TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith
Many connect TAG Heuer with Formula 1 racing through the renowned Monaco watch, named for the Grand Prix held in that city. Steve McQueen made the watch an icon when he wore it in the 1971 film Le Mans, though the race the movie portrayed is held elsewhere and isn’t part of the Formula 1 series.
It wasn’t until 1986 that the colorful watch named Formula 1 would debut as the first watch to bear the full TAG Heuer name. TAG (Techniques d’Avant-Garde) had purchased Heuer in 1985. Now, the marque has teamed up with the fashion-and-lifestyle brand Kith to revive the original collection with 10 vibrant limited editions.
The first Formula 1 watches tapped into the popularity of Swatch, the colorful and collectible plastic quartz watches. As the first quartz watch with a composite case (stainless steel inner case coated with fiberglass), Formula 1 became something of a first love among collectors like Kith’s founder Ronnie Fieg, whose first watch was a red-and-black Formula 1.
The TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith ($1,500) taps into that nostalgia while contemporizing it through upgraded materials and a timely, 35-mm size.
The new limited editions remain faithful to the original with elements that defined the Series 1—from the shape of the hour hand to the triangle with a dot inside at 12 o’clock and indices that alternate every quarter between shields and dots. For the first time, TAG Heuer has merged its logo with a partner’s, combining Kith and Heuer on the dial, rubber strap and case back.
Some versions are encased in stainless steel and PVD-coated steel, while others have the original Arnite (high-performance plastic) case. All are fitted with colorful Arnite unidirectional turning bezels with a 60-minute scale. The original’s plastic crystal has been swapped out for sapphire and the plastic strap replaced with rubber. Three of the limited editions come on a five-row stainless steel bracelet.
Of the 10 versions—the stainless-steel model with an eggshell-colored dial—will be available through both brands. Green and blue models are exclusive to TAG Heuer and the remaining seven are available only through Kith.
And for true Formula 1 fanatics, TAG Heuer is offering 75 complete boxed sets ($18,000). Gentlemen, start your engines!
