TAG Heuer 1500
Discussion
Afternoon all
Aside from being a bit of a car nut my other passion is a liking of fine watches. I've tended to buy watches in need of restoration. They become mini projects and I derive huge pleasure from the restoration process to the point where they finally sit on my wrist.
Over the years I've probably restored 20 odd watches, primarily Heuer / TAG Heuer from the 70s to late 80s. I limit my interest to quartz powered versions as movements are easily replaced in a worst case scenario. My favourite model is the 1500. I was bought one in 1992 by my Nan. It's now safely locked away for my first son's 18th birthday (in 5 years). I'm mid way through a refurb of an identical one for my second son's 18th (in 9 years). Both are the 37mm size. My daily is the 1500 40mm version which was another project requiring movement replacement and case refinishing. My other daily is an early 2000 Classic - a water damaged project in fact. Out of the parts remaining from a few 1500 rebuilds I've started assembling a third watch. My wife thinks I'm strange...... I've told her this passion hurts nobody, unlike other guilty pleasures......
Easiest element of the project is the case and bracelet restoration. Bezels can be tricky to get right as the chapters prohibit applying the matte finish as they can snag your pad. Relocating the hands I find hardest of all, partly because a mole can out-sight me and I have the dexterity of a masturbating silver back gorilla! Not that I've ever witnessed that nor imagined it....best to shut up now.
From reading other posts I can see there's quite trenchant views on the TAG Heuer brand, some positive, some negative. Each to their own I say and who am I to defend the brand. But as a watch that provides an opportunity to practice restoration skills at reasonable cost I do find TAG Heuer difficult to beat in all honesty. And it's not the end of the world financially if you use the wrong size hammer so to speak.
I'll add some snaps of recent projects if anyone is interested. I should take before and after images really, but I tend to get immersed and forget to!!
My dream watch is a Panerai Luminor Arktos........which I'll never be able to afford. But an Omega Seamaster chrono will do nicely thank you. Like the 007 model without the 007 design hues...as a more unlikely 007 you'll never see.
Aside from being a bit of a car nut my other passion is a liking of fine watches. I've tended to buy watches in need of restoration. They become mini projects and I derive huge pleasure from the restoration process to the point where they finally sit on my wrist.
Over the years I've probably restored 20 odd watches, primarily Heuer / TAG Heuer from the 70s to late 80s. I limit my interest to quartz powered versions as movements are easily replaced in a worst case scenario. My favourite model is the 1500. I was bought one in 1992 by my Nan. It's now safely locked away for my first son's 18th birthday (in 5 years). I'm mid way through a refurb of an identical one for my second son's 18th (in 9 years). Both are the 37mm size. My daily is the 1500 40mm version which was another project requiring movement replacement and case refinishing. My other daily is an early 2000 Classic - a water damaged project in fact. Out of the parts remaining from a few 1500 rebuilds I've started assembling a third watch. My wife thinks I'm strange...... I've told her this passion hurts nobody, unlike other guilty pleasures......
Easiest element of the project is the case and bracelet restoration. Bezels can be tricky to get right as the chapters prohibit applying the matte finish as they can snag your pad. Relocating the hands I find hardest of all, partly because a mole can out-sight me and I have the dexterity of a masturbating silver back gorilla! Not that I've ever witnessed that nor imagined it....best to shut up now.
From reading other posts I can see there's quite trenchant views on the TAG Heuer brand, some positive, some negative. Each to their own I say and who am I to defend the brand. But as a watch that provides an opportunity to practice restoration skills at reasonable cost I do find TAG Heuer difficult to beat in all honesty. And it's not the end of the world financially if you use the wrong size hammer so to speak.
I'll add some snaps of recent projects if anyone is interested. I should take before and after images really, but I tend to get immersed and forget to!!
My dream watch is a Panerai Luminor Arktos........which I'll never be able to afford. But an Omega Seamaster chrono will do nicely thank you. Like the 007 model without the 007 design hues...as a more unlikely 007 you'll never see.
So here they are..... 
From left to right.... The watch my Nan gave me back in the day which is destined for son #1; middle is work in progress project for son #2; far right is my daily 1500 40mm; beneath that is my other daily 2000 Classic; and to the left of that is the 1500 I'm assembling from left over components. I'm unsure of which dial to use. The granite face is true to the watch model, but out of interest I may just try the other.
Hope you enjoy.
