TAG Heuer SEL West McLaren Limited Edition Chronograph
Ref: CG1117
Specification
Lugs : 19mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : Box & Papers
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold with its original Tag Heuer box (Stickered with a birthday message) and paperwork. The watch comes paired with its original Sports Elegance 19mm polished stainless steel bracelet with its distinctive organic styling and a signed folding clasp with a flip-lock. The watch is from December 1999 and is sold in worn, vintage condition, but overall very fair condition as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months Warranty.
The Watch
Here we have a TAG Heuer SEL West McLaren Limited Edition Chronograph with a 38mm stainless steel case, celebrating the 1998 season for West McLaren Mercedes driven by David Coulthard, and Mika Hakkinen this was their first championship win since 1991 and was their best-ever season since 1989 and limited to 3999 pieces. Its unusual organic flowing lines create a perfect fit on the wrist, a lug-to-lug length of 45.5mm and a case thickness of 11.5mm give the watch an impressive wrist presence. On the right side, we have the chronograph pushers and a signed screw-down crown in the centre protected by crown guards. The unidirectional bezel has deep knurling for extra grip and a 60-minute scale engraved into it. A flat sapphire crystal sits above a striking silver dial with chequered flag detailing, a black outer Tachymeter chapter ring surrounds a minute track with the first 15 seconds highlighted in red and applied rounded baton indexes marking the hours. At 3 o’clock a framed date window, three slightly recessed registers intersecting a central ring recording 1/10th of a second, 12 -hours and continuous 60 seconds and the chronograph shows elapsed and split timings perfect for those race days. Cathedral hands infilled with Tritium complemented by a red chronograph hand and at 12 o’clock we have the Tag Heuer motif across the centre, West McLaren Mercedes 98 completes this celebratory tool watch. On the reverse, a screw-down case back with the signatures of David Coulthard - Ron Dennis - Mika Hakkinen and Limited Edition 1998 etched into it and inside a Quartz ETA 251.262. The watch comes fitted on their Sports Elegance 19mm polished stainless steel bracelet with its distinctive organic styling and a signed folding clasp with a flip-lock and also comes with its Tag Heuer presentation box and paperwork.
Personal Note
A fantastic choice for a fan of Formula One and the McLaren team, a rarely seen reference too even though they made a fair few of them! This era of TAG Heuer is admired by some and considered poorly by others, I believe there's a real charm to the TAGs of this era and they are a lot of fun on the wrist, come and try it on for yourself!
The Brand
Edouard Heuer founded The Heuer Watch Company in 1860 in St. Imier, Switzerland. Chronographs have been the mainstay for Heuer and later TAG Heuer. Featuring many models and configurations, expanding the possibilities to the full. In 1958 Jack Heuer, Edouard’s son, joined the company. In 1962 the first generation of Autavia was launched. Famously worn in the 1970s by Formula One drivers such as Derek Bell, Jacky Ickx, Emerson Fittipaldi, Clay Regazzoni and Mario Andretti, and many more. LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.A. offered a bid in 1999 that was accepted by TAG Heuer.