Can I get a watch customised? (TAG Carrera)

[ChrisPap]

Hi Guys,

first post in the watch forum.

I know it's not cool in the haute horology world, but I quite like a few of the Tag Heuer watches. Always have. Sure they do make lots of mainstream stuff too, but then so do A LOT of others that seem to be more highly regarded. Anyway, this isn't about the merits of the brand, I just like this design..... kind of....

While there are a few TAGs I do like, they refuse to make the one I want. (came sooo close with the goodwood edition but then added some ghastly stripes!) What to do.... Can I have one customised?

Essentially I want this Carrera Monaco Edition, with day/date complication, red hands, Red bezel text, and sunburst anthracite face:


BUT

I really much prefer the arabic numerals found on many others in the carrera range like below (which is a carrera with a different in house movement and the loss of the date complication.



So, is there anyone out there that I could go to to get the watch I want, or get one similar customised, and how would I go about it? Can I start with the one at the top and get the bars removed and number glued on? Do I give up on the day complication and try to find red hands and a monaco bezel for the one at the bottom? Do I just wait for TAG to wake up to themselves?

I'm so used to customised products. Why not a watch? Is it possible?

[onesickpuppy]

Buy a Seiko and send it to Yobokies.

[yeti]

Anything is possible if you have enough money. TAG will task a specific watchmaker to do it for you if you go via a boutique, my guess running into tens of thousands of pounds.

If it's just a bezel and hand swap, any decent watchmaker could start with the bottom watch order the parts to swap the bezel (if the case is the same - it looks to be) and either swap or paint the hands. You are then left with something worth precisely nothing though.

[Haggleburyfinius]

The cosmetic stuff sounds a lot easier than the mechanical stuff.

This will get expensive!

[yeti]

onesickpuppy said:

Buy a Seiko and send it to Yobokies.

And they'll send back a Carrera Monaco Edition, with day/date complication, red hands, Red bezel text, and sunburst anthracite face but with arabic numerals will they? Awesome.

[onesickpuppy]

yeti said:

onesickpuppy said:

Buy a Seiko and send it to Yobokies.

And they'll send back a Carrera Monaco Edition, with day/date complication, red hands, Red bezel text, and sunburst anthracite face but with arabic numerals will they? Awesome.

Sorry, forgot the smilie.

[ChrisPap]

Thanks Yeti.

I didn't think it would be too expensive as all of the items needed exist, they're just not all in the same case at the same time! Didn't know TAG would offer such a service. I should ask.
I did inquire with a couple of watchmakers who said they wouldn't do it because of upsetting TAG.

Not bothered about the re-sale value. It's not a super expensive watch and I doubt I'd ever sell it anyway.

If you could recommend any watchmakers I'd appreciate it.

[PJ S]

All that would be needed is a dial from TAG, but if I presume the indices are sited with location holes, there's a chance the arabic numerals won't have their pins in the same place.