TAG Heuer brings Gulf’s legendary racing colours into the modern Formula 1 Chronograph, creating a bold motorsport-inspired timepiece with real trackside attitude.
TAG Heuer and motorsport go hand in hand, with the Swiss watchmaker building a significant part of its identity around the speed, precision and adrenaline of racing. There are, however, few colourways in the brand’s racing history that stand out or are as instantly recognisable as GULF’s blue and orange livery. This colour combination carries with it real history, one that stretches back through endurance racing, Le Mans, Steve McQueen and, let’s not forget, the Heuer Monaco, one of the most famous TAG Heuer watches ever made.
Now, TAG Heuer is bringing the story of GULF Oil Racing into one of the more modern and aggressive timepieces within the brand’s Formula 1 range: the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph x GULF. Limited to just 1,000 pieces worldwide, this latest release takes the signature GULF racing colours and integrates them into the Formula 1 collection, a fitting match as both identities are firmly rooted in the world of motorsport.
Racing DNA On Display
TAG Heuer presents the Formula 1 Chronograph x GULF in a 44mm Grade 2 titanium case with a sandblasted finish, emphasising the sporty aesthetic of the timepiece. While the case is large, the use of titanium should help keep it lightweight on the wrist, aiding daily wearability. With a thickness of 14.5mm, it certainly has presence, making it a proper motorsport watch that feels bold, technical and purpose-built.
Surrounding the dial is a fixed forged carbon tachymeter bezel, which adds another motorsport-inspired element to the watch’s design. The combination of a black DLC-coated titanium case, finished with fine-brushed and sandblasted surfaces, alongside the forged carbon bezel gives this Formula 1 Chronograph real racing pedigree. It also gives the watch a very different personality from the more vintage-inspired Monaco GULF editions we have seen from TAG Heuer in the past.
However, even with all these racing-inspired details on the case, it is the dial that really drives home the aesthetic and brings the connection to GULF Racing to life. TAG Heuer has given the watch a black opalin dial, with GULF’s signature blue and orange racing stripes running vertically across the right side. It is a bold detail and one that will be instantly recognisable, which is exactly what a GULF-inspired watch should be. I personally love this design, as it works beautifully against the sandblasted surfaces of the case, almost as if the watch has come directly from the track itself.
The watch is not all about aesthetics either. The chronograph layout keeps things functional, with a 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock, a constant seconds counter at 9 o’clock, and a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock. Alongside this is a date window at 3 o’clock, helping to balance the dial layout nicely with a practical element in each quadrant.
I also love how well the date window has been integrated into the GULF Racing design. With the white date wheel and black border, it sits neatly within the orange stripe and surrounding black accents. While the date window itself is an existing detail, I have to say this is one of the best date window executions I have seen in a long time.
Powered By Calibre 16
The engine sitting inside the Formula 1 Chronograph x GULF is TAG Heuer’s automatic Calibre 16 chronograph movement. It beats at 4Hz, or 28,800VpH, while delivering a 48-hour power reserve, making this a practical timepiece suited for everyday wear as well as a great motorsport-inspired collector’s piece.
It is a proven, reliable chronograph movement and one that fits the Formula 1 collection’s purpose as a robust, everyday sports chronograph.
Initial Thoughts
This is not the first time TAG Heuer has created a Formula 1 Chronograph x GULF timepiece. In fact, one of the more recent editions was the quartz model, which featured a blue dial and blue bezel. While that model had its own appeal, for me, this latest edition feels miles apart. It seems like TAG Heuer has nailed the execution here. Even though the watch appears busier, the design is still visually appealing, and a lot of that comes down to the black opaline dial contrasting beautifully against the Gulf racing colours.
And the GULF colours work because they are not just decorative. They carry decades of motorsport history, from Le Mans to Steve McQueen and the Heuer Monaco, so seeing them on a TAG Heuer chronograph just feels natural. On this Formula 1 chronograph, however, they take on a different character, moving away from vintage film-star cool and into something much more contemporary.
At 44mm case size, this may appear large on paper, but I can’t stress this enough, it’s one you must try on in person. The reason for my saying this is the lug-to-lug distance. With only a 47.30mm measurement, this means that the watch tapers off quite quickly, so even with a large case diameter, you will find that the watch sits on the wrist quite well, even for this with smaller wrists sizes (i.e myself!).
As a limited-edition racing chronograph, this latest GULF edition makes a strong statement. With its black DLC titanium case, forged carbon bezel and unmistakable Gulf livery, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph x Gulf feels like one of the more fitting modern expressions of the partnership.
TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph X GULF
References & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | CBZ208B.BF0009 |
| Dimensions | 44mm x 14.5mm thick, Lug-to-lug: 47.30mm |
| Case | Titanium coated with black DLC fine-brushed/sand-blasted finish |
| Dial | Opalin & Lacquered black dial with GULF Racing blue and orange stripes. 3-6-9 chronograph counter layout. Date window at 3 o’clock. |
| Crystal | Sapphire with anti-reflective coating |
| Caseback | Open, sapphire |
| Movement | Automatic Calibre 16 |
| Power Reserve | 48h |
| Beat Rate | 4Hz / 28,800VpH |
| Water Resistance | 200m / 20bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Three-link titanium bracelet with fine-brushed/sand-blasted finish |