It's time to bring back the original F1

Mspeedster
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Albert-AMG Albert-AMG
I payed around 180.000 ptas for my S/el in 1996, which is 1100€… Seeing your price list, it’s strange because I don’t remember such a big difference in price between F1 and S/el, and I guess prices are similar in all countries. Maybe around 100.000 ptas (600€) was the price for the steel case F1 on steel bracelet, and later on the 90’s?…
Must've been for the F1 Steel or F1 Chrono, those did go up in price in '90s.

I purchased my first 3 hander S/el in '91 and it was about $1000 USD, which was a huge price difference compared to the plastic F1 I had bought 2 to 3 years earlier, which again was under $200, somewhere like $175, but can't recall exactly. I wish the price tag was still on my box.
 
YY77
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Mspeedster Mspeedster
Must've been for the F1 Steel or F1 Chrono, those did go up in price in '90s.

I purchased my first 3 hander S/el in '91 and it was about $1000 USD, which was a huge price difference compared to the plastic F1 I had bought 2 to 3 years earlier, which again was under $200, somewhere like $175, but can't recall exactly. I wish the price tag was still on my box.
From @imagwai Google Drive link the prices in GBP in 1991;
Screenshot_20230530-011101~2.png
 
Mspeedster
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YY77 YY77
From @imagwai Google Drive link the prices in GBP in 1991;
Screenshot_20230530-011101~2.png
Yes, those are for the Steel case F1s. The '95-'96 price guide shows the price increase. The steel F1 chronograph is 595 pounds, which must be the model Albert remembers from '96.
F1 price 95.jpg
 
Mspeedster
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jamesbizs jamesbizs
No, tag can not produce at that price point. Swatch was already making these types of watches. And it's insane that they sold them for $260.
TAG can not or they will not?

I don't see why people are saying they can't. Seiko, Timex and many others produce quality quartz watches in the $300-$400 price range that I would happily own. I firmly believe TAG Heuer has the capability to do so if they wanted. Whether or not they're willing to price a TAG this low is a different matter.

I can buy an original F1 in pristine condition for around $300 or less all day long on the pre-owned market. If TAG were to price a re-issue closer to $1000, it would get some buyers, but nothing like the sales of the original F1 or MoonSwatch. It would be nothing more than a fleeting tribute that will be quickly forgotten in time.

Anything well over $500 and I would much prefer to buy an original, which are holding up quite well. Who knows how well a plastic re-issue will hold up 35 years from now. All I know is my 2nd Gen F1 purchased in 2004 for about $500 is in worse condition than my original bought in late '88/early '89. The rubber case guards on my '04 have disintegrated, much like its rubberized box.
Edited:
 
Jim Dollares
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Maybe they will solve the pricing issue by releasing them only in collector tribute boxes of three watches per box? That would be a neat solution, this way the box can be priced around 3-4k and each watch would then still be very affordably priced
 
Aquagraph
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1613944-7aaa383b073ac047e27daf6b25514770.jpg
What the hell is this? Looks like the dial from a blue black put into a steel case....

upload_2023-5-30_8-54-10.png
 
Aquagraph
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Mspeedster Mspeedster
I don't know what currency you're remembering, but it couldn't have been the EURO, since that wasn't established until 1999.

The original F1 was certainly not $600 USD. I still have the receipt for my 2000 Series purchased in 1990, that was $600. I remember buying my F1 about a year earlier for under $200USD, can't recall the exact price. I just know I felt it was pretty expensive paying close to $200 for a plastic toy looking watch. LOL

According to Phillips Watches, it was originally $136USD when released in '86.
F1 price2.jpg


The '87 Price Guide showing 79 Pounds
F1 price3.jpg

No wonder the chronographs didn't sell as well, why on earth were they 4 times the price...
 
RockBurner
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Mspeedster Mspeedster
I'd buy a bunch, if priced at around $300 and made to look like the originals, but with upgraded materials, larger size & some new colors. Don't think they'll get much flack for reissuing a cheap fun watch that is a legendary part of their history.

If priced higher than $500, I'll have absolutely no interest in buying.

Same here.

If be prepared to pay "maybe" 300 quid for a "fun" TAG, no more.
 
