Your Grail TAG Heuer?

Good morning all,

New to the forums and just wanted to introduce myself, I am from the UK and have developed the watch buying disease over the last few years.
You know the one were you buy a watch your satisfied with it, happy to keep it then something else catches your eye and before you know it your "moving it on" to fund the next purchase.

So here is my question what is your grail Tag Heuer watch? the one you would keep no matter what else caught your eye?

Here is mine.........

The Monaco V4 Phantom

1158CHN

Nice choice 18k gold as well very classy!

Welcome to the forum.
I hope you enjoy spending time with us.
Great first post. For me it's got to be the 1158CHN just like @mattp it's so iconic.

THanks Anthony.
Great choice, I'm not well versed on the vintage Heuer's but i do like the old Monza's.
Have TH never hinted at bringing them back?

They did bring back the Monza in 2017.
CR2080. And the Carbon model in 2023.
Agree the OG Monza is a beauty.

Probably a mint vintage Carrera 2447 panda

All of my watch purchases are "grails" in the sense that I don't plan to sell them. And in fact, I've only sold two in over 30 years of watch collecting.

That said, my dream watch is also the 1158CHN. I call it a dream because I just don't see myself spending that kind of money on a single watch.

I wouldn't consider just "a watch you won't sell" a "grail" - it might be one you would love to own, but is extremely hard to acquire (for whatever reason - financial, availability, OH complaining you have too many already, etc), might be a better condition/different variant of one you own already (like owning a CG1123-0 and wanting a NM S25.706C), and some people think a grail watch is one that you just really really must have and owning it feels right - you genuinely relish wearing and using it brings a smile to your face.

I have a couple of watches I'd never sell, and similarly there are watches I'd like to own (and aren't hard to come by) but for whatever reason not ready to make the purchase or I'm not in any rush to get (CBK221B for example - no rush to get one, happy to wait for the right opportunity like I did with my CBE2111 and CT511B).

Both my CT511B and CBE2111 still bring a smile to my face - they were both watches I'd discovered through research, were on my wishlist, and both were good prices (not steals, but well below market) when opportunity to buy arose. The CBE2111 gets worn most days, still.

The CBK221B is on my wishlist, as is the CAL5111. I'd really like to pick up a Modular 45 Calibre 16 (and perhaps a Calibre 5) at some point - it's a pity they only did an 02T and not an 02. Eventually I hope to pick up an 1133B but at the prices they are, I'd never want to wear it.

All that said - I don't think I'd classify anything but the 1133B as a "grail" for me. But, like watches, it's a personal thing!

Fantastic choice - although, I think I'd side with the later Mikrograph with the dual escapements visible through the caseback.

36mm Carrera Plasma

That dial is a thing of beauty!

CAW211W? am i correct?

I've thought about this but I can't really think of one watch other than the Flying 1000 which is completely ludicrous. However, I am actively looking for a Carrera 160 Dato in blue/white (for a sensible price) and that may well be my final large purchase, so maybe that's my 'grail'?

I found one pre-owned on the Goldsmiths website but it's still £4995 which is particularly galling as they also have the silver version for £3995!

Since the Monaco for the first time I wanted one, I eventually got the the chance of a cancelled order McQueen at a great price and that was that, I have looked and bought other watches since but none come close to the blue monaco.