Pre-Owned Picks — 4 TAG Heuer Watches Linked To Motorsports
I love Formula One. I’d put it above all my other passions. Ahead of fast cars, guitars, movies, music, and, yes, even watches. I try to keep it quiet because whenever you mention an interest in F1, everyone feels the need to weigh in: “Oh, it is just going around in circles”, or “… it’s not a real sport”. F1 is where I feel no need to listen to anyone else’s opinion or justify my passion for it. Thankfully, wristwatches are intrinsically linked to Formula One enabling me to combine my interests.
Sporty wristwatches and Formula One coalesce in a natural way that benefits both industries. TAG Heuer was the official timekeeper for Formula One for several years, in what I consider its heyday. The ’90s may have been the era of F1 that I grew up so, naturally, I prefer it. But the cars were objectively good-looking and aurally pleasant. Drivers like Mika Häkkinen, Ayrton Senna, and Jaques Villeneuve were also inspiring to watch. I still catch every race Sunday, but the current turbo-era can be a little predictable. The role of official timekeeper now resides with Rolex, but TAG Heuer still has a stake in the well-performing Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Team.
Pre-Owned Picks
To satisfy my love for watches and F1, I bring you four TAG Heuer watch listings on Chrono24 with a racing heart.
All these watches were selected carefully by me without any influence from Chrono24. I chose the topic and found suitable wristwatches that related to the topic. I only request the high-resolution photos from Chrono24 without the watermark. As these are only my suggestions, it is worth always carrying out your research on the watch details and the seller. Ask as many relevant questions you feel are necessary for the watch, and a good seller should answer with accuracy and honesty.
TAG Heuer Carrera Senna
TAG Heuer’s connection to Ayrton Senna, specifically his family name, remains to this day. Senna was a legend. Sports fans remember him fondly, even 26 years on from his untimely passing during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Many also associate the three-time world champion with the TAG Heuer Link. A clear distinction was the ergonomically integrated Senna “S” Link bracelet. Returning in 2018, the legendary Senna bracelet found its way onto the Carrera Heuer 02. The in-house Heuer 02 chronograph has a skeletonized dial and is available on Chrono24 for €3,756.
Check out the Chrono24 listing here.
TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf Special Edition 50th Anniversary
Outside of single-seaters, Heuer is well-known for its appearance in the 1971 docu-movie Le Mans. Seen on Steve McQueen’s rugged wrist was the new-to-the-scene Heuer Monaco. Gulf Oil’s iconic pale blue and orange livery adorns McQueen’s overalls as well as the skin of his racing machine. The TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 11 Gulf celebrates 50-years of this special livery by double-stamping the dial with the Gulf Oil logo.
No Gulf-liveried Porsche has ever won the top division of Le Mans
In the movie, McQueen’s Porsche 917 from 1970 has the same Gulf livery. But it was actually the red and white 917 that won the 1970 running of Le Mans. The win was a first for Porsche in endurance racing — driven by Richard “Dickie” Attwood and Hans Herrmann “The German”. No Gulf-liveried Porsche has ever won the top division of Le Mans. Yet the beautiful color combination has been ingrained into memory as a winning combo. The Heuer Monaco Gulf is the same 39mm square case with compur layout and date at 6 o’clock. With this special Gulf dial, the model is available on Chrono24 for €3,991.
Check out the Chrono24 listing here.
TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 16
The Carrera line may have existed for nearly 60-years, but it can still cater to the “Max Verstappen” generation. In 2018, TAG Heuer celebrated the 55th anniversary of the Carrera with a Valjoux-based 12, 9, 6 layout Carrera Calibre 16 Chronograph with a more approachable price. The solid dial model has red chronograph hands and 15-minute scale accents on a blue dial with a date at 3 o’clock. On the running seconds, orange sections intersperse in 20-second intervals. The only additional color I am not too fond of is the aged luminescent paint on the indices and central hands. Mostly due to all the other elements gearing the watch towards more modern designs. With a perforated leather racing strap and 41mm case, check out this example on Chrono24 for €2,781.
Check out the Chrono24 listing here.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph GMT
My last but by no means least selection is the less racing-inspired TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph GMT that has a black and blue “Batman” color scheme on the fixed ceramic 24-hour bezel. Powering the TAG GMT is the in-house movement that fills the admirable sapphire case-back view — despite the case being 45mm. The 100-meter water resistance shows the sporty credentials even for a watch with many complications. The color scheme may derive some comparison to the Rolex GMT-Master II with black and blue Cerachrom bezel. Yet, the dial and combination with chronograph easily distinguish this model from most other brands. Available on Chrono24 for €3,879.
Check out the Chrono24 listing here.
Good hunting!