From left to right.... The watch my Nan gave me back in the day which is destined for son #1; middle is work in progress project for son #2; far right is my daily 1500 40mm; beneath that is my other daily 2000 Classic; and to the left of that is the 1500 I'm assembling from left over components. I'm unsure of which dial to use. The granite face is true to the watch model, but out of interest I may just try the other.
Hope you enjoy.
I have a reasonably varied watch collection, but haven't been able to shake a nostalgic hankering for the old 2000 Series TAG Heuers.
They were much seen when I was a kid growing up, so I'll no doubt pick one up at some point (but for a Seiko purchase this week, I might have bought an Automatic 2000 that I only later saw for sale at a good price).
And I agree there is great pleasure & satisfaction to be gained from restoring a watch to your preference & working order.
They were much seen when I was a kid growing up, so I'll no doubt pick one up at some point (but for a Seiko purchase this week, I might have bought an Automatic 2000 that I only later saw for sale at a good price).
And I agree there is great pleasure & satisfaction to be gained from restoring a watch to your preference & working order.
I bought one of your number 4 in about 1990 give or take a year.
I wore it every single day until I left it in my trouser pocket and it went through the washing machine.
It sadly filled with water (this was in 2012).
I paid around £300 for it and claimed on the insurance.
I was hugely pissed off, as in that 20 odd years all it had had done to it was new batteries and a service by a local bloke for £50.
I replaced it with a Seiko BFK.
Cool story bro and all that.
I wore it every single day until I left it in my trouser pocket and it went through the washing machine.
It sadly filled with water (this was in 2012).
I paid around £300 for it and claimed on the insurance.
I was hugely pissed off, as in that 20 odd years all it had had done to it was new batteries and a service by a local bloke for £50.
I replaced it with a Seiko BFK.
Cool story bro and all that.
I have been wearing a old blue 2000 series at work recently I bought it in 2008 still have all the set etc.
Glad I didn't sell it as I'm still quite fond of them also .
Its actually quite a good watch if you're working with machinery with tight access required thanks to their size and depth .
Glad I didn't sell it as I'm still quite fond of them also .
Its actually quite a good watch if you're working with machinery with tight access required thanks to their size and depth .
Thanks for the interest
UnclePat - I think my next next project will be a full size 4000 and that will be a keeper to compliment the 1500 and 2000. I'll skip the 3000 which simply doesn't do it for me. My own view is that, cash available, it's easy to buy any watch in great condition. But turning an ugly duckling in to a swan delivers far more pleasure.
nikaiyo2 - I do like the simple functionality of the 1000 models. They look like they could outlive any owner! I use acrylic paint to retouch bezel signatures. Dab it on with a small brush and allow it to dry. then gently shave off the excess with a sharp plastic blade/credit card. Works a treat!
bingybongy - my number 4 is a favourite. If someone mentions TAG Heuer I automatically have that image before me. Sounds like yours was a cracker. Do you still have it in a drawer?
hyper - jay - I nearly bought a blue faced 2000 Chronograph in Gibralter in 1997. It had a blue leather skin strap. I was all for sticking the cost on my credit card until my mum stepped in........ I wish I had bloody ignored her to this day! It was almost £500 cheaper in Gib than the UK.
Ciao for now
UnclePat - I think my next next project will be a full size 4000 and that will be a keeper to compliment the 1500 and 2000. I'll skip the 3000 which simply doesn't do it for me. My own view is that, cash available, it's easy to buy any watch in great condition. But turning an ugly duckling in to a swan delivers far more pleasure.
nikaiyo2 - I do like the simple functionality of the 1000 models. They look like they could outlive any owner! I use acrylic paint to retouch bezel signatures. Dab it on with a small brush and allow it to dry. then gently shave off the excess with a sharp plastic blade/credit card. Works a treat!
bingybongy - my number 4 is a favourite. If someone mentions TAG Heuer I automatically have that image before me. Sounds like yours was a cracker. Do you still have it in a drawer?
hyper - jay - I nearly bought a blue faced 2000 Chronograph in Gibralter in 1997. It had a blue leather skin strap. I was all for sticking the cost on my credit card until my mum stepped in........ I wish I had bloody ignored her to this day! It was almost £500 cheaper in Gib than the UK.
Ciao for now
I have an identical Tag 1500 that my Grandmother gave me when I graduated in 1992. It has been my everyday watch ever since and I suspect that there are less than 100 days in those 27 years when it hasn’t been worn - most of them when it went back to Tag for a big refurbishment last year.
