Tag Heuer - Respected in Watch Circles?
Discussion
Just curious.
I 'heard on the grapevine' that apparently new Tags were not so respected in watch circles (compared with Rolex, Omega, Longines etc) owing to the fact tha they don't make their own mechanisms?
Is this true, or is the grapevine full of b
ks?
Someone I know is about to sink over 2k into a Tag and I'm wondering whether it would be preferable to purchase an equivalent brand (for quality, resale value etc).
TIA
I 'heard on the grapevine' that apparently new Tags were not so respected in watch circles (compared with Rolex, Omega, Longines etc) owing to the fact tha they don't make their own mechanisms?
Is this true, or is the grapevine full of b
ks?Someone I know is about to sink over 2k into a Tag and I'm wondering whether it would be preferable to purchase an equivalent brand (for quality, resale value etc).
TIA
In watch circles (whatever they are) Rolex and Omega are not really that respected.
Tag are nowhere, really, save for their massively high end gear.
Rolex - best brand? Probably. Best watches? No way (and I have a ceramic Sub as a daily wear).
Tell him to save harder and buy a JLC!!
Edited by Soovy on Thursday 30th December 13:18
Heuer are (were 
) the watchmaker, TAG are a luxury goods company.
Their watches aren't very well respected because their movements aren't as good as similarly priced watches i.e. similarly priced Omega and Tags are available with the same base movement, except the Omega will be finished to a higher standard and COSC certified, whereas the TAG won't. The resale watches are reflected in this I think. They also "devalue" their brand somewhat by knocking out quartz watches for £800.
In my view they are expensive fashion watches and not worth the money. I would quite like a pre-TAG Heuer Monaco though, yum.
) the watchmaker, TAG are a luxury goods company.Their watches aren't very well respected because their movements aren't as good as similarly priced watches i.e. similarly priced Omega and Tags are available with the same base movement, except the Omega will be finished to a higher standard and COSC certified, whereas the TAG won't. The resale watches are reflected in this I think. They also "devalue" their brand somewhat by knocking out quartz watches for £800.
In my view they are expensive fashion watches and not worth the money. I would quite like a pre-TAG Heuer Monaco though, yum.
Edited by Disco You on Thursday 30th December 13:22
If he likes them, then go for it.
I like some of their watches, but I would particular over which one(s) I would buy and I would haggle hard on the price.
They do make a new watch with 'their own' movement (it's just a remade Seiko unit bought in, as per many 'in-house' movements it's a bit of a farce) and it's rather nice, but it's quite pricey. Off the top of my head it's the 'Calibre 1887'.
I like some of their watches, but I would particular over which one(s) I would buy and I would haggle hard on the price.
They do make a new watch with 'their own' movement (it's just a remade Seiko unit bought in, as per many 'in-house' movements it's a bit of a farce) and it's rather nice, but it's quite pricey. Off the top of my head it's the 'Calibre 1887'.
There's nothing wrong with them per se, like most makers they use an industrial, reliable, accurate movement that isn't their own and stick it in a decent enough case.
If you like it, go for it.
If your concerned about brand values etc get an old Heuer.
If your concerned about getting the most vfm then there's a lot of makers who do the same thing (standard movement, good case) for far less with more 'tweaks'.
I've heard that TAG customer support isn't the best, but you hear stories of one sort or another about most brands.
If, taking all that into account, you still just like that particular watch, then go for it - they aren't Heuers, but they aren't cheap put-togethers either and they should be as good as any other watch powered by Valjoux/ETA in a case cnc'ed in the peoples republic - like panerai, doxa and others. (Tongue slightly in cheek)
If you like it, go for it.
If your concerned about brand values etc get an old Heuer.
If your concerned about getting the most vfm then there's a lot of makers who do the same thing (standard movement, good case) for far less with more 'tweaks'.
I've heard that TAG customer support isn't the best, but you hear stories of one sort or another about most brands.
