morlock

WOW.... nice memorabilia you got there....

For today.

Nice. Keep feeding your watch box... I could see you really like gold, it's not my cup of tea, but I am always guessing hwo good is the gold plated on reps, how have been your experience so far ? It really fade fast, or not ? Thanks for sharing.

Me too.. New cars, new rules, new Teams (kind of), new manager. It has to be a fine entertainment. .

Thanks for your comments. kokedose, thanks for sharing. Is that one a gen or a rep ? You know, those guys at China are able to do a replica of anythings onzenuub, thanks for including it at your database. By the way, I just notice you un-blur your avatar, that's something I was waiting to see. Niceee. b16a2, black is a good choice. Now that I got the TH fever, I added to my wish list the Blue Link Chrono and the Black Aquarecer Chrono on rubber.

Recently on the dealers sites were launched an updated version of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph with Swiss quartz Movt. I used to be a non-TAG Heuer fan, but the By-Tor and b16a2 reviews make to grown the brand on me. So the timming was perfect, an updated version of this entry model will be the perfect first TH for me, so I ordered from Andrew, and after 6 days I received it. First, I must tell you that the update word in the dealers announcement is too overstated. I am supporting this comment on what I learn from the 2 great reviews of the White version from chrgod and Ruelcorte (found HEREand HERE). so if the factory updated or refresehed the rep, the previous issues are still present. However, I would like to review it because this is a great rep which issues are far from been noticeable to the naked eyes, and of course, this is the RED version. So I hope you enjoy it. The Gen For a long time, TAG Heuer image has been associated with that of high-level competition. In 1976, Heuer, presented its computer-assisted "Automatic Car Identification and Timing System" which met the demands of Formula 1 and Le Mans 24-hour race and the approval of the FIA. Today, Official Timekeeper to the World Ski, FIA Formula 1 World Championships. Also since 1985, TAG Heuer has been closely involved with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 Team and maintains close ties with Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen. According with TAG Heuer web site Fernando Alonso, the Formula 1 double World Champion and driver for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team in 2007 Season, participated in the design of the chronograph been covered on this review. The TAG Heuer Formula 1 series includes simple watch (H:M:S), analog chronographs and ana-digital chronographs, all versions use Quartz Movt, enclosed in Stain Steel case and with a titanium carbide signature bezel. The Formula 1 is one of the most, if not the most, affordable TAG Heuer, which is the main reason this model is so popular, you could spot everywhere, on women or men of every age. Also I guess that the good performance of the McLaren Mercedes Team on Formula 1 has contributed on increasing the popularity of this model. Gen Specifications: CAH1112.BA0850 Movement: ETA FASHIONLINE G10.711 Quartz, 4 jewels, displaying hours, minutes, small second, date and chronograph (1/10th of a second, Seconds and 30 Minutes) Water Resistance: 200 m Crystal: scratch-resistant sapphire crystal Case: 41mm, fine-brushed steel Case Back: Solid SS with checker flag decoration Bezel: Scratch-resistant titanium carbide coated unidirectional turning bezel with raised fine-brushed figures Dial: RED with Hand-applied indexes. Faceted hour and minute hands with luminescent markers. Arrow head on second hands. Faceted date window between 3 and 4 o'clock Crown: Scratch-resistant titanium carbide coated screw-in crown with raised fine-brushed TAG Heuer logo Bracelet: 3 rows fine-brushed stainless steel bracelet Clasp: Double safety clasp with diving extension system and fine adjustment system The RED Rep After an flawless as usual transaction with Andrew, I received my very first TAG Heuer rep. The first impression was really good, the watch is heavy considering been a Quartz model, of course not like an Auto. It feels very solid and well constructed, I could compare its overall quality with a Victorinox Swiss Army Quartz model. I ordered the RED dial because it's not an usual dial color, I mean there are not too many non-bling model with red dial in the market, and also the RED-BLACK-SILVER combination goes perfectly along with the McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 Team. It feels more fateful with the Formula 1 motif. The RED color is just on spot with the gen. The sub dials at 2 and 10 o'clock for 1/10th sec. and 30 minutes counter, are silvery white with concentric circle decoration. The running small seconds sub dial at 6 o'clock has silvery white circle, with the correct thickness. Due the rep use the exact same movt as the gen, the subdial spacing is perfect. The polish hour markers, font, wording and hands are correct, including the special half arrow tip on the chrono central seconds hand. Unfortunately, the running seconds hand issue is still present on this updated version, for my standards this is a minor issue, we are talking about one millimeter short, which only could be notice in a side by side comparo. Of course the date fond is perfect, been the ETA