TAG Heuer is marking the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort with two new Formula 1 Solargraph 38mm limited editions, bringing a familiar racing-inspired design to the collection.
TAG Heuer and Formula 1 seem inextricably linked. We have covered quite a lot over the last two years in relation to TAG Heuer’s association and partnerships with Formula 1, and with this year being the final year of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, it seems fitting that TAG Heuer is marking this occasion with a new Formula 1 Solargraph in 38mm. Well, two watches technically.
The two watches have been created around the final running of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, which has become one of Formula 1’s most recognisable venues since the race returned to the calendar in 2021. Both models share the same 38mm sandblasted steel case, grey opalin dial and orange and red detailing, with the main difference being how they are worn.
One comes on an orange rubber strap and is limited to 1,500 pieces, while the second is fitted to a sandblasted steel three-row bracelet and is limited to 1,000 pieces. The bracelet model is also an e-commerce exclusive.
An Ode to Zandvoort
When you see orange jerseys on a team or spectators, you can be fairly sure that it is the Dutch. Nowhere do you see this more than around the seaside Formula 1 track of Zandvoort, and especially with those who are fans of the Dutchman and four-time world champion, Max Verstappen. TAG Heuer has taken this theme and created a Formula 1 Solargraph that is fitting of the Dutch Grand Prix, the last one for the foreseeable future.
The case is finished in sandblasted steel, giving it a matte appearance rather than the polished surfaces found on some of TAG Heuer’s other watches. Around the dial is a bidirectional bezel featuring the Formula 1’s daisy motif, made from TH-Polylight and finished with an orange 60-second/minute scale.
The grey opalin dial provides a relatively simple base for the orange and red detailing. The flange carries the 60-second/minute scale, while the applied indexes and hands are finished in red lacquer and filled with eggshell Super-LumiNova. This is actually one element that stands out surprisingly on the watch in the daylight as the lume does contrast somewhat with the dial.
Both watches have a flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, a steel crown and a screw-down case back. Water resistance is rated at 100 metres. The overall design is recognisably Formula 1. There is plenty of colour, but it is being used in a fairly controlled way, with the grey dial and sandblasted case keeping the watches from becoming overly busy.
The connection to Zandvoort is also clear in the colour scheme. The orange and red details reference the atmosphere around the Dutch Grand Prix, where the famous sea of orange has become one of the defining features of the event. TAG Heuer is essentially taking that association and translating it into the dial rather than trying to create an overly complicated limited edition.
Solargraph Power
Inside both watches is TAG Heuer’s TH50-00 Solargraph movement. Rather than relying on a conventional battery, the Solargraph system uses light to generate energy, with both natural and artificial light capable of powering the watch. According to TAG Heuer, one minute of direct sunlight can provide enough energy to run the watch for a full day. A full charge takes less than 40 hours of light exposure and provides up to ten months of charge, even in total darkness.
The movement can also restart after stopping with just ten seconds of light exposure, while the accumulator inside the movement is rated for a lifespan of up to 15 years. So, unlike traditional quartz and battery-powered movements, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph has a very long lifespan!
It is a useful fit for the Formula 1 collection, particularly given the everyday nature of these watches. The idea is that the watch can keep running with regular exposure to light rather than requiring much attention from the wearer.
Initial Thoughts
There is a nice sense of continuity to these watches within the wider Formula 1 collection. The Formula 1 collection has been part of TAG Heuer’s identity since 1986, when it brought a more colourful and accessible approach to the brand’s racing-inspired watches. These new Solargraph models take that same idea and combine it with the modern Solargraph technology in the 38mm case.
With Zandvoort hosting its final Dutch Grand Prix, the timing also makes sense. Rather than creating something radically different, TAG Heuer has used one of its most recognisable collections and given it a straightforward connection to the circuit.
While some will look at it as a mere colour change and a design tweak from the rest of the 38mm collection, which to an extent, it is, what it does do is provide collectors and F1 fans alike the ability to grab a fun watch that represents support for either their love of Formula 1, Max Verstappen, or the Dutch Grand Prix.
References & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| References | WBY111H.FT8128 – Orange Strap, limited to 1,500 pieces / WBY111L.BA0042 – Steel Bracelet, limited to 1,000 (E-comm exclusive) |
| Dimensions | 38mm case diameter x 45.2mm lug-to-lug x 9.9mm thick |
| Case | Sand-blasted steel case with orange 60 second / minute scale TH-Polylight bidirectional turning bezel |
| Dial | Grey opalin dial with orange/red flange with 60 second / minute scale. Red lacquered applied indexes with eggshell Super-LumiNova® by day and green luminescence by night |
| Crystal | Flat sapphire with anti-reflective coating |
| Caseback | Steel, screwed down |
| Movement | Caliber TH50-00 – solar-powered quartz movement |
| Power Reserve | A full charge delivers up to 10 months of autonomy, while brief exposure to light can power the timepiece for a full day. |
| Beat Rate | N/A |
| Water Resistance | 100m / 10bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Orange rubber strap with steel pin buckle; TAG Heuer engraving / Sand-blasted steel 3-row bracelet with folding clasp with double safety push-buttons with adjustment link extension |