are still available in 2021
Would you green light more 39mm Carrera Chronographs as a business? I love these watches and they're the perfect size for me, but frankly I think we're lucky to have any of these made, as the business case looks pretty horrible if you look at numbers alone. I get that these are premium watches and not affordable, but it's hard to avoid the conclusion that collectors/ watch fans have very different taste to the mainstream watch buyer.
Agree- but here are some thoughts:
- Assume that last year TAG Heuer made 400,000 watches (COVID impacted)
- Assume that Carrera makes up 30% of the volume- 120,000 watches
- Last year TAG Heuer made 2,860 39mm Carreras- so 2.3% of Carrera production, and less than 1% of TAG Heuer total production
- These 39mm Carreras did not sell out in 2020 and are still available in 2021
Would you green light more 39mm Carrera Chronographs as a business? I love these watches and they're the perfect size for me, but frankly I think we're lucky to have any of these made, as the business case looks pretty horrible if you look at numbers alone. I get that these are premium watches and not affordable, but it's hard to avoid the conclusion that collectors/ watch fans have very different taste to the mainstream watch buyer.
Exactly, overall the vast majority of TAG Heuer customer is not disposed to buying smaller watches. And yet the forum is all like 'TAG don't know what they are doing' and 'they don't listen to us'.... 🙄 And even when they do give them a 39mm watch it's still (usually) not right, too expensive, too thick, milky ring, too pandary, not pandary enough... it goes on and on.
We come to the forums to discuss these watches, don't we? There's no such thing as the perfect watch, but that doesn't mean our constructive criticism should be taken as moans. I completely agree that most TAG customers want a big watch with lots of wrist presence. However, there really ought to be something in the permanent line-up for smaller wrists as well. Rolex does this well and offers a clear design language through a model, with different size choices and different levels of "bling".
I know a guy with a 36mm Rolex.
My first TAG was 35mm, the size didn't bother me so much (to start with) but the clasp drove me nuts, it felt like it was designed for a smaller wrist so I sold it to my friend who has a much smaller wrist than me. He liked it to start with, then he bought a Pelagos (42mm), I've never seen him wear the TAG since he bought that. He also has a Pagani Aquaracer a Seiko Padi and a Casio rubber thing. I don't mind wearing the old F1s and they are 34mm... but if they made them larger obviously I would buy them larger
I know a guy with a 36mm Rolex.
You do? 😀 Seriously, there are still a few of us out there who appreciate comfort and recognise that discretion can sometimes be a virtue. Whilst most male Rolex buyers of the OP these days probably go for the 41, I have seen quite a few 36mm being posted on various forums too. I think it's pretty perfect at this size to be honest (whatever your wrist size). And to whoever thinks 36mm is just for ladies, then that says way more about your preconceptions and insecurities than it does about my perceived masculinity.
I think a lot of it is also focusing way too much on paper dimensions. Like how the Carrera reeditions are too thick - even though much of the height is in the crystal, and thus the watch doesn't sit very high on the wrist.
Case in point is the Explorer - at 36mm it's certainly on the small side, but it has a ton of wrist presence if you ever try one on. I haven't seen a 39mm 214270 in person but based on my experience with the originals I almost expect I'd feel it was too big.