font, and the window is located between 3 and 4 o'clock. The crystal is sapphire without AR, just like the gen. And finally the lume is on the range of "good", it's applied on minute-hour hands and the hours markers. The bezel is made on black painted metal with raised fine-brushed number, with the right font and size. The bezel feel solid to the touch and the paint looks to hold as time pass. It turns with 120 loud clicks. The rep bezel is as close as possible to the gen. Nothing to complain here. The case is very solid stain steel carefully fine brushed, nice for US$ 118 rep. The overall design is very close to the gen, without any notifiable flaws. On the side opposite to the crown, the word "TAGHeurer" is deeply engraved and painted in black, the font is correct and maybe (under the macro lens) the "Heuer" part is a little thinner in the gen. The screw-in crown is an exact copy of the gen, but for the materials, the gen crown is steel with a titanium carbide coat, on the rep is steel painted on black. The good news is this paint look pretty good resistant to scratch, so I think it will hold well with time. The bad news are still the crown guard, the paint on them is not as good as the one used on the crown and bezel, so you have to be very careful not to scratch it. The chrono pusher are plastic, but look like the gen. The rep Formula 1 has a solid stain steel caseback, with deep and crisp checkered flag pattern on the upper half and the TAG Heure logo in the center. Under the logo the model number and serial are located, the model CAH1113 engraved correspond to the orange model, been the right number for the RED model CAH1112. In the outer circle, all the wording is correct and crisp engraved. Aside of the model number, this is one of the most beatiful performed caseback I have seen, deep, clean, on spot engraved. The bracelt has three rows of solid links in stain steel. After the usual cleaning and oiling process for new bracelet, it feels very smooth, heavy and solid, even better than the bracelet from my Victorinox SA Maverick II. The clasp has safety latch with diving extension and four position fine adjustment. The clasp has been reported as cheap, but at least this one has nothing to envy from the clasp on the aforementioned Victorinox. Even I could say it's better than the clasp on many mid level rep Roles Sub. Regarding the style, it's the same as in the previous rep, and differ only form the gen on the safety latch design. Now, lets talk about the movement, which in this case is not disrespectful to say it is a Quartz movt. It is really pleasant to find in a low priced rep an genuine Swiss ETA movt. The rep has the exact same model as the gen, the ETA FASHIONLINE G10.711 with 4 jewels. In addition to the usual time functions, it has a chronograph that measures 10th of a second, Seconds and Minutes. The movt has even a Swiss made battery, a 394 RENATA, so you could expect a long battery life. The movt has a V8 engraved, maybe a funny link with motor on a F1 car. Due the Quartz movt is not fun to photograph, I include some tech info from the ETA web site. And the usual wrist shot: Rep Specifications: Movement: ETA FASHIONLINE G10.711 Quartz, 4 jewels, displaying hours, minutes, small second, date and chronograph (1/10th of a second, Seconds and 30 Minutes) Water Resistance: Not available. Due the rep has a screw-in crown and solid caseback with the proper rubber seal, it has some level of water protection, but I could assure how much Crystal: sapphire crystal Case: 41mm, fine-brushed steel Case Back: Solid SS with checker flag decoration Bezel: Black painted unidirectional turning bezel with raised fine-brushed figures. 120 clicks Dial: RED with polish applied indexes. Faceted hour and minute hands with luminescent markers. Arrow head on second hands. Faceted date window between 3 and 4 o'clock Crown: Black painted screw-in crown with raised fine-brushed TAG Heuer logo Bracelet: 3 rows fine-brushed stainless steel bracelet Clasp: Double safety clasp with diving extension system and 4 position fine adjustment Conclusion I strongly recommend the rep TAG Heuer FORMULA 1 Chrono, but not because it's an updated version, which I just show you is an overstated statement. The issues (I resist to refer to them as flaws) are really minor, like a millimeter short small running seconds hand and 3 instead of 2 in the model number at the caseback. As I mentioned in some previous post, I was not a TAG fan, but their designs started to grown on me thanks to the reviews and post on this forum. The FORMULA 1 is the perfect piece to start a long and solid relationship with TAG Heuer (at least By-Tor and b16a2 will be happy with this comment). Finally the relative low price of the gen has been a strong argument against this rep, so I would like to throw my 2 cents on this. If you are looking for a low priced rep chrono, with nice design, for an occasional use in your collection, go for the rep, priced at US$ 118 including an genuine Swiss made ETA movt, the TAG Heuer FORMULA 1 Chrono has unbeatable value. But if in addition to the previous spec, you are looking for a daily beater (I don't now for how long the black paint will keep as new on the rep under heavy usage), go and pay US$600~800 for a new gen FORMULA 1.

Yes, it's just like that. Just imagine it in a window like the SAT one, which is raised form the dial.