RockBurner
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jamesbizs jamesbizs
No, tag can not produce at that price point. Swatch was already making these types of watches. And it's insane that they sold them for $260. I thought they were priced at $100+. And of course 95% of them being scalped, and no one else getting them because Swatch either lied about distribution, or botched it. I'm not sure which is worse. Then they are sold for $1000+ for a cheap toy watch that everyone keeps having pushers break off. I can not imagine paying as much for one of those toys, as you can for a really nice used Tag heuer. Tho the cheapest tag models really should be at the $999 starting price... But that's a different argument.

Tag can't do this, just as Omega can't do this. Because Omega didn't do this. And I don't think tag has a swatch. Or do they? I don't know actually. I've lost track of all the Swiss game of thrones. .

And sorry, I just have a deep dislike for Swatch doing this to the Omega brand. I promise you, Omega was not happy. Would you be? This is literally an authorized counterfeit. Did it boost speedy sales? Sure it did. For now. But you think someone that spent THOUSANDS on a watch, or even more if we are talking a real moon watch, would be happy to stand in line at Starbucks, and see some 20 something year old next to him, wearing a watch that looks like his, with logo and all, that he paid a couple hundred for? Would a lexus owner be ok sitting at a light next to a base model Corolla with the lexus logo? lol.

OK. Rant over.

For now....

Or an Aston Martin owner sitting next to a Cygnet?
 
imagwai
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Just catching up on this thread. I'll be bold and make a prediction that there is no way these will be as low as $300/£300, and if they have Tag Heuer on the dial, they will surely be a lot better made than the Moonswatch (which although does have Omega on the dial is really just a Swatch that ought to cost less than £100). They'll be colourful composite affairs, quartz movement, designed to a budget but be worthy of the Swiss Made label (as the originals were). I suspect price point will be more like £600-1000. Would I buy one? Possibly. Provided they're not 43mm monsters. Should be heaps better than the crappy Moonswatch if they get it right.
 
Anthony.
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I'm hearing that release will be around November this year. Not certain but around $2k AUD.
For you folk on the other side of the world maybe $1 - 1.2K. More details to follow when it's available.
 
Jim Dollares
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Anthony. Anthony.R
I'm hearing that release will be around November this year. Not certain but around $2k AUD.
For you folk on the other side of the world maybe $1 - 1.2K. More details to follow when it's available.
Thanks for sharing bromigo, much appreciated. At this price there is a big risk of me buying one! I hope they will be the start of Lil' Fred allowing more fun colours throghout the entire catalogue
 
Mspeedster
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Anthony. Anthony.R
I'm hearing that release will be around November this year. Not certain but around $2k AUD.
For you folk on the other side of the world maybe $1 - 1.2K. More details to follow when it's available.
If that's really the price, I have serious doubts it will be a "faithful" re-issue of the original F1. Because seriously, how many would pay that much for something that looks like this?
20230325_172614.jpg


More likely, it will be a re-imagined "tribute". Which is the way of TAG Heuer these days.
 
Jim Dollares
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Mspeedster Mspeedster
If that's really the price, I have serious doubts it will be a "faithful" re-issue of the original F1. Because seriously, how many would pay that much for something that looks like this?
20230325_172614.jpg


More likely, it will be a re-imagined "tribute". Which is the way of TAG Heuer these days.
I think you are right, most of the vintage vibing TAG Heuers have been tributes rather than re-editions
 
mattp
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When I was in the TH museum last summer, I got a big wink when we talked about the little F1s. So it took them at least 15 months to make them? Perhaps many colors available soon?😉
 
Jim Dollares
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mattp mattp
When I was in the TH museum last summer, I got a big wink when we talked about the little F1s. So it took them at least 15 months to make them? Perhaps many colors available soon?😉
You had this information for almost one year :whipped:
 
Aquagraph
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To be fair, when I was there I was flat out told they were planning something with the Kirium. Still waiting on that. It was 5 years ago.

Let's hope these new F1s are better than these.
GQ_WATCH_GUIDE_ONLINE_TAG_2.jpg
 
mattp
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When the green, yellow and red F1's came out I first thought the employee meant those ones. But now that the rumors are getting stronger I know better.
 
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