TAG Heuer Marks Its Return To Formula 1 At 2025 Watches And Wonders

Forbes

01-04-2025

The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph | F1
TAG Heuer marks its return as the Official Timekeeper of Formula 1 by releasing new editions of some of its best-known racing watches from the 1960s, '70s and '80s: the Monaco, Carrera and Solargraph. The watches were released at the 2025 Watches and Wonders watch fair, which opened Tuesday and will run till April 7.
The TAG Heuer Monaco is one of the most storied timepieces in automobile racing. First worn by Steve McQueen in the 1971 film, 'Le Mans,' it has seen a renewed popularity in recent years as the Swiss watch brand created many versions of the square chronograph that extend well beyond its original blue, red and white color patterns.
This new Monaco distinguishes itself with a red tinted sapphire crystal dial and an all-white ceramic case.
The watch is powered by the caliber TH81-00 automatic split-seconds chronograph movement. TAG Heuer said it is one of the lightest and most advanced chronograph calibers it's ever made. The split-seconds function, or 'Rattrapante' in French, allows for the simultaneous measurement of two separate time intervals.
Hand-finished bevels and black mirror-polished screws are among the finishes in crafting the movement. The oscillating weight is fashioned in the TAG Heuer shield shape and features a brushed finish as well as a hand-painted white and red kerb-inspired design. The TAG Heuer signature checkered-flag pattern on the bridges along with their polished bevels are handmade.
The red-tinted translucent dial with white markings features white Super-LumiNova applied indexes and white ceramic sandblasted bridges.
The square black grained minute chronograph counter at 3 o'clock has a red lacquered hand; and white, red and yellow markings.
The seconds counter at 6 o'clock has a rhodium-plated sandblasted ring, a black gold hand and black markings.
The black grained hour chronograph counter at 9 o'clock has a red lacquered hand; and white, red and yellow markings.
The hour and minute hands are made of openworked black gold with white Super-LumiNova and white tips.
Then there's the white lacquered central chronograph hand, red lacquered central split-seconds hand and hand-lacquered TAG Heuer applied logo.
The phrases 'LIGHTS OUT' '& AWAY WE GO' are printed on counters; and 'SWISS' 'MADE' and the F1 logo are printed on the dial.
The 41mm all-white case is a standout feature of this watch. It's made of white sandblasted, fine-brushed and polished white ceramic. The crown at 3 o'clock is made of the same material and finishes with the added touch of the red and green lacquered TAG Heuer shield. The chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o'clock and the split-seconds pushers at 8 and 9 o'clock also have the same ceramic materials and finishes. The 9 o'clock pusher has the added detail: a red lacquered titanium tube.
The watch is completed with a white calfskin strap with textile embossing and red hand stitching and a grade-5 titanium butterfly folding clasp.
The Tag Heuer Carrera Day-Date
TAG Heuer released six new models of one of its best-known racing watches, the Carrera, featuring distinctive dials, materials and straps.
The six watches are housed in a 41mm stainless-steel case and bezel. All have a day-date window at 3 o'clock. Five of the watches come with a steel fine brushed and polished three-row bracelet with one model sporting a two-tone steel and 5N rose gold bracelet and one model with a perforated black calfskin strap with light blue lining.
Five of the watches are powered by the caliber TH31-02 developed with movement manufacturer, AMT, and produced exclusively for TAG Heuer. The movement delivers an 80-hour power reserve and has a five-year extended warranty. One watch, the 'Twin-Time' GMT model, is powered by the caliber TH31-03.
Where the watches truly differ is in the colors and materials used for the dial. The piece with the leather strap has a black grained dial; black grained flange with a 60 second-minute scale; rhodium plated, faceted and polished applied indexes, and hour and minute hands; and a red lacquered central hand.
The TAG Heuer Carrera Day-Date GMT
Two models have a black opaline dial; a black flange with 60 second-minute scale; and 18k 5N rose gold plated and polished applied indexes, hour and minute hands and central hand.
One model has a blue sunray brushed dial; a blue flange with 60 second-minute scale; and rhodium plated, faceted and polished applied indexes, hour and minute hands and central hand.
A single model has a smoky red opaline dial with a black flange 60 second-minute scale; rhodium plated, faceted and polished applied indexes, hour and minute hands and central hand.
The Carrera Day-Date Twin Time has a teal colored sunray brushed dial; a silver and teal-colored flange with a 24-hourn scale; rhodium plated, faceted and polished applied numerals, hour, minute and central hands; and a rhodium plated and polished GMT hand with a red lacquered tip.
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph
The Formula 1 theme continues with a revival of a TAG Heuer Solargraph watch from the 1980s. The updated collection consists of nine watches with bright colored dials, contrasting colored flanges, big round indexes and thick black daisy-shaped bidirectional bezels with large 60 second-minute scales. The dials are housed in a 38mm case made of either sandblasted steel, DLC treated steel or TH-Polylight, a new material for TAG Heuer that the company says is light weight and durable. The bezels in the collection are made of the same TH-Polylight material.
Three models form the core collection with a classic black and white dial or a deep blue dial, both with a steel bracelet and a red central second hand. The remaining six models are limited editions, featuring color combinations of black and red, black and yellow, blue and black, white and green, white and red, and green and red.
The watch is powered by the solar-powered Solargraph movement. With the Solargraph movement, the watch's battery is recharged by the sun or artificial light. A two-minute exposure to direct sunlight is enough to power the watch for a day, the Swiss watch brand said. Once fully charged, after less than 40 hours in the sun, the watch can run for up to 10 months with no light exposure. If the timepiece stops ticking, it only needs exposure to any light source for ten seconds to start again. The battery has a 15-year lifespan.