This year will mark the final Formula 1 race at circuit Zandvoort along the North Sea coast in the Netherlands, and in celebration of the track’s unique personality and history, TAG Heuer is releasing a new limited edition Formula 1 Solargraph in orange and grey. This Solargraph is technically being released in two variations, with a strap or a bracelet, though the case, dial, and bezel remain the same. It’s a fitting tribute to a race often marked by the color orange thanks to the Dutch affinity for the color (a symbol of their independence), and in turn a nod to the sport’s most dynamic talent, Max Verstappen, who hails from the country. It also happens to be one of the most compelling Formula 1 watches from TAG Heuer in the current generation.
The Dutch GP has a history that dates back to 1950, and every race has been held at some variation of circuit Zandvoort, which sits along the coast of the North Sea. This year will mark just the sixth race of the modern era at the circuit, as it sat off the calendar from 1986 to 2020. As such, it’s not impossible to envision a future return to the track once again, but for the time being, it will be removed from the calendar after this year’s race, set to take place on August 23rd. Modern winners include Max Verstappen (x3, only Jim Clark, with 4 wins, has more), Oscar Piastri, and Lando Norris.
Known for its steeply banked turns and unpredictable, often windy conditions, Zandvoort held a unique presence in the sport. Knowledge of its history or even the sport of F1 is not a prerequisite to enjoy this watch, however. In fact, the circuit makes no appearance on the watch itself, not even in name, and the only nod to F1 as a sport appears on the caseback. I do think the outline of the track would have been a nice touch on the caseback, and I generally don’t advocate for such things. That said, if you like vibrant orange, you’ll find a lot to love here.
This is built on the now familiar modern Formula 1 Solargraph framework, meaning a satin finished steel case that measures 38mm in diameter with a hooded lug. Inside is TAG Heuer’s Solargraph caliber TH50-00, which runs on any kind of light you can throw at it. At just under 10mm in thickness, it’s a light, easy watch to get along with, though the colorway may not be suitable for daily wear (not that you couldn’t, mind you).
The star of the show here is the dial and bezel, which are rendered in a bright orange and light grey with warm lume accents. The colors work well with this design, which should come as no surprise, and brings out a slightly different personality from the watch than we’ve seen before. That said, this color palette has been used in the collection before, but in its original guise as first released in 1986, a year after the final race at Zandvoort of the previous era (a race won by Niki Lauda in a McLaren MP4/2B powered by the iconic TAG-Porsche engine).
TAG Heuer will produce 1,500 examples of this Formula 1 Solargraph with an orange rubber strap ($2,150), and another 1,000 examples on a steel bracelet ($2,250). The watches will be available exclusively online from August 21st. TAG Heuer
Leave a Reply