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Please follow the link below to read my new review of the Tag Heuer 1887.

Find out why this is such an important model for Tag Heuer.

http://www.andrewmichaels.co.uk/blog/ta ... my-review/

As always your comments and suggestions are very welcome.

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Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

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Thanks, Ricardo. I'll have to check into the Grand Carrera w/ RS display.

Nice review as always Ricardo , but I think we'll just have to disagree on whether it's a true in-house movement or not! Nothing wrong with that movement at all, and it certainly looks pretty enough through that DB, but the Seiko design means it's not an in-house in my book. But hey, I'm a movement snob!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Thank you for your kind words about the review.

@ Mr Driver: I agree that it is debatable whether the Calibre 1887 can truly considered an in-house movement. However, a lot of so called 'manufactures' source parts from outside for their in-house movements. I have no issues with the design of an 'in-house' movement being outsourced or produced by someone else. Just about every in-house mechanical movement has a lever escapement and a main spring in a barrel. Most complications use the same fundamental designs. Almost every Tourbillon is the same design as Breguet's.

The Calibre 1887 is an in-house movement, in my opinion. However, I do agree that it should not garner the same respect as the Calibre 01.

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Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****

Yes I agree all discussions of in-house movements end up in grey areas! As we know, very few manufacturers make everything themselves, but I personally consider the actual design to be fundamental to being called an in-house. But anyway, very nice review as always Mr Ricardo.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Ricardo, thank you for the review. I've been interested in this watch since I first found out about it several months ago. I would point out, though, that your statement that "there is no tachymetre on the chapter ring or bezel" isn't completely correct. It appears as though you're reviewing the first production model of the watch, which indeed has no tachymetre, but the story is a little more complicated than that. When the 1887 Chrono first debuted at Basel in 2010, it had a tachymetre on the bezel, similar to other Carrera chronos. TAG received some negative feedback for that, because a lot of vendors felt the new design was not distinguishable enough from other Carrera models. TAG decided move the tachymetre to the rehaut, but it would take time to get that going. To avoid delays bringing the watches to market, the first releases simply had no tachymetre on them. TAG is now introducing the tachymetre rehaut as a "running change" to the model, which actually marks the third incarnation of the design since its debut, although only the second production design. Some of the newer designs have already hit the market. In fact, the fourth, fifth, and twenty-sixth pictures you show appear to be that design. TAG CEO Jean-Christoph Babin discusses the change in an interview with TAG enthusiast website Calibre 11.

Although not mentioned in the interview, close inspection of the different designs also reveals that the latest model includes a recessed small seconds register, a guilloche pattern on the totalizers, and totalizer surrounds that rise above the surface of the dial. In all, it looks like a TAG worthy of some interest. I was particularly interested in Babin's attitude toward COSC certification. He believes they are producing the parts with such strict tolerances that the 1887s will perform within COSC specs, but to help keep costs (and prices) down, the company will not bother to get them certified.

I haven't seen the 1887 in person yet, although I'm very interested in checking it out. My biggest worry is thickness: 16mm is very thick for a 41mm watch, and I worry it will be too chunky and/or won't sit well on my wrist. I'll reserve judgment until I see it. Beyond that, I think it's one of the more interesting releases TAG has put out in quite a while. I'm sure it won't be to everybody's taste, but for once, one of the mainstream TAG releases looks like its own thing, and not a copy of some other company's design.

This picture, from Calibre 11, shows the changes.

Although the newest 1887 design is being implemented as a running change, and isn't considered a new release in its own right, TAG Heuer evidently felt it was still worth showcasing at Basel 2011, as can be seen here.

I've always liked the Carrera, especially the silver dial. Have come close to buying a couple times. I do like this new one, but would prefer shorter lugs and certainly less height to the case.

Thanks for the review and history.

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SHARKMAN