Introducing: Five New Versions Of The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph In Titanium (Live Pics)
With TAG Heuer being the Official Timekeeper of Formula 1 again, the five versions of the new TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph in titanium don’t come as a surprise. There are four regular mechanical chronograph models plus one tribute watch in cooperation with the Oracle Red Bull Racing F1 team.
No, you’re not mistaken: we only received three of the five new titanium versions of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph. Two of the ones here are part of the regular collection, and the Formula 1 Chronograph × Oracle Red Bull Racing is a tribute to the spirit of motorsport. This year, TAG Heuer is the leading watch brand in F1 once again, so what better way to celebrate than through a collection of large 44mm chronographs in high-tech titanium?
Five new versions of the new TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph in titanium
The high-speed world that lends this watch collection its name also inspired the design of the new Formula 1 Chronograph models in titanium. Importantly, despite the updated case, these watches show a clear aesthetic link to their predecessors. The Formula 1 collection has been around since 1986, and for many watch enthusiasts, the colorful creations from that time were their entry point. Will the five new Formula 1 Chronograph models bring in a new audience while also speaking to seasoned watch enthusiasts? It’s too early to tell, but we can at least take a look at the new watches.
The three watches we had in the office are the ref. CBZ2082.FT8096 with a Grade 2 titanium case and a black dial (CHF 4,600), the ref. CBZ2085.FT8093 with a black DLC-coated Grade 2 titanium case on a red rubber strap (CHF 4,800), and the Formula 1 Chronograph × Oracle Red Bull Racing ref. CBZ2080.FT8091 (CHF 5,300). The missing two are the ref. CBZ2084.FT8097, featuring a black DLC-coated Grade 2 titanium case and a black dial with light blue details, and the ref. CBZ2086.FT8098 with a black dial and light green details. Each of those has a price of CHF 4,800.
Interesting proportions
The new Formula 1 Chronograph references have a titanium case with a 44mm diameter, 47.3mm lug-to-lug, and 14.1mm thickness. Yes, they’re large, but the proportions make them wearable on an 18cm wrist like mine. The idea behind the shape of the new case is to mimic the aerodynamic lines of F1 cars. If you look closely and use a bit of imagination, you can see the distinct shape of the nose of an F1 race car. And that same part of the car inspired the shape of the indexes. The black DLC-coated aluminum fixed tachymeter bezel shows micro-perforations on the side. This detail references the brake discs of a Formula 1 car. Open-worked hour and minute hands provide a technical look, and so do the shaped pushers.
There’s quite a bit of color across the range. In addition to the hue(s) on the dial, a colored ring sits beneath each watch’s bezel and matches a lacquered crown ring. TAG Heuer tried to introduce a sense of dynamic animation by using a colored joint between the bezel and the case.
A special blue version honoring Oracle Red Bull Racing
Since TAG Heuer partnered with Oracle Red Bull Racing in 2016, eight coveted special watches have debuted. This latest TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph × Oracle Red Bull Racing features a “naked” Grade 2 titanium case. The dark blue opaline dial shows a checkered-flag pattern, and around it, you get a tachymeter bezel with a forged carbon insert. The watch covers almost all the colors of the F1 car. You get some touches of red on the crown, bezel, and chronograph registers, a yellow-lacquered central chronograph hand and five-minute/second markers, and a dark blue rubber strap with red on the sides.
All five versions of the new TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph in titanium house the TAG Heuer Calibre 16. As you might have guessed, it’s a self-winding ETA 7750-based chronograph movement with a date. This 4Hz caliber with 25 jewels measures 30mm in diameter and has a 42-hour power reserve. It’s not exactly the watch equivalent of a Formula 1 engine, but it is more of a trusted diesel. Ultimately, that’s also what most people want from a watch.
What do you think about the five new TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph references? Which is your favorite, and what do you think about the materials used, the size, and the price?
