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BEST ENTRY-LEVEL TAG HEUER MODELS FOR FIRST TIME COLLECTORS?

For many of us watch enthusiasts Tag Heuer was the gateway watch that got us into this niche and fascinating hobby. From their rich heritage in developing stopwatches from Formula One to creating your perfect daily watch, Tag Heuer is a brand that offers people an excellent first luxury watch. What often makes Tag Heuer considered an entry level luxury watch is that their price points are lower than most brands that have such a well-known name. However, when you look into the Tag Heuer catalogue of watches it is easy to get lost so we thought we would go through the best watches from Tag Heuer to start off any watch collection.

The tag heuer Aquaracer

TAG Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 Date black

Before Technique Avant Garde (TAG) bought Heuer to become TagHeuer, Jack Heuer would release one last watch, the Heuer 2000. Released in 1982, this would be the birth of the Aquaracer that we all know today in 2025. Once Heuer became Tag Heuer, the first official model to be named the Aquaracer made its debut in 2004 which was significant for Tag Heuer as they did not focus on dive watches, instead they were famous for their motorsport heritage. The 2000 Aquaracer was released with a quartz or automatic movement and offered 300 metres of water resistance. The circular hour markers and sword hands were both filled with lume and it featured a unidirectional dive bezel made from aluminium.

Today in 2025 you have two key models you can choose from, one in a 42 mm steel case with a beautiful wave-like pattern that reminds of the sea every time you look down at your wrist. Being an Aquaracer it of course has 300 metres of water resistance and a date window with a bubble lens at the 6 o'clock position. What makes this model special is the dial and the dial colours, you can have a black dial with a contrasting Miami-blue seconds hand, a blue dial with an orange seconds hand or a green dial with a yellow seconds hand. The hands and hour markers are all polished steel with a rhodium plating to give that extra shine and combine that with your ceramic bezel and you’re looking at a very sharp watch. They come on a classic three-link classic bracelet with a fold over clasp which features a glidelock style of micro adjustment. The automatic movement powering the Aquaracers all now feature 80 hours of power reserve which is an excellent amount.

The second key Aquaracer model to choose has a modest 40 mm case size and has a steel bezel. The dial has your iconic flat horizontal wave inspired grooves cut into it in either a beautiful sunburst grey, blue or black colour. This model only has 200 meters of water resistance but this helps make the watch slightly slimmer and with its polished centre links this model is great if you like the aqua racer line but want something dressier that could slide under a cuff.

The Tag Heuer Carrera

The story of the Carrera begins in 1963, when Jack Heuer, great-grandson of the brand’s founder Edouard Heuer, launched a chronograph that would define modern sports watches. Jack, an avid motorsport enthusiast, was inspired by the Carrera Panamericana, a deadly and thrilling open-road race held in Mexico during the early 1950s. The name "Carrera," meaning "race" or "career" in Spanish, was both evocative and fitting. At the time, most chronographs were cluttered and hard to read during high-stress situations like racing. Jack Heuer envisioned a sleek, legible, and stylish watch tailored for professional drivers and motorsport fans alike. Thus, the Heuer Carrera was born.

Now in 2025 if you look at the Tag Heuer Carrera line there are so many options but there are a few key stand out models that you might want to have a look at. First up we have the classic Carrera date which comes in a 39 mm case with sharp angular lugs that perfectly frame the polished steel bezel which houses their famous radial sunburst dial. With white, black, blue, pink, orange, silver and green to choose from, if colour is important to you then this is your perfect model. They all come on Tag Heuer’s famous H-link style of bracelet that makes for a silly smooth feel around the wrist. The framed date window is neatly tucked away at the 6 o’clock position and the calibre 5 movement offers us 38 hours of power reserve, which is on the lower side but still more than enough to take it off for a day and it will still be ticking.

Tag Heuer Carrera calibre 5 39mm white dial on original bracelet

The second model is very similar but features a day-date movement complication, whilst still the same case design it now has a 41 mm case size. The day and date are displayed neatly at the 3 o’clock position and you can choose from a radial sunburst blue, black or even cherry red dial. The movement inside here is the new TH31-02 which gives us 80 hours of power reserve making it perhaps more practical over the regular date version. This does however add around 1 mm to the case thickness but it still remains a well-proportioned watch.

Thirdly, you can’t beat the classic Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph which now comes in an impressive case size of just 39 mm! Everything about this model creams vintage Heuer and really brings out that rich motorsport heritage that makes up the DNA of Tag Heuer. From the sandwich style sapphire crystal to the perforated leather strap this model is incredibly comfortable in the wrist. We have still got 80 hours of power reserve which makes it a great watch you can easily put down and pick up and thanks to the leather strap it makes for a comfy every-day wear.

