Opinion on Tag Automatic watches from owners.
Discussion
I'm going to buy myself a Tag to coincide with my wedding as a generous gift to myself.
I think the F1 styles or Aquaracer are the most me, in particular I like this:
https://www.tagheuer.com/en-gb/watches/aquaracer-c...
My only experience with an automatic watch is an Armani that was circa £250. After 3 years occasional use it started losing time. A service cost £200 so I retired it.
How do Tabs fare in the long term? Can anyone advise on reliability at 5-10 years and whether servicing is required. Also, whether it's more expensive or frequent on the automatic range?
Advice appreciated
I think the F1 styles or Aquaracer are the most me, in particular I like this:
https://www.tagheuer.com/en-gb/watches/aquaracer-c...
My only experience with an automatic watch is an Armani that was circa £250. After 3 years occasional use it started losing time. A service cost £200 so I retired it.
How do Tabs fare in the long term? Can anyone advise on reliability at 5-10 years and whether servicing is required. Also, whether it's more expensive or frequent on the automatic range?
Advice appreciated
I have an aquaracer, similar to the one in your link, but special edition
I’ve had it 7 years and it keeps good time
However, the crown wheel thread has failed so I can’t screw it into the watch anymore. Not a non-wearable issue but annoying nonetheless
It’s a good ‘normal’ watch, rather than a premium watch.
I’ve had it 7 years and it keeps good time
However, the crown wheel thread has failed so I can’t screw it into the watch anymore. Not a non-wearable issue but annoying nonetheless
It’s a good ‘normal’ watch, rather than a premium watch.
joropug said:
I'm going to buy myself a Tag to coincide with my wedding as a generous gift to myself.
I think the F1 styles or Aquaracer are the most me, in particular I like this:
https://www.tagheuer.com/en-gb/watches/aquaracer-c...
My only experience with an automatic watch is an Armani that was circa £250. After 3 years occasional use it started losing time. A service cost £200 so I retired it.
How do Tabs fare in the long term? Can anyone advise on reliability at 5-10 years and whether servicing is required. Also, whether it's more expensive or frequent on the automatic range?
Advice appreciated
I have the one in your link, I only got it in may of 2017 but so far it's quite decent but obvious can't say for long term.I think the F1 styles or Aquaracer are the most me, in particular I like this:
https://www.tagheuer.com/en-gb/watches/aquaracer-c...
My only experience with an automatic watch is an Armani that was circa £250. After 3 years occasional use it started losing time. A service cost £200 so I retired it.
How do Tabs fare in the long term? Can anyone advise on reliability at 5-10 years and whether servicing is required. Also, whether it's more expensive or frequent on the automatic range?
Advice appreciated
Like you most of my watches were Armani (5 in total) of varying cost levels one of which is an automatic too (armani meccanico ar4605) which I've had to close to 7/8 years and still works perfectly fine.
I'm hoping the Tag will be just as good so will keep an eye on responses.
My dad has a Breitling Colt which isn't automatic, he says his next watch will be an automatic.
I imagine the benefit is not having to pay for a replacement battery every couple of years.
Edited by ZOLLAR on Saturday 6th January 16:48
I have an F1 automatic and adore it. I bought it as a graduation gift to myself so it has a lot of sentimental value. I've worn it most days in the 4 or so years I've had it and still like the way it looks, the chunky stainless bracelet looks premium for a watch of its price.
I have to admit though that the power reserve is now not so good and manually winding the movement doesn't feel as smooth as it should so I fear it needs a service, a little sooner than I was expecting but it'll be nice to get it polished up again.
I recently bought a Rolex sub and still happily alternate with the F1. The F1 doesn't look too 'cheap' next to it either, I reckon they're a good buy but make sure you haggle as there are always discounts to be had - around 20% off list IIRC.
I have to admit though that the power reserve is now not so good and manually winding the movement doesn't feel as smooth as it should so I fear it needs a service, a little sooner than I was expecting but it'll be nice to get it polished up again.
I recently bought a Rolex sub and still happily alternate with the F1. The F1 doesn't look too 'cheap' next to it either, I reckon they're a good buy but make sure you haggle as there are always discounts to be had - around 20% off list IIRC.
I got myself an automatic Aquaracer way211b after wearing an omega Speedmaster date for the last 10 years. I have only had the tag for a few months but the quality seems every bit as good as my omega.
Omega have been raising their prices over the last 10 years and it seems now that in the £1000-£2000 price range tag don’t have much competition.
Omega have been raising their prices over the last 10 years and it seems now that in the £1000-£2000 price range tag don’t have much competition.
TAG can get a bit of grief, but the Aquaracer is a good-looking, versatile, solid watch of decent quality, that should last you many years if looked after.
