Watches & Wonders: TAG Heuer Introduces The Formula 1 Solargraph

TAG Heuer’s F1 watches were first released in 1986 and since then they have become something of a cult classic. Small by today’s standards, with quartz movements, they were accessible, colorful, and also historically important as the first watches to carry the TAG Heuer name. The F1 made a return appearance last year in a collaboration with Kith, and this year – with TAG Heuer the tip of the watch spear for the LVMH Group’s sponsorship of Formula 1 – the  Formula 1 watch has re-entered the TAG Heuer catalog with three regular production core models and a suite of six limited editions associated with six different F1 races: the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraphs.

The three core collection pieces are all delivered on steel bracelets and the case dimensions have been updated from the Kith F1, which was 35mm in diameter, to a more modern 38mm; cases are in stainless steel or, for the red, green, and blue cased F1 LE’s, an organic polyamide (polyamides are, in case you want to nerd out on the chemistry, polymers in which repeating molecular units are linked by amide bonds; nylon plastics are one example). The colored bezels are polyamide as well – a version that TAG Heuer is referring to as TH Polylight.

In addition to the slight increase in size there have also been some changes made for the sake of visual clarity and legibility; hands are a bit larger than in the Kith LEs and the minute track has been slightly simplified as well, with bolder markers. The vertical stripes on most of the Kith LEs are gone as well, and the overall effect is of greater boldness and visual clarity, and the sense of connection with the original models is still there as well, albeit perhaps a bit less literally executed. The new Formula 1s also have applied markers filled with Super-LumiNova, versus the printed indexes on the Kith LEs.

The single biggest technical change – and it is a big one – is in the movement. The Solargraph caliber TH50-00 is a light-powered quartz movement, which does away with the need for regular battery changes which is the Achilles’ heel of many quartz movements. The movement can be charged by either sunlight, or artificial light; two minutes of exposure produces enough power for the watch to run for a whole day, and after 40 hours, the rechargeable power cell (which has a predicted lifespan of 15 years before it will need to be replaced) will have built up a 10 month reserve.

The limited editions will become available on the dates of six Formula 1 races: Miami, Barcelona, Monza, and Singapore and the core collection models, at Silverstone (green and blue bezels) and Miami (black bezel).

The core collection pieces are very attractively priced at CHF 1850 for the bracelet models, and CHF 1750 for the models on a strap.

Not to be seen to be fulsome but really, I feel like this is something the watch world could really use right now. They’re colorful, and so much fun that I feel compelled to use the word; they incorporate a superb solar powered movement for terrific reliability and precision, in keeping with their spirit of accessibility, and in a watch world where prices seem to be doing nothing but going up, they offer watches with real design history, and a connection to a real brand. They’re a hit here at Watches & Wonders in Geneva, and I’m pretty sure that, for obviously very good reasons, they’re going to sell like hotcakes.

The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph: cases, 38mm, in stainless steel or organic polyamide; all models with steel screw-down casebacks and AR coated sapphire crystals, all models water resistant to 100M. Movements all caliber TH50-00, solar powered with a maximum power reserve of ten months when fully charged; expected rechargeable battery life, fifteen years. Three core collection models and six limited editions with release dates synchronized with the F1 calendar; prices, steel bracelet models CHF 1850, strap models CHF 1750. 

The 1916 Company is proud to be an authorized retailer for TAG Heuer.