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imagwai
·As TAG Heuer is struggling since a long time to polish the brand image the risk would be to high in my opinion.
I guess the original F1 was cool, but it did lot of damage to the brand as a luxury brand.
It's time to bring back the original F1
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Aquagraph
·Maybe they should do it for the 40th anniversary of the F1 as a limited release, I know we all get annoyed about LE's but in this instance I think a limited edition would indicate that this is a special thing and not to be taken seriously. Maybe 5 colours in 10,000pcs or something? They could even get people to vote for the colours they wanted, using the originals as templates. I think it would be awkward using F1 team colours, I'm sure they wouldn't want to fall out with F1 - I'm guessing Bernie never gave them a cast iron legal permission to use the name Formula 1 name forever, probably just an agreement that keeps rolling over providing everyone is happy.
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Aquagraph
·Even then I think the price is difficult. At £500 I would buy one, at £750.... I might.
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Pitfitter446
·If they bring back the original F1 watch can we also have proper F1 racing back! Big engines, little downforce/aero and pit stops only for punctures or a quick beer for the driver?
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Aquagraph
·I have a theory that F1 was more exciting back in the old days because you only ever saw 40m of it on Sunday night... so they took all the boring bits out. I would have appreciated a 40m version of Bahrain...
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Mspeedster
·Maybe they should do it for the 40th anniversary of the F1 as a limited release, I know we all get annoyed about LE's but in this instance I think a limited edition would indicate that this is a special thing and not to be taken seriously. Maybe 5 colours in 10,000pcs or something? They could even get people to vote for the colours they wanted, using the originals as templates. I think it would be awkward using F1 team colours, I'm sure they wouldn't want to fall out with F1 - I'm guessing Bernie never gave them a cast iron legal permission to use the name Formula 1 name forever, probably just an agreement that keeps rolling over providing everyone is happy.
Love it or hate it, the original Formula 1 is a huge part of TAG's legacy. So a 40th anniversary re-issue would be the perfect time to bring it back. But only as a limited run. I'd say price it around $300, make them look just like they used to, but upsized to 38mm. Offer some of the same colors and perhaps a few new ones.
What many don't understand is that the original wasn't just cheap plastic. It was made of fiberglass and had a steel core within the case.
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Mspeedster
·Also, rather than limiting the number, limit how long these will be on sale. If priced at around $300, TAG will sell tons of them. If priced any higher than around $500, many who like the F1 would likely opt for a vintage original.
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Yago
·I don't think a new plastic F1 with funky colours will have the same impact as the original. What would be the purpose besides nostalgia?
When Hayek created Swatch the quartz crisis was real. His vision was extreme but brilliant. Copy the Japanese but do it with style. And most of all get in sync with western popular culture. Swatch managed to "save the Swiss watch industry" but it also became a pillar of '80s pop culture. Swatches were everywhere when I was growing up.
Hayek Jr's idea for the MoonSwatch might have been great, really great, but it could never have the same impact as the Swatch original. That's fine but it doesn't mean TAG Heuer has to settle for that.
For years the Swiss watch industry has been under pressure from smartwatches. Swiss watches have been status symbols since forever but they also used to be tools. The tool function has shifted almost entirely to smartwatches which renders the brands we love little more than fancy jewelry.
TAG Heuer has three key aces up their sleeve. They have the F1 watch nostalgia, the pop culture link with so many collabs and ambassadors and most of all a substantial experience with smartwatches.
Why not, like during the quartz crisis, embrace the new technology and create a colourful and funky range of affordable F1 smart watches? I proposed this in a thread a whole while back and still think it could work. They wouldn't need or would probably be best without countless functionalities. Just a few simple ones, with a fun design, and backed up with an unlimited amount of watch faces to choose from and to be created by users, similar to the Connected. This should be feasible at sub 1000 euro and they could sell very very well.
When Hayek created Swatch the quartz crisis was real. His vision was extreme but brilliant. Copy the Japanese but do it with style. And most of all get in sync with western popular culture. Swatch managed to "save the Swiss watch industry" but it also became a pillar of '80s pop culture. Swatches were everywhere when I was growing up.
Hayek Jr's idea for the MoonSwatch might have been great, really great, but it could never have the same impact as the Swatch original. That's fine but it doesn't mean TAG Heuer has to settle for that.
For years the Swiss watch industry has been under pressure from smartwatches. Swiss watches have been status symbols since forever but they also used to be tools. The tool function has shifted almost entirely to smartwatches which renders the brands we love little more than fancy jewelry.
TAG Heuer has three key aces up their sleeve. They have the F1 watch nostalgia, the pop culture link with so many collabs and ambassadors and most of all a substantial experience with smartwatches.
Why not, like during the quartz crisis, embrace the new technology and create a colourful and funky range of affordable F1 smart watches? I proposed this in a thread a whole while back and still think it could work. They wouldn't need or would probably be best without countless functionalities. Just a few simple ones, with a fun design, and backed up with an unlimited amount of watch faces to choose from and to be created by users, similar to the Connected. This should be feasible at sub 1000 euro and they could sell very very well.
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RockBurner
·I like this idea.
Love it or hate it, the original Formula 1 is a huge part of TAG's legacy. So a 40th anniversary re-issue would be the perfect time to bring it back. But only as a limited run. I'd say price it around $300, make them look just like they used to, but upsized to 38mm. Offer some of the same colors and perhaps a few new ones.
What many don't understand is that the original wasn't just cheap plastic. It was made of fiberglass and had a steel core within the case.
I'd agree with this.