Haggling for discount is mandatory, as already advised.
The automatic movement TAG call 'their' Calibre 5 is a bought-in ETA 2824-2 or Sellita SW200. Both are near identical and extremely common, found in many watches from a multitude of other brands, both cheaper and more expensive, so servicing is pretty easy. It's a rock-solid movement that's been refined & proven over decades, and capable of good accuracy (expect to lose or gain something in the region of up to 20 seconds daily, but it'll probably do better than that, and can be regulated if necessary), so you're on safe ground there.
Servicing is required - it's a tiny machine moving circa 691,000 times a day, and oils degrade. Whilst it may run ok, the rubber seals/gaskets degrade over the years, so you could risk costly water ingress if you take it in the pool or sea.
Servicing of a mechanical is recommended by most brands around the five-year mark, but depending upon regularity of use and how/where it's worn, you'll probably get away with extending that by a few years. There's two schools of thought - if it ain't broke don't fix, or preventative maintenance earlier. For my own part, I'd probably run it for 10 years, unless it starts behaving badly first (irregular timing etc.). Anecdotally, many will have run for longer with no (visible) ill-effects.
For reasons already stated, it'll be on the easier & cheaper servicing scale, because it's an ubiquitous movement.
Two routes - send it back to TAG, which will take weeks/months and cost around £200-£300, or find a local recommended independent watchmaker (do your due diligence) and pay maybe half that, and get it back sooner.
As regards the crown, check online for the correct way to screw-down and lessen the risk of stripping the thread (rotate anti-clockwise a little bit first to find the thread start, and don't force it or over-tighten). If it's a daily wearer, you shouldn't need to unscrew the crown that often anyway.
For similar dive watch options check out the Steinhart Ocean One (circa £350-£400), Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro (£750) or Oris Aquis (around £1,400). None have the brand recognition that TAG provide, and the first two can only be bought online (so they have no Authorised Dealer costs), and there will be minor pros & cons to each, but fundamentally they are all 316L stainless steel dive watches on bracelet, with sapphire crystals and an ETA/Sellita automatic movement (just like the TAG Aquaracer Calibre 5). For around £2,000 a Tudor Black Bay offers better quality all round.
Haggling for discount is mandatory, as already advised.
The automatic movement TAG call 'their' Calibre 5 is a bought-in ETA 2824-2 or Sellita SW200. Both are near identical and extremely common, found in many watches from a multitude of other brands, both cheaper and more expensive, so servicing is pretty easy. It's a rock-solid movement that's been refined & proven over decades, and capable of good accuracy (expect to lose or gain something in the region of up to 20 seconds daily, but it'll probably do better than that, and can be regulated if necessary), so you're on safe ground there.
Servicing is required - it's a tiny machine moving circa 691,000 times a day, and oils degrade. Whilst it may run ok, the rubber seals/gaskets degrade over the years, so you could risk costly water ingress if you take it in the pool or sea.
Servicing of a mechanical is recommended by most brands around the five-year mark, but depending upon regularity of use and how/where it's worn, you'll probably get away with extending that by a few years. There's two schools of thought - if it ain't broke don't fix, or preventative maintenance earlier. For my own part, I'd probably run it for 10 years, unless it starts behaving badly first (irregular timing etc.). Anecdotally, many will have run for longer with no (visible) ill-effects.
For reasons already stated, it'll be on the easier & cheaper servicing scale, because it's an ubiquitous movement.
Two routes - send it back to TAG, which will take weeks/months and cost around £200-£300, or find a local recommended independent watchmaker (do your due diligence) and pay maybe half that, and get it back sooner.
As regards the crown, check online for the correct way to screw-down and lessen the risk of stripping the thread (rotate anti-clockwise a little bit first to find the thread start, and don't force it or over-tighten). If it's a daily wearer, you shouldn't need to unscrew the crown that often anyway.
For similar dive watch options check out the Steinhart Ocean One (circa £350-£400), Christopher Ward C60 Trident Pro (£750) or Oris Aquis (around £1,400). None have the brand recognition that TAG provide, and the first two can only be bought online (so they have no Authorised Dealer costs), and there will be minor pros & cons to each, but fundamentally they are all 316L stainless steel dive watches on bracelet, with sapphire crystals and an ETA/Sellita automatic movement (just like the TAG Aquaracer Calibre 5). For around £2,000 a Tudor Black Bay offers better quality all round.
ZOLLAR said:
.....’
My dad has a Breitling Colt which isn't automatic, he says his next watch will be an automatic.
I imagine the benefit is not having to pay for a replacement battery every couple of years.
