TAG Heuer is launching 10 new limited edition Formula 1s, made in collaboration with lifestyle brand Kith and drawing inspiration from the famous 1986 'Series 1'.
Launched in 1986, the Formula 1 collection of TAG Heuer was a pathfinder: was indeed thefirst to bear the TAG Heuer name on the dial. The bright colours and unconventional design have made the Formula 1 a highly recognisable watch that has won the hearts of many fans, including Ronnie Fieg, founder of the lifestyle brand Kith. Today, TAG Heuer is offering 10 new limited edition Formula 1s, made in collaboration with Kith itself.
The new collection consists of 10 models, offered in bold colour variants. The first series of TAG Heuer Formula 1 (called 'Series 1'), from which the new Formula 1 Kith are inspired, was a real success. "The revival of the original TAG Heuer Formula 1 watch is an event that the collectors' community has been clamouring for for years. One of these collectors is the founder of Kith, Ronnie Fieg, who said that, like many others, this was also his first watch when he was a boy. It is one of the most significant pieces in TAG Heuer's history. It was the first to bear the TAG Heuer name and introduced a generation of collectors to our commitment to making high quality watches on the borderline between trend and motorsport," he said Julien Tornare, CEO of TAG Heuer.
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Kith: limited editions
The new models, 10 in total, are all produced in limited editions.
To keep the spirit of the first TAG Heuer Formula 1 series alive, the company tracked down the original supplier of the cases, as well as the same mould used for the parts made in 1986. Of course, there are several changes from the original, such as the replacement of the glass, which was plastic and is now sapphire. Also the strap evolves from plastic to rubber. Kith's Ronnie Fieg contributed to many of the details of the new Kith Formula 1, including the selection of colour combinations.
Also to be noted, the particular logo used, combining Kith and Heuer and is featured on the dial, the rubber strap and the case back. The dial also includes Kith's motto 'Just Us' (at 6 o'clock), a tribute to Fieg's family circle. The case, in steel or arnite, has a diameter of 35 mm, the movement is quartz and water resistance to 20 atmospheres. For all, the unidirectional rotating bezel is made of arnite and the case back of sandblasted steel. "It was an honour for me to be able to help bring TAG Heuer's Formula 1 Series 1 back to life. The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Series 1 in red and black was my first watch, the watch that helped me express the unique style that now manifests itself in Kith,' said Ronnie Fieg, founder of Kith.
I new watches, as mentioned, are 10, with steel bracelet or rubber strap. Seven of these are exclusive to Kith and each pays homage to a shop in its global network. Five of these models, with arnite cases, play with bright colours: red, black or yellow; the combination of green, yellow and red, which winks at the rare 1980s version made in collaboration with Japanese F1 driver Ukyo Katayama; and finally, the combination of cream and matte black. These variants are limited to 250 pieces each. Kith's exclusive models also include two additional Formula 1s with a steel case and bracelet, one with a blue bezel and the other with a green bezel, in a limited edition of 350 pieces each.
Formula 1 Kith: special packaging also available
As well as individually, it is also possible to purchase a special pack containing all 10 new Formula 1 Kith.
TAG Heuer boasts two exclusives, each limited to 825 pieces, in blue and green (for bezel and strap), with a PVD-treated steel case and black dial. A highlight of the collection is the model shared between TAG Heuer and Kith, limited to 1,350 pieces. This Formula 1 plays on tones of black and beige, with red accents, and is combined with a steel bracelet. The dial with embossed markers is reminiscent of the more glossy versions of this 1986 model. The result is a beautiful combination of modern features and vintage charm.
The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Kith thus remains true to the original, drawing elements from the colour combinations and small details that characterised Series 1. Each Formula 1 Kith is sold in a box that evokes its colourful design. Finally, a collector's box containing all 10 watches is also available (limited edition of 75 pieces, price €18,000).
Prices1,500 euro each.