If, taking all that into account, you still just like that particular watch, then go for it - they aren't Heuers, but they aren't cheap put-togethers either and they should be as good as any other watch powered by Valjoux/ETA in a case cnc'ed in the peoples republic - like panerai, doxa and others. (Tongue slightly in cheek)
There are few true Manufactures nowadays, and certainly not at the price point of most Tags. Most in house Manufactures price their work at >5k so it is not fair comparing them to 2-3.5k watch ETA powered watch.
Absolutely nothing wrong with ETA or Valjoux movements - they are reliable and do a good job timekeeping.
Tags are good watches at a price point, but I think they have suffered as a brand from overexposure.
Absolutely nothing wrong with ETA or Valjoux movements - they are reliable and do a good job timekeeping.
Tags are good watches at a price point, but I think they have suffered as a brand from overexposure.
I definitely think it's fashionable to knock TAG watches and there's an element of brand snobbery involved. Build quality is up there with some more expensive brands, the movements are bought in, much like other more expensive brands, yet they get ripped to bits. There are exceptions, it's ok to own a Monaco orpretty much any of the re-issues, but god forbid you own up to having a dive style TAG in your collection! 
I have a tag heuer autavia. One of the un-common re-edition.
It is a beautifull little watch. Great history, average movement.
It sits besides a IWC 7 days, rolex gmt2-c, breguet type XX (the old one).
I like it as much as the other ones.
Remember that JLC also does crappy-ish quartz watches. You have to try and scratch below the surface a bit and make up your OWN mind..
It is a beautifull little watch. Great history, average movement.
It sits besides a IWC 7 days, rolex gmt2-c, breguet type XX (the old one).
I like it as much as the other ones.
Remember that JLC also does crappy-ish quartz watches. You have to try and scratch below the surface a bit and make up your OWN mind..
My apologies if I've spoken about this too often but I was delighted with my Tag Heuer until the day I had to deal with the company that owns them. From then on I felt treated more like I'd purchased a gaudy handbag rather than a timepiece.
All I wanted was a thirty second conversation with somebody to find out why it came back four times in exactly the same broken state but apparently any and all communication had to be indirect and my local jeweller was prohibited from giving out any of their contact details. It's a real pity as there is so much fantastic history in the Heuer brand but I feel it's getting diluted every day.
Brand-wise the old French proverb may be correct in that "the fish rots from the head"
df
All I wanted was a thirty second conversation with somebody to find out why it came back four times in exactly the same broken state but apparently any and all communication had to be indirect and my local jeweller was prohibited from giving out any of their contact details. It's a real pity as there is so much fantastic history in the Heuer brand but I feel it's getting diluted every day.
Brand-wise the old French proverb may be correct in that "the fish rots from the head"
df
Thanks for all the info - I'm totally clueless when it comes to watches (have an old Seiko Titanium Chronograph!)
From my understanding, he's just had a difficult break up with the girlfriend and is now wanting to treat himself.
2k is a lot of money to sink into a watch (from my point of view) - don't think I could overcome the mental block in doing that!
am probably may be wrong!
I was thinking (for myself, not him!) around the £500 for a vintage Omega - good or bad idea?
From my understanding, he's just had a difficult break up with the girlfriend and is now wanting to treat himself.
Disco You said:
Their watches aren't very well respected because their movements aren't as good as similarly priced watches i.e. similarly priced Omega and Tags are available with the same base movement, except the Omega will be finished to a higher standard and COSC certified, whereas the TAG won't. The resale watches are reflected in this I think. They also "devalue" their brand somewhat by knocking out quartz watches for £800.
Given this, is it worth him just plumping for the equivalent cheaper quartz model? I'm sure he's just buying it for the brand name.2k is a lot of money to sink into a watch (from my point of view) - don't think I could overcome the mental block in doing that!
Soovy said:
In watch circles (whatever they are) Rolex and Omega are not really that respected.
Really? I was under the impression (v minimal knowledge from occasionally browsing this forum) that Patek Philippe and Jaeger LeCoultre along with the typical Omegas and Rolexes were considered the best - I I was thinking (for myself, not him!) around the £500 for a vintage Omega - good or bad idea?
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