I don't think the factories could replicate that watch. The key feature in the Bridge watch is the movt, and the factories could not afford to copy a movt for just one watch model, they need volumes. Last here I found a site offering a Bridge rep using a gen photo, the site screamed SCAM! to loud and clear to even bother to ask them about the watch. It's a shame, I also like this piece.

Ice, to be honest,yes, you will notice it. But also I bet you that not a simple person outside this forum will notice it. It is not that bad that you could not read the date due the shadows, it's less than a millimeter sunken. In the gen, it's also recessed, but that much, I mean in the gen it's not totally flush with the window date. If you could go to an AD, you will see what I am trying to explain.

The brown version is not fantasy, it's new. You could see it at the TH Catalog in their web site HERE. There is a brown dial rose gold pics.

From yesterday

Fidestro, thanks for the story. I find it reviewed at the Vulcain web site HERE

Accurate or not, those are cool graphics, give us an idea of what is going on out there.

The new line GMT and Diver X-Treme are gorgeous.look at them: http://www.vulcain-uhren.de/en/watches/gmt-x-treme/index.htm http://www.vulcain-uhren.de/en/watches/div...01924161lfy.htm No rep yet, I don't think the factories will do any due lack of demand.

Yes, it looks much better in the wrist. And it's even better in person than in photos.

Master, for our wrist size is too large, that's my personal point of view. I never buy any watch bigger that 43 or 44 mm, been my perfect size 40-41. I bought this one for a friend, not for me, I wear it just for the pics, I didn't even ajust the bracelet, I put a piece of rubber in the back of the wrist to keep it tight. Anyway it is a beautiful piece.

Master, I think you look at my review of this model. Anyway, I have almost the same wrist size than you, so here you a couple of wrist shots, and of course, you should go to the AD.

I ordered online 2 years ago, then I did not know about RWG. I can't remember where I got it, but I just check at WatchEden and they carry this rep at US$ 108 (after online rebate). I am almost sure I paid more back then, so now it's a even better deal.

Vulcain is one of those not too familiar watch company, focus on developing watch with a common feature, the mechanical alarm. In 1947 Vulcain made the first practical wrist-alarm and named it Cricket, because the alarm sound is produced with a resonance-chamber like that of the cricket which he formed by fitting a two-part back to the watch-case. The inner part of the back, which serves to enclose the watch-case, is responsible for generating the sound. It is struck by the hammer and oscillates to produce the sound-waves. The Cricket has becone the foundation of all the Vulcain model since then, just like the 911 to Porsche. The Cricket is also know under the nickname of "The President's Watch" because it was choseen byt the USA Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Nixon and Johnson. The Gen The particular watch I am going to cover in this review is the Vulcain Aviator Cricket GMT. It is fitted with the mechanical hand-wound Cricket alarm movement with two barrels. It shows the hours, minutes, seconds and the alarm. Also has the 24-hour world-time feature which is operated by the crown at the 4 o

Aller, yes, I pointed out mostly of those issues, it's too naive of me to expect a ultimated version for US$ 100. Just as a commnent, the bracelet could not be a high grade one, but it's weel constructed and it's the right version for this watch model. And the current gen version is polish, but the first gen version was brushed.

I am amaze that nobody comments about the BT's HUGE self control... Just 10 watches !!! I could not do so by any means, it's still hard to keep my new rule of just one per month, the world economic crisis is helping me to tone down a little, but 10 watches, no way. BT, you are a great writer and a a man of strong convictions. Regarding the real topic of this threat, I really want more out-of-the-box good simple replicas, like the Omega Speedmaster Professional. And of course the Blancpain Filthy Phantons non=chrono version.

Thanks BT. I know about your GMT, your review was the main reason to buy mine, unfortunately when I got mine from Andrew, he told me that is not available anymore the bezel with the right white/black transition at the 6 and 18 like yours. I don't know if this applies just to the Andrew's providers or to all factories, I don't know either if the GMT is being build in several factories.

Ronin, I did not know the SA Chrono Classic XLS MT, did you notice that it does not have any pusher ? I look at SA web page, all function are controlled with the crown. This is great, it implies a learning process, but I really like it. Well Ronin, you make it happen again, I WANT IT.

Ronin, very nice Swiss Army. enjoy it. I have to say, I really know the filling, and that happen too often. I got the same filling with the Swiss Army Dive 500 Black Ice, I just could not resist the dark gray gun metal treatment. I first saw it in a mag ad and it keep printed in mind until I got one. And that is just one example.

RobbieG, a great post, I really enjoy it. And the watch is just amazing, the decoration on the internals of the movt are beautiful. If they rep, for sure I will get one.