Battery is likely to last 5 years and the minimal replacement cost is far less than automatic servicing, but that’s a different argument !My dad has a Breitling Colt which isn't automatic, he says his next watch will be an automatic.
I imagine the benefit is not having to pay for a replacement battery every couple of years.
Edited by ZOLLAR on Saturday 6th January 16:48
I still wear my WAN2110 most days that I bought new around 9 years ago.
It has been solid for me and is still in great condition considering it's daily use. I've been diving with it but these days if I'm at the pool or beach I generally wear my Seiko 007. Never serviced and still keeps good time. It does need a service though as the power reserve is minimal (down to around 12 hours unless I give it a wind every few days). Other than that its good.
In hindsight I probably would have saved more and gone for a Planet Ocean though.
I'm now in the market for a submariner date. I only bought the tag because the Sub was way out of my league at the time. I can recommend it though. They're pretty solid and I haven't babied mine.
It has been solid for me and is still in great condition considering it's daily use. I've been diving with it but these days if I'm at the pool or beach I generally wear my Seiko 007. Never serviced and still keeps good time. It does need a service though as the power reserve is minimal (down to around 12 hours unless I give it a wind every few days). Other than that its good.
In hindsight I probably would have saved more and gone for a Planet Ocean though.
I'm now in the market for a submariner date. I only bought the tag because the Sub was way out of my league at the time. I can recommend it though. They're pretty solid and I haven't babied mine.
Jimboka said:
ZOLLAR said:
.....’
My dad has a Breitling Colt which isn't automatic, he says his next watch will be an automatic.
I imagine the benefit is not having to pay for a replacement battery every couple of years.
Battery is likely to last 5 years and the minimal replacement cost is far less than automatic servicing, but that’s a different argument !My dad has a Breitling Colt which isn't automatic, he says his next watch will be an automatic.
I imagine the benefit is not having to pay for a replacement battery every couple of years.
Edited by ZOLLAR on Saturday 6th January 16:48
Thanks
You have to think of a fine mechanical watch (and TAG are fine mechanical watches) a bit like a car. As pointed out above, it has an engine inside that runs at 28 thousand beats per hour, 24 hours a day, year in and year out. The ETA movement inside a TAG has years of manufacturing experience behind it, so it's pretty much trouble free, will take the most almighty knocks without falling apart, is not prone to fatigue as the springs flex close to or below their lower fatigue limits and has bearings made from ruby (corundum, aluminium-oxide) that will run for donkeys years. All together, more reliable than a Honda VTec engine!
Just like your VTec though, it does need the odd service to clean any dust that has made its way inside, relubicate and gently tune (ie adjust the timing on the main spring). Most watch movements, including ETA's, could do with a service every 5 to 10 years. They can run much longer between services, but as also pointed out above, the lubricating oil will evaporate or become a bit gunky and the increased drag will tend to slow the timing.
Screw down crowns do tend to strip their threads with frequent use, I think because they're usually made from 316L stainless steel rather than the harder 316H. (Not may watch companies use materials engineers to select the most appropriate steels for each component). My wife had a bulgari diagono chronograph once that had an aluminium case and managed to strip the crown threads on average every couple of years.
Overall an excellent wedding present that will happily last for much longer than a toaster or cappuccino machine.
Just like your VTec though, it does need the odd service to clean any dust that has made its way inside, relubicate and gently tune (ie adjust the timing on the main spring). Most watch movements, including ETA's, could do with a service every 5 to 10 years. They can run much longer between services, but as also pointed out above, the lubricating oil will evaporate or become a bit gunky and the increased drag will tend to slow the timing.
Screw down crowns do tend to strip their threads with frequent use, I think because they're usually made from 316L stainless steel rather than the harder 316H. (Not may watch companies use materials engineers to select the most appropriate steels for each component). My wife had a bulgari diagono chronograph once that had an aluminium case and managed to strip the crown threads on average every couple of years.
Overall an excellent wedding present that will happily last for much longer than a toaster or cappuccino machine.
I’ve never understood the anti Tag snobbery. My first ‘decent’ watch was a Tag for my 21st which got worn day and night for years and is still going strong.
I recently bought my son one for his 21st (F1 quartz) and there is absolutely nothing to touch them at around £1,000. He’s over the moon with it!
I recently bought my son one for his 21st (F1 quartz) and there is absolutely nothing to touch them at around £1,000. He’s over the moon with it!
MikeyC said:
from that pic you appear to not to have any 'TAG Heuer's only Heuer ?
or maybe this is an ironic post
They are Tag Heuer but branded Heuer. or maybe this is an ironic post
https://www.tagheuer.com/en-gb/watches/heritage-ca...
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