Saying that the original F1 isn't a true Tag Heuer is a bit like saying that the original 1000 series isn't an original either and should be left to rot in history. (which, given one or two of the recent releases is obviously not TH's thinking).
I like the idea of an 'affordable' TH watch that nevertheless is built well enough to be solid and reliable and serve as an introduction to TH's range and style.
As MSpeedster said - the original F1 was much more robust than 'just' a plastic watch and it's 'fun' side was probably inspired by SWATCH who started up about 3 years before the F1 came on the market.
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Mspeedster
·I don't think a new plastic F1 with funky colours will have the same impact as the original. What would be the purpose besides nostalgia?
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RockBurner
·I don't think a new plastic F1 with funky colours will have the same impact as the original. What would be the purpose besides nostalgia?
When Hayek created Swatch the quartz crisis was real. His vision was extreme but brilliant. Copy the Japanese but do it with style. And most of all get in sync with western popular culture. Swatch managed to "save the Swiss watch industry" but it also became a pillar of '80s pop culture. Swatches were everywhere when I was growing up.
Hayek Jr's idea for the MoonSwatch might have been great, really great, but it could never have the same impact as the Swatch original. That's fine but it doesn't mean TAG Heuer has to settle for that.
For years the Swiss watch industry has been under pressure from smartwatches. Swiss watches have been status symbols since forever but they also used to be tools. The tool function has shifted almost entirely to smartwatches which renders the brands we love little more than fancy jewelry.
TAG Heuer has three key aces up their sleeve. They have the F1 watch nostalgia, the pop culture link with so many collabs and ambassadors and most of all a substantial experience with smartwatches.
Why not, like during the quartz crisis, embrace the new technology and create a colourful and funky range of affordable F1 smart watches? I proposed this in a thread a whole while back and still think it could work. They wouldn't need or would probably be best without countless functionalities. Just a few simple ones, with a fun design, and backed up with an unlimited amount of watch faces to choose from and to be created by users, similar to the Connected. This should be feasible at sub 1000 euro and they could sell very very well.
I quite like that idea.....
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Hubert
··TAG Heuer Forums ModeratorI'd buy reissue(s) of the original F1, as if they are reasonably priced. I think, if TH pursue this idea, they should price them similarly to the MoonSwatch.
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Aquagraph
·Also, rather than limiting the number, limit how long these will be on sale. If priced at around $300, TAG will sell tons of them. If priced any higher than around $500, many who like the F1 would likely opt for a vintage original.
How would that work? You can't really have an end date because if you haven't sold them all then what do you do with the leftovers? If you have then it was actually a limited number... (i.e. the production run).
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Mspeedster
·How would that work? You can't really have an end date because if you haven't sold them all then what do you do with the leftovers? If you have then it was actually a limited number... (i.e. the production run).
I've seen other products do that all the time. It drives the FOMO, but allows the product maker to decide how many to make and how long a production run. As for leftovers, they simply stay out there until sold, even after production has ended. No harm no foul.
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njlam
·With the success of the Swatch MoonSwatch, any one think the TAG Heuer Formula One watches from the 1980/90s would be a great reintroduction?
Obviously it would be great if TAG Heuer did it, but a Swatch collaboration would also work (they have the worldwide stores).
With all the different color combos, it could turn into a collectable situation and drive new and old buyers to the brand.
It really helped Omega
Obviously it would be great if TAG Heuer did it, but a Swatch collaboration would also work (they have the worldwide stores).
With all the different color combos, it could turn into a collectable situation and drive new and old buyers to the brand.
It really helped Omega
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njlam
·The success of the MoonSwatch tells us there is huge demand for iconic toy watches that are fun, colorful and collectable.
It has been a great thing for Omega and Swatch, driving sales of both the moonwatch, and visits to Swatch stores.
I would prefer a Formula One remake be introduced by TAG and done right. If Swatch does it, the watches won't be as good.
I still have my 1986 TAG Heuer Formula One (34mm). It is a relevant today as the day I bought it.
It has been a great thing for Omega and Swatch, driving sales of both the moonwatch, and visits to Swatch stores.
I would prefer a Formula One remake be introduced by TAG and done right. If Swatch does it, the watches won't be as good.
I still have my 1986 TAG Heuer Formula One (34mm). It is a relevant today as the day I bought it.
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Mspeedster
·N njlamThe success of the MoonSwatch tells us there is huge demand for iconic toy watches that are fun, colorful and collectable.
It has been a great thing for Omega and Swatch, driving sales of both the moonwatch, and visits to Swatch stores.
I would prefer a Formula One remake be introduced by TAG and done right. If Swatch does it, the watches won't be as good.
I still have my 1986 TAG Heuer Formula One (34mm). It is a relevant today as the day I bought it.
I bought mine in '88/'89, still have it too. 😀
But when I had it serviced, I learned that my F1's ESA movement is unique to the '86 first run models. From '87 onwards it used an ETA movement. So mine is also technically a first run '86 model like yours.
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Albert-AMG
··TAG Heuer Forums Moderator^ Last posts by @njlam and @Aquagraph moved to this previously existing thread about this matter
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Aquagraph
·There's a lot of love for the original. @Jeff Stein posted about it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp3nqz0rzRe/ and here: https://www.gq.com/story/best-watches-under-500-according-to-experts
I bought mine in '88/'89, still have it too. 😀
But when I had it serviced, I learned that my F1's ESA movement is unique to the '86 first run models. From '87 onwards it used an ETA movement. So mine is also technically a first run '86 model like yours.
Damn, that's a great photo... makes me wonder why I sold mine.
