Tag Heuer Logo Change

Earlier this year, Tag Heuer introduced a revised logo onto their watches. The change is fairly subtle and may have gone un-noticed by most. The change concerns the word TAG and the new logo is shown above, the outgoing version is shown below.

The outgoing TAG Heuer logo.

Without delving too deeply into the brand's history, TAG was added to the original Heuer logo following a buy-out by Techniques d'Avant Garde in the mid 1980s. This TAG logo was familiar to motor racing enthusiasts who would have seen it on Formula 1 cars including Williams and McLaren in the 1980s as the company was a supplier of engine components.

A Williams F1 car with TAG branding.

TAG's connection to motor racing combined with Heuer's established record of timekeeping in the sport meant that the brand oozed motor racing heritage more than any other, an element which has been mildly diluted by the latest logo change under current parent company, LVMH.

The original Heuer logo is still used on special edition watches which are released now and again and these are generally quite sought after. Vintage watches bearing the old logo are now highly collectable and their higher values are reflected at auction.

The latest logo change may be something of a disappointment for long-term supporters of the brand but it may result in added value to watches sporting the discontinued branding, something of a bonus for watch owners and something that collectors will be most likely be keeping an eye on.

A Carrera Calibre CH80 Chronograph with discontinued logo.

Seiko SKX009 Diver (All Is Lost)

I enjoy looking out for watches in movies and  recently watched a film called All Is Lost starring Robert Redford. It's a survival story of a sailor stranded at sea and is unusual in that there is no dialogue as he's all alone. It didn't take long for me to notice the watch on his right hand and after a quick search online, found that it was in fact a Seiko SKX009. It's a classic diver from Seiko with 20 bar water resistance and the crown comfortably located between 3 and 4 o'clock. The movement is automatic and features day and date apertures at 3 o'clock. The bezel is the 'Pepsi' red and blue variety which has been familiar on Seiko watches for decades.

This watch is normally available for sale with a Jubilee steel bracelet or diver's strap but in the movie, Redford wears it on a black (or possibly dark blue) Nato strap. Prices in the UK range between £190 and £220 from online retailers at the time of writing, depending on the type of strap selected and the watch is widely available.

Casio MTD-1080

The Casio MTD-1080 is one of those remarkable, budget heroes that only come along every so often. I have had my eye on one for about a year or so but only last week sprung into action to buy one when I read that the model has now been discontinued. Casio have a bad habit of discontinuing popular designs so it's advisable to pounce on any desirable model before it's too late.

At £49 (on sale) this watch represents exceptional value and the quality of it is comparable to timepieces that are ten times the value or more. The design is a contemporary take on the traditional diving watch and at a glance, looks immediately familiar. The 43mm steel case is reassuringly weighty and brushed on the top with a high polish on the sides. The standard lugs offer the opportunity to replace the strap with a variety of third party options. This particular model is fitted with a plastic diver strap which is very comfortable and feels like a quality piece. Casio straps often feel cheap and nasty but this one is a pleasant surprise. The uni-directional bezel is made of a hard plastic and rotates crisply and securely on the ratchet. Probably the most unique element of the design is the unusual bevelling on the bezel which creates a hexagonal geometry and creates a subtle, modern variation on a classic theme.

Shown above are the two other colour variations of the same model.

The watch is waterproof to 10 bar or 100m so is not a genuine diver but should serve well for most other water sports. The crown does not screw down and only presses into place after time adjustment. Powering the watch is a deadly accurate quartz movement which drives arrow-headed minute and hour hands and a centre second hand. The hour graduations are a combination of luminous, circle and batten markers with minute and sub-minute graduations printed onto the face. Day and date apertures are at 3 o'clock and the watch features light illumination by way of two, blue LED lights which are activated by the push button at 2 o'clock. This is an unusual feature for an analogue watch but a very welcomed one.

For those who like watches based on the classic diver template, this piece comes highly recommended. With day, date, water resistance, luminous markers and a night light, this watch is close to perfect and will look good with a wetsuit or dress suit. As these are now discontinued models, it's unfortunately a seller's market and some examples are as much as double the normal retail price on Ebay at the time of writing. Something to look forward to will be Casio's replacement for this watch which will hopefully fill a similar price range in the market and offer a similar level of high quality.