The WatchGecko office has been abuzz this afternoon with news on the product of TAG Heuer’s latest collaboration with KITH. I’m not sure some of us had quite gotten over their last quirky offering, the Connected Calibre E4 45mm x Malbon Golf Edition and it’s safe to say that yet again, opinions have been divided. I might argue though, that as we recover from some of the underwhelming novelties released at Watches and Wonders, maybe things needed shaking up.
The release in question is the TAG Heuer x KITH Formula 1, the latest evolution of an already infamous collection. Originally released back in 1986 as the first ever watch brandished with the TAG Heuer name, it seems the TAG Formula 1 was pretty much destined for stardom and frenzied collectors have been hunting them down ever since. For many, the original Series 1 watches were the perfect gateway into watch collecting and the “why?” behind a love affair with watches that now spans decades.
TAG Heuer x KITH FORMULA 1. Credit: TAG Heuer.
One of those aforementioned fans of Series 1 is none other than Kith founder, Ronnie Fieg, who was a firm fan of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 when it originally launched almost forty years ago. Fieg started his collection with a red-and-black TAG Heuer Formula 1 and has been enamoured with collecting prestigious vintage watches ever since. Now, with the help of Fieg, the Formula 1 has undergone a modern evolution, and its recognisable silhouette is presented in newly upgraded materials.
The duo proudly reintroduces the beloved Formula 1 Series 1 in ten striking, and likely divisive (in our office anyway), colourways that have been inspired by iconic models from TAG’s history. Aligning perfectly with Fieg’s own design principals, the modernised references are as disruptive and bold as eager fans of the collection will likely have been counting on.
TAG Heuer x KITH FORMULA 1. Credit: TAG Heuer.
- Regular price
- $136.00 AUD
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- Sale price
- $136.00 AUD
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- Regular price
- $136.00 AUD
- Regular price
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- Sale price
- $136.00 AUD
- Unit price
- per
- Regular price
- $136.00 AUD
- Regular price
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- Sale price
- $136.00 AUD
- Unit price
- per
Julien Tornare, CEO of TAG Heuer, commented:
“The rebirth of the original TAG Heuer Formula 1 watch is something the collector community has been clamouring after for years. One of these collectors was Kith founder Ronnie Fieg, who shared that, like so many others, this was also his first watch when he was younger. It is one of the most meaningful pieces in TAG Heuer’s history. The first to wear the TAG Heuer name, it introduced a generation of collectors to our commitment to making premium timepieces at the intersection of culture and motorsports,”
As nostalgic as ever, the new iterations of the Fomula 1 remain faithful to their original supplier and the very same mould that was used in the 80’s. The original colour combinations that defined the Series 1 have been incorporated, as has the original form hour hand, a triangle with a dot inside at 12 o’clock, indices that alternate every quarter between shields and dots, and a contrasting minuterie.
Naturally, updates have also been made to ensure these cherished relics of the past are fit for purpose in modern times. Now presented in a 35mm case, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 has been upgraded to incorporate sapphire crystal, as opposed to the original plastic. The once plastic strap is also now offered in rubber.
In a first for TAG Heuer, the dials, straps and casebacks of the revitalised Formula 1 references bear a merging of TAG’s logo with the logo of their collaborator, Kith. Kith’s motto “Just Us” can also be found on the dial, proudly displayed above 6 o’clock.
TAG Heuer x KITH FORMULA 1. Credit: TAG Heuer.
Over the years, an impressive three million pieces of the original Series 1 models have been produced. This time around though, TAG Heuer is upping the ante with the release of ten strictly limited pieces. Adorned with vibrant colour palettes that each pay tribute to specific stores within the Kith global network, seven of the references will be exclusive to the collaborating brand. The electrifying green and blue models are exclusive to TAG and will be produced on a limited run of 825 pieces each, these iterations are housed in a black PVD case with matching black dial. Finally, there is to be one shared reference between the two collaborating brands, limited to 1350 pieces.
Full technical specifications and pricing information for the TAG Heuer x Kith Formula 1 Series can be found at TAG Heuer Online.
