It’s been 40 years since the TAG Heuer Formula 1 first raced onto the scene. Back then, in 1986, Alain Prost was the man to beat — and his McLaren single-seater bore the Swiss watchmaker’s logo on its cockpit aero deflector. TAG was on top, and the Formula 1 collection — recently redesigned as a nine-strong range — is back to bridge motorsport and watchmaking for a new generation.
Those original Formula 1 models, typically 35 mm but just as brightly coloured as this new clutch, were many collectors’ first Swiss watch. They remain just as accessible today, now sized up to 38 mm and offered with black, white, or deep blue dials. But it’s the bezels that will really get collectors’ motors running: available in yellow, green, black, or blue, these re-engineered bidirectional timing rings are made from TH-Polylight — a new lightweight material for TAG Heuer that can be produced in virtually any colour.
Like the original models, the new watches retain the distinctive “décroché” — the stepped case side that remains a hallmark of the design — which helps to strike the balance between sportiness and everyday wear. Super-LumiNova-treated indices reinterpret the original shield-shaped markers, while the hands, inspired by first-generation models, have been refined with sharper proportions.
At the heart of each watch is the Solargraph movement, a first for the Formula 1 line. Recharged by sunlight or artificial light, just two minutes of exposure can produce enough power for an entire day. It’s a neat modern upgrade for a watch that, for many, has always led the pack.
HERO IMAGE COURTESY OF TAG HEUER.
