A Beloved Affordable ‘80s Sports Watch Is Back With the Perfect Modern Upgrade

After years of hype and scorn on the vintage market, TAG Heuer revives the original Formula 1 line with much-improved specs.

By Brad Lanphear

Published March 31, 2025

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In a strange twist of fate, one of the most popular vintage TAG Heuer watches of the past couple of decades is also the cheapest the high-end watchmaker has ever produced.

a gorup of five TAG Heuer watches — TAG Heuer’s new Formula 1 Solargraph series is gradually releasing in alignment with the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The TAG Heuer Formula 1 was a 35-millimeter quartz watch introduced in 1986 as one of the first major collaboration watches ever. Teaming up with Europe’s top auto-racing league helped promote Heuer’s rebranding after being acquired by Techniques d’Avant Garde, and was one of the first releases to sport the new logo.

Using plastic bezels and, in some cases, plastic cases and rubber straps made the Formula 1 cheap and easy to produce. It was based on the Heuer Professional 200 dive watch series, with a similar dial, bezel and quartz movement, but was much more affordable.

a blue and white TAG Heuer watch — The Formula 1 Solargraph Ref. WBY1112 will be available on July 4.

That affordability made Formula 1 popular, and plastic components allowed TAG Heuer to easily update colors and detailing. So many watches entered the market, with so many interesting and distinct designs, creating the perfect scenario for a cult collector’s item decades later.

Now that TAG Heuer is the official timekeeper of Formula 1 Racing, thanks to a massive deal with its parent company LVMH, the polarizing original Formula 1 watch is ripe for a reboot.

Give the people what they want

The Formula 1 line spawned countless color combinations, cobranding for sporting events like the Olympics and Indianapolis 500, and companies like BP and Kenwood. Higher-quality versions with metal cases and three-link bracelets were produced, along with a chronograph elaboration.

a green and red TAG Heuer watch — The limited edition Formula 1 Solargraph Rf. WBY1160 will be available on September 5.

It all came to a screeching halt in 1996 when the TAG Heuer discontinued the line. A year later, Formula 1 was rebooted as the line of mid-tier racing-themed watches that carries on today.

In the early 2010s, as watch collecting reached a fever pitch with vintage Rolex and Omega prices going through the roof, along with iconic 1970s Heuer designs like the Carrera and Autavia, a counter-movement began among enthusiasts who couldn’t afford those grails.

a black tag heuer watch — The Formula 1 Solargraph ref. WBY1114 will be available May 2.

Cheaper and readily available vintage watches like the Seiko 5 and digital Casios grew cult followings. Anyone could afford to start a collection, and rare but still attainable references were out there if you knew where to look.

TAG Heuer’s original Formula 1 was a perfect watch for the growing affordable vintage craze. They were scattered throughout vintage markets all over the world. While many were not in great shape, the market price was under $400.

a black an yellow TAG Heuer watch — The limited edition Formula 1 Solargraph ref. WBY1117 will be available on October 24.

By the late 2010s, Formula 1 references from the late 1980s and early 1990s became among the most coveted watches on the vintage market. This eventually led TAG Heuer to create a limited revival in collaboration with Kith in 2024.

That collection sold out and now fetches over $1,500 on fashion resale websites. Despite its flaws, the original Formula 1 has a market clamoring for a proper revival.

A substantial upgrade

In the spring of 2025, TAG Heuer finally acquiesced to its fans and gave Formula 1 the reboot and upgrade it deserved.

With no more shoddy parts or flimsy bands, the new Formula 1 Solargraph is a watch worthy of representing the fastest-growing sports league on the planet.

a blue TAG Heuer watch dial — The Solargraph is charged with any light through the dial.

The new design has a 38-millimeter steel case with the same rounded-off capped lugs as the original. Aside from the larger size, the dial layout is the same, but the hour markers are now applied.

The hour hand has the same design but is narrowed slightly, and the minute hand is now tipped with TAG Heuer’s shield outline, matching the shield hour markers.

a black and white TAG Heuer watch — The lugs are capped for a streamlined shape and reduced edges, but the bracelet has quick-release pins.

The lone exception is a limited edition model with numerals on the dial, which has a closer resemblance to the second generation of Formula 1 watches from the late 1990s and 2000s.

Even though they look the same, the new Formula 1 watches have applied indices with Super-LumiNova, DLC treated cases, TH-polylight bezels, a steel crown and anti-reflective sapphire crystal.

the case back of a TAG Heuer watch — The case back is decorated with a TAG Heuer shield.

The biggest improvement is under the hood, where TAG Heuer’s Solargraph movement powers the new Formula 1 with light energy. According to the brand, two minutes of exposure can power the watch for a full day, and 40 hours in the sun can fully charge the battery for ten months.

Availability and pricing

TAG Heuer is rolling out the Formula 1 Solargraph to align with key Formula 1 races during the 2025 season. Each watch will be available from TAG Heuer with a pre-sale beginning one week before launch.

The steel case and steel three-link bracelet references cost $1,850 and are permanent additions to TAG Heuer’s Formula 1 collection. The polyamide case and rubber bracelet reference cost $1,750 and are all limited editions.

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph

Specs

Case Size	38mm
Movemet	Solar quartz
Water Resistance	200m

$1,850 at TAG Heuer

Miami GP: May 5, Pre-sale starts April 29

Ref. WBY1111, White and red dial with black bezel and steel bracelet
Ref. WBY1114, Black and red dial with black bezel and black rubber strap, limited edition

Barcelona GP: May 30, Pre-sale begins May 27

Ref. WBY111A, White and black dial with a black bezel and black rubber strap, limited edition

Silverstone GP: July 4, Presale begins July 1

Ref. WBY1112, Blue dial and bezel with a steel bracelet
Ref. WBY1113, White dial with green bezel and steel bracelet

Monza GP: September 5, Pre-sale begins September 2

Ref. WBY1160, White and green dial with a green bezel, red polyamide case and green rubber strap, limited edition
Ref. WBY1161, White and black dial with black bezel, red polyamide case and red rubber strap, limited edition

Singapore GP: October 3, Pre-sale begins September 30