Story of the Alpha Male

Gentlemen of the Force,

This is by no mean a review or technical post, but rather a story to share among fellow enthusiasts of the marque.

A while ago, I was hopelessly trying to unload an Omega Railmaster XXL (49.5mm!!) of my collection, considering it massive for small wrist and my penchant for Tag Heuer.

Online classifieds did not lead anywhere, albeit a close one on watchuseek.
Well, you know when sometimes you itch and just want to move on to the next watch?

I gave up on the internet and went to a place called Shola, here in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where I am an expat working.
This is basically a shopping center with jewelers and used watch traders; you’ll find all the royalty gifts, princes giveaways, Rolexes of all kind, in shapes and forms you would never imagine.
Mostly high-end luxury watches: Rolex, AP, Chopard, Cartier etc.. with precious stones and what have you, you know the genre.
Rarely would you find a Tag Heuer, IWC or Omega for instance. We’re talking watches that are closer to jewelry than timepieces.

But there was one; a Link Calibre 16 (CAT2010) in a LNIB condition.
I had never considered a Link but there was an Omega to unload. Done deal.

A couple of days ago, I started itching back from a Longines Master Collection Maxi Chronograph, 44mm, that was just sitting there in the watch box. Drove back last night to the Shola.
Scouted the shops; thousands of Rolex. One Aquaracer chornograph in meh condition, and the guy wasn’t too excited at the sight of a Longines.
Headed back to the shop were I got the Link.

There it was; a big, day-date Carrera with a black dial on a bracelet.
It still had the factory blue protection stickers on the bracelet and the back case still covered. New old stock or probably a gift that was sold for cash. Or traded for a Rolex…

I immediately ask Google to find “CV2A10 Calibre11” to browse over David’s review.
He said Alpha Male.

The Longines wasn’t enough to cover for a Carrera, especially an almost new one.
The Link was on my wrist; he agreed to take it back.

Not that I didn’t like the Link. It was classy, understated, and looked great on my wrist.
But I am more of a Carrera guy. I just crave their timeless shape.

I went back home to get the box and bracelet links to complete the trade, and read back in depth Calibre11’s review. He said Alpha male.

The day-date looked like the offspring of my CV2014 and Carrera Monaco Grand Prix Limited edition. That’s three watches that are from a distance, very similar.
I didn’t nudge; it’s not every day you’d find a NIB Carrera – let alone slightly less than 3K – with an extra alligator strap.

Deal done again.

It’s heavy, it’s charged, it’s busy; but it exudes a higher premium feel that its two siblings I mentioned above.

Would I have preferred it to be white? Perhaps, just to mark a change. Had I wished it was an 1887? Oh yes, but again, unless I am in the market for a Rolex, the odds are dim in this part of the world.

I snapped the bracelet for a chunky leather strap I found in my watch parts box; I think it offsets nicely the thickness of the watch on a small wrist as opposed to the original alligator.

Thank you all!

Great story and watch, too bad you had to let go the Link for it, but then, what a nice one that Carrera is!

Congrats. Very engagingly written if I may say so.

Congrats! I think that it would look great in a rally perforated band, which I consider the Alpha Male of the leather bands 😀

^ I will add it to my shopping list 😀

Enjoyed that! Great story and lovely photos 😀

Thanks! Really loving this watch. My better half still considering identical to my others 😀

I would like to personally blame the editor of Caliber11, for his flagrant attempts in bringing this wonderful community of Tag Heuer aficionados from all around the world closer together and fueling our passion for these timepieces.

All of you are smitten.

Watch this space.

Hah, very kind of you 👍.

You know that really that I'm just TAG Heuer's version of Siri

The Force awakens.

The disturbance originates from these forums, and I am still striving to restore order to the Force.

With the coming of the Alpha male, the bay took possession of my CV2014 Fangio, and now the last of the remaining Omegas, a 70’s Speedmaster Mark II, is bound to find solace as well.
Why are these going away? To satisfy my yearning for limited edition Carreras.

I told you to watch this space…

I came across this new old stock SpaceX cal. 1887 at one of the local Tag Heuer retailer.
They had two; one distressed from trials at the shop, and this version, shiny and new.
This has been one of my favorite Carreras of all, and I took the plunge.
Thankfully, financing came from the Calibre 16 and incoming revenues from the Omega whenever it sells.

I simply love this Carrera.

Contrary to what you see in official photos, the hands are not flat grey, nor blue as seen in one of the catalogs; they are metallic, but reflect so much they tend to appear titanium or grey depending on the light.
The dusky white dial makes it look bigger than it really is, yet it remain a truly elegant watch.

I am not wearing it yet, awaiting a strap from heuerville to get delivered.
The original strap, although gorgeous, is sensitive and I am not keen on abusing it.
With my small wrist, I will have to pull real hard on it and not feeling the urge to leave wear marks on it. It can wait; I am still enjoying the day-date posted originally in this thread.

Funny thing is, is you Google image search the Carrera SpaceX, you will get a ton of replicas and very little images of it.
Heck, I even saw golden and black dial replicas at the supermarket…

Thank you for the read, and May the Force be with you.

Do like the simplicity of the space X.

And here's to a new installment of the Alpha Male series.

Two Carreras and a reissue Autavia left the vault to vacant real estate for the SpaceX, and, something else.

Not an Alpha Male, but perhaps one of the most accomplished Carreras till date.
I searched the internets and ADs, until I stumbled across one residing in Germany.
NOS, after some negotiations and tax waiving, we got ourself a deal.

First to blame is @Hubert as he wouldn't stop parading commemorative watches. I told you you'd get me into troubles.

By default @D.C is at fault for making us fall in love with those timepieces.

When I see pictures like that, I regret selling mine

Comrades Heuerist,

I’ve been toying on ebay for a while, getting rid of things I no longer use or others resulting from hobbies binge buying, eventually creating the “Watch Fund”.

Now, once upon a night I was re-reading the Carrera special on Calibre11, which happened to discuss the first reissues that eventually lead to Google transiting to Chrono24 and the bay.
All versions are great, and I battling left and right between a black or white dial, alternatively with the Daytona rings.

Focus, you must. Settle on the black dial, I did.

One was listed on the bay – also on the auctions section of these neighborhoods.
Got into a discussion with the seller, quite honest and open to talks.
One thing was however not clicking; the original strap was overly worn out for something worn on select occasions. Although the watch looked fine and the price right, and continued the search.

Forward to Italy with a label 1 “mint” offering, however photos too blurry and seller over confident.

In the meantime, discussions were open with Denmark; the highest price, but we negotiated an agreement.

Watch Fund depleted later and DHL knocking at the door a couple of days later.

The CS3111 was in a good condition; light swirls on the side, a couple of desk dings, mint glass. Very decent for an almost 20 years old watch…

Amazon: Simichrome, Polywatch.
Rub-a-dub-a-dubby.

New Calf rally strap with a Heuer deployment.
Although I also ordered the original strap with the buckle, I opted for the padded calf with the deployment. It give the watch more presence.
Beside, the original one is long on my small wrist I could wear it Hermes-style.

And here she is, ready to spend some time on my wrist.

Very nice, congratulations. It's a beauty. Like you, I couldn't decide between the different colour options either and let fate decide - condition and price were to be the deciding factors. Been wearing mine today at work. My wife says that this one is her favourite out of all my watches.

Sorry for the old photo - need to take some better ones soon.

^ I really love the blue detail on the dial.

Great choice of strap and deployment 👍

You don't really notice the blue on the wrist. Only in close-up photos. But it's really hard to photograph this watch. It looks much more special in real life than it does in any photo I've been able to capture. I imagine the black is the same.