The original racing watches are back. TAG Heuer is celebrating its return as official Formula One timekeeper with its new Solargraph collection. And for the particularly well heeled, a limited edition of a stone cold classic.
You’re looking at the new Solargraph automatic watches, popping with colour. Details in a moment, so savour these images. And the history that's inbuilt to every model in this range. TAG Heuer first featured in Formula One in 1969 and is returning as the sport celebrates its 75th anniversary. First to wear the TAG Heuer logo on his overalls, and one of its watches as he raced, was Swiss driver Jo Siffert. Most famous for his privateer victory in a Lotus 49 in the 1968 British Grand Prix. A winning partnership was born.
At first fellow drivers who admired Siffert’s watch had to buy their own. TAG Heuer realised the marketing potential. And when Ferrari needed a new timing system for their test track at Fiorano, the Swiss firm came up with the goods. Ferrari stars didn’t have to buy their own - Mario Andretti, Jacky Ickx, Niki Lauda, Clay Regazzoni and Gilles Villeneuve were each given an 18-carat gold Heuer Carrera. They’re hugely sought after today: with auction prices of up to £210,000.
TAG Heuer Solargraph collection
The Solargraph collection references 1980s F1 watches - and fortunately for all of us they’re at the affordable end of the TAG Heuer price scale. Available in a wide range of colourways, each TAG Heuer Formula One Solargraph features a solar-powered quartz movement in a sand-blasted steel case with an opalin dial featuring Super-LumiNova indices. TAG Heuer say that the TH50-00 Calibre requires just a minute of light to power it for an entire day.
And then there’s the high end. Just ten of the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph F1 will be hand made, using, TAG Heuer tell us, a rattrapante complication, first developed to time sports at the end of the 19th century, and used by Heuer in its pioneering 1916 Microsplit stopwatch. Here the rattrapante complication is shown off in a transparent case, with two timing dials featuring the words “lights out/& away we go” that every F1 fan knows from Sunday television commentary.
Prices? Solargraph collection is - for high end life long timepieces - well priced. Hand over £1,650 and one of these essential pieces of everyday timekeeping jewellery will be yours. Limited edition Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph F1 is, naturally, the one you'll need for more special occasions. As we’ve said, just ten pieces will be lovingly handmade by TAG Heuer’s storied watchmakers. Price? A mere £143,000, or about the same as your next Ferrari road car.
Next up: 9 Of the best classic watches for men.