PRODUCTS FEATURED IN THE ARTICLE

22mm Straight Rubber Strap For Tag Heuer® Monaco

Rubber Strap for TAG HEUER AQUARACER PRO 200 SOLARGRAPH CARBON

20mm Straight Rubber Strap For Tag Heuer® Formula One

20mm Straight Rubber Strap For Tag Heuer® Carrera (20mm)

The Tag Heuer Formula 1

The TAG Heuer Formula 1 was introduced in 1986, shortly after the TAG Group (Techniques d'Avant Garde) acquired Heuer and rebranded the company as TAG Heuer in 1985. This marked the start of a new era, and the Formula 1 collection was its first major release under the new name. At its core, the Formula 1 line was designed to be a fun, affordable, and durable sports watch, aimed at a younger and broader audience. Unlike the mechanical chronographs TAG Heuer was known for, the early Formula 1 models were powered by quartz movements, which aligned with the booming quartz revolution and TAG Heuer’s strategy to modernize its offerings.

Over the years, the Formula 1 watch has grown into a complete line, with everything from classic three-hand models to complex chronographs and special editions. Jump forward to 2025, the Formula 1 Solargraph collection is available in nine dynamic colourways, reflecting the energetic spirit of motorsport. The models feature sandblasted stainless steel cases paired with steel bracelets, while six limited editions showcase cases made from TH-Polylight, a bio-based polyamide derived from castor oil. This material offers durability, lightweight comfort, and shows us that Tag Heuer knows how to innovate to their best. The bracelet quality on these ones far out does the old and slightly flimsy bracelet from the early 2000. Whilst they definitely have a certain vintage charm to them, the new solid three link president style bracelet is far studier and it has a stamped fold over clasp with a twin-trigger release system. There is no quick adjustment system but you do have three micro pin holes to choose from, but you will need a strap pin tool to do this.

Tag Heuer Formula 1 white dial on original metal strap

Tag Heuer Formula 1 black dial on red rubber strap on little racing car

Each watch is equipped with a bi-directional bezel crafted from TH-Polylight, providing a tactile and refined mechanical feel when rotated. The dials feature opaline finishes with applied shield-shaped hour markers (the Tag Heuer Shield) treated with Super-LumiNova for enhanced legibility. Strap options include an embossed rubber strap and redesigned steel bracelets, ensuring versatility and comfort. Keeping with TAG Heuer's role as the official timekeeper of Formula 1, the release of the Formula 1 Solargraph models coincides with key races in the F1 calendar. For instance, the Miami GP edition launched on May 2, 2025, featuring a black DLC-coated case and red accents. Upcoming releases include the Silverstone GP edition on July 4 and the Monza GP edition on September 5, each offering unique colour schemes inspired by the respective races.

At the heart of the collection is the Calibre TH50-00 Solargraph movement, developed in collaboration with Citizen's La Joux-Perret. This solar-powered quartz movement charges with exposure to natural or artificial light, requiring just two minutes of sunlight for a day's power and achieving a full charge in approximately 40 hours. Once fully charged, the watch can operate for up to 10 months without further light exposure, and the battery boasts a lifespan of 15 years. Not only that but this also helps keep the watch itself nice and thin, coming in at 9.9 mm thick, it can easily disappear onto the wrist. The 100 meters of water resistance means you can enjoy some light swimming in the pool but just make sure the crown is fully pushed in!

The Tag Heuer Monaco

In 1971, the Monaco was immortalized on the wrist of Steve McQueen in the film Le Mans. McQueen, portraying a professional race car driver, chose the Monaco to match the racing gear and branding of real-life driver Jo Siffert, who was a Heuer ambassador. This single appearance forever changed the Monaco's trajectory. McQueen’s image, clad in his white racing suit and square-cased Monaco, became one of the most iconic visuals in watch and racing history. It is almost impossible to talk about Tag Heuer and not mention the iconic 39mm square Monaco. With the crown on the left side of the case and the two chronograph pushers on the right side it gives us a perfect asymmetrical look. With a blue dial, white sub dials and a red seconds hand with red accents on the other hands and hour markers, this dial shouts Formula One nice and loud but in an elegant manner. The black perforated leather strap means the watch sits comfortable on your wrist and gives that refined look perfect for all and any occasion.

With TagHeuer being a brand known for its connection to sports, ZEALANDE can help you to get that perfect sporty watch look, you can now buy your Tag Heuer on the bracelet and not worry about missing out on a high-quality rubber strap. ZEALANDE have designed the perfect strap for your Tag Heuer and you can now play around with colour, fit and style to ensure you get your own unique feel of your Tag Heuer on your wrist. By using a ZEALANDE rubber strap you also give the bracelet a break from daily wear which will help preserve it in the long run.

And there you have it, a look at the main lines and models within those lines in the Tag Heuer catalogue in 2025. There are so many different styles, case sizes, complications and dial colours to choose from which helps you find your perfect watch. As far as an entry into the world of luxury watch making it is pretty hard to beat Tag Heuer. With excellent models for all occasions between the Aquaracer, Carrera, Formula 1 and Monaco you can be sure to have a beautiful timepiece that will last for generations.

James Talbot