It is by far the least valuable and ordinary of all my watches but, if someone ever said “you can only keep one” ther would be no hesitation - it would be this one
It is by far the least valuable and ordinary of all my watches but, if someone ever said “you can only keep one” ther would be no hesitation - it would be this one
MARLBOROLITES said:
Thanks for the interest
UnclePat - I think my next next project will be a full size 4000 and that will be a keeper to compliment the 1500 and 2000. I'll skip the 3000 which simply doesn't do it for me. My own view is that, cash available, it's easy to buy any watch in great condition. But turning an ugly duckling in to a swan delivers far more pleasure.
nikaiyo2 - I do like the simple functionality of the 1000 models. They look like they could outlive any owner! I use acrylic paint to retouch bezel signatures. Dab it on with a small brush and allow it to dry. then gently shave off the excess with a sharp plastic blade/credit card. Works a treat!
bingybongy - my number 4 is a favourite. If someone mentions TAG Heuer I automatically have that image before me. Sounds like yours was a cracker. Do you still have it in a drawer?
hyper - jay - I nearly bought a blue faced 2000 Chronograph in Gibralter in 1997. It had a blue leather skin strap. I was all for sticking the cost on my credit card until my mum stepped in........ I wish I had bloody ignored her to this day! It was almost £500 cheaper in Gib than the UK.
Ciao for now
Unfortunately not. The insurance company kept it.UnclePat - I think my next next project will be a full size 4000 and that will be a keeper to compliment the 1500 and 2000. I'll skip the 3000 which simply doesn't do it for me. My own view is that, cash available, it's easy to buy any watch in great condition. But turning an ugly duckling in to a swan delivers far more pleasure.
nikaiyo2 - I do like the simple functionality of the 1000 models. They look like they could outlive any owner! I use acrylic paint to retouch bezel signatures. Dab it on with a small brush and allow it to dry. then gently shave off the excess with a sharp plastic blade/credit card. Works a treat!
bingybongy - my number 4 is a favourite. If someone mentions TAG Heuer I automatically have that image before me. Sounds like yours was a cracker. Do you still have it in a drawer?
hyper - jay - I nearly bought a blue faced 2000 Chronograph in Gibralter in 1997. It had a blue leather skin strap. I was all for sticking the cost on my credit card until my mum stepped in........ I wish I had bloody ignored her to this day! It was almost £500 cheaper in Gib than the UK.
Ciao for now
They did pay out 1000 quid on it though.
I've finished the build of watch number 5, which now looks like this:
I'm very pleased with the result. This watch was heavily scratched with some quite deep examples which needed filing, wet and drying (1500, 2000 & 3000) before matte finishing. It has had a new movement and bezel click spring. I elected to retain the original dial rather than dabble with a different 1500 style. The bezel was quite a bugger to get to this stage. The numerals have been retouched.
It's far from perfect but I think it's a solid, honest example. Hope you enjoy....
I'm very pleased with the result. This watch was heavily scratched with some quite deep examples which needed filing, wet and drying (1500, 2000 & 3000) before matte finishing. It has had a new movement and bezel click spring. I elected to retain the original dial rather than dabble with a different 1500 style. The bezel was quite a bugger to get to this stage. The numerals have been retouched.
It's far from perfect but I think it's a solid, honest example. Hope you enjoy....
Thanks fella. I'm well happy with the end product. Considering it was re-constructed using all the Grade B parts I had amassed, save for the new quartz movement of course.
The paint I use is black acrylic. I bought the last bottle on Ebay for £7 I think. Rather than wait for the paint to dry and scrape excess off with a plastic blade, on this occasion I removed the excess with slightly damp cotton buds when the paint was just starting to cure. I'll apply this technique with future refurbs as I feel the result is better.
The paint I use is black acrylic. I bought the last bottle on Ebay for £7 I think. Rather than wait for the paint to dry and scrape excess off with a plastic blade, on this occasion I removed the excess with slightly damp cotton buds when the paint was just starting to cure. I'll apply this technique with future refurbs as I feel the result is better.
Hi nice work on the Heuers, I have the same passion but work on mainly mechanical Tissots. The last movement I worked on had jammed then had been forced. The windings looked like a cornfield hit by a tornado, but all the better for seeing it tick again.
I’ve just picked up a Heuer 1500 which needs a new bezel new hands and reluming and the bracelet is hopelessly stretched. Do you have any advice on tightening up the links, the wider ones with no visible means of access?
I’ve just picked up a Heuer 1500 which needs a new bezel new hands and reluming and the bracelet is hopelessly stretched. Do you have any advice on tightening up the links, the wider ones with no visible means of access?
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