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TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronotimer Digital Analog Mvt Instructions + Guarantee Card. Aug 25, 2018 Tag Heuer Kirium Formula 1 Analog/digital Watch Manual & Open Card. About this Tag Heuer F1 Formula 1 Sport Kirium Digital Divers Watch CLA.Tha Mp3 HI there u can find the instruction manual on the tagheuer site. Apr 29, 2012 The Kirium Formula 1 watch was added to the range in 2002/ 3 and features a combination analogue-digital dial. This allowed the watch to look like a normal 3-hand watch when the chronograph was not being used, with the dial lighting up to reveal a series of other functions. TAG Heuer offered the same movement in the 2000 Multigraph. Oct 14, 2004 I want to find out how i synchronise my digital display and the hands on my TAG Kirium F1 watch. They have got out of sync and i know there is a button sequence that will re-sync them.
The TAG Heuer Kirium series was launched in 1997 and marked the end of one era and the birth of another. For more than 15 years TAG Heuer’s designs had been rooted in the “Six Features” look- steel sports watches with a rotating bezel and “Mercedes” hands. But the Kirium was the last new series to use this philosophy, with future TAG Heuer’s being more influenced by the success of the Carrera (relaunched in 1996) and Monaco (1997). Yes, the “Six Features” look continues to evolve with today’s Link and Aquaracer, but those watches trace their lineage back to the 1980s, when they were launched as the S/el and 2000 respectively.
The watch was also the first model released by an independent TAG Heuer, with the company having listed on the Swiss and New York Stock Exchanges in September 1996. Techniques d’Avant Garde (“TAG“) would remain part of TAG Heuer in name only.
So, the Kirium is a bridge in many ways- the “final” evolution of the “Six Features”and for the first time in more than 20 years, a new TAG Heuer series with a name rather than a numeric code or acronym.
Design
Given its importance to the newly independent company, TAG Heuer could not afford to make a mistake with the Kirium, and so appointed renowned designer Jorg Hysek for the new watch. Hysek has designed watches for many brands, including Vacheron Constantin, Breguet, Cartier, Ebel, Boucheron, Seiko, HD3 and his own brand, Hysek.
The Kirium was to replace the TAG Heuer 4000 series, the mid-range watch that had been part of the range since 1990. As you can see below, the Kirium (Left) shares the same basic look as the 4000 (right), but with a more modern twist.
The Kirium has a “Liquid Metal” look, with the case, bracelet and bezel all flowing into a single shape, as if they were carved from the same block of steel. The bracelet was a return to simplicity, with its inter-locking links being far less complicated than the 6000-Series bracelet.
The dial design was very similar to the 4000, with even the “Professional 200m” placement and script looking almost identical. In place of the baton-shaped hour markers of the 4000 were circular lume markers, shaped like drops of liquid metal.
The Kirium was not a large watch, either in diameter or thickness. The largest case was 39mm (Men’s size), with a mid-sized model at 37mm and a Ladies model (28mm). All models came with a newly designed unidirectional bezel and domed Sapphire crystal, which gives the dial a more interesting feel than the flat glass used on other series of the day.
Two finishes were offered on the case and bezel- either brushed or polished steel, with some models using a combination of these finishes, as you can see on the watch below.
While the watch is most commonly seen on its steel bracelet, the watch was also available with a vulcanised rubber strap, or a range of coloured calf-skin straps.
Advertising
Advertising for the Kirium emphasised both the connection to sport and the “liquid metal” design, with the tag line “Shaped by the Spirit of Sport“. To publicise the new range more broadly, there was also a series of fashion shoots by Herb Ritts that featured a range of athletes, including Boris Becker, Marion Jones, Colin Jackson and Marie-Jo Perec.
The Kirium also featured in a series of print ads in TAG Heuer’s “Inner Strength” campaign, again using the likes of Becker.
In the mid- 2000s, TAG Heuer used the tag line “What are you made of?“, with the Kirium being shown with drivers from the McLaren- Mercedes Formula 1 team, such as David Coulthard.
The Kirium Series
While the Kirium range was offered with a variety of movements- mechanical, quartz analogue and quartz digital- the basic Kirium shape never changed throughout its 11-year life.
To keep the look fresh, TAG Heuer made a series of running changes to each Kirium model, which we’ll take you through below.
Kirium Quartz Watch
At the heart of the Kirium range is the 3-hand quartz watch, perhaps the most elegant Kirium thanks to its clear, simple dial and thin case. The first watch models featured the traditional TAG Heuer “Mercedes” hands, and circular hour-markers, except at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock where applied numerals were employed.
The quartz watch is the only Kirium to offer a red and green TAG Heuer logo and so is quickly identifiable- beware, as many fake Kiriums have the coloured logo, even if they are pretending to be a Chronograph.
The design of the hands changed in 2000, with the quartz watch switching to the design used by the quartz Chronograph since launch.
More significant changes appeared in 2001, when the colour logo was dropped in favour of a monochrome look and the dial design was updated. A simpler inner-bezel was added with larger hash-marks to indicate the minutes, while larger applied numerals were added at 12 and 6 o’clock with lume circles at the other hours.
The final design change came in 2003/ 4 when the word “Kirium” appears on the dial, a feature that would continue until the quartz watch was discontinued in 2006.
Kirium Quartz Chronograph
Unlike the 4000 series, the chronograph was available at launch. The quartz chronograph has a bespoke hand design, which would eventually make its way across the entire range.
The 1/ 10th second chronograph has a 3-6-9 o’clock dial layout and offers a clean look- there is no outer-circle to mark out the sub-dials.
The design of the quartz chronograph changed little over its life, although in 2003, the word “Professional” on the dial was replaced with “Kirium”. The quartz chronograph was discontinued in 2005.
Kirium Automatic Chronograph
The automatic Kirium chronograph was launched in 1999, two years after the first Kirium models appeared. TAG Heuer had begun to show at least some interest in mechanical movements by this time, in no small part due to the success of the Monaco and Carrera re-editions.
The mechanical chronograph is easily distinguished from the quartz model with its different dial layout (3-6-9 o’clock layout; date at 6 o’clock) and the tell-tale “Automatic” script above the TAG Heuer logo .
In 2002-3 the word “Automatic” moved to the 6 o’clock position to make room for the addition of “Kirium” to the dial.
The automatic chronograph was discontinued in 2004.
Kirium Automatic Watch
The Kirium Chronometer was part of the launch collection in 1997 and continued through to 2004, when all mechanical Kiriums were discontinued.
The first version of the watch shared a similar design to the quartz watch- circular hour markers with numerals at 12, 6 and 9 o’clock and the then-traditional Mercedes hands. Apart from the obvious “Chronometer” marking on the dial, the mechanical watch also featured an applied monochrome logo rather than the printed colour logo of the quartz watch.
The hands were changed in 2001 when the Chronometer switched to the sword-shaped hands of the Chronograph. A more significant change came in 2002/ 3, with a re-designed dial, as you can see below. The new design uses larger numerals at the 12, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 o’clock positions, as well as adding the “Kirium” name to the dial.
Kirium Formula 1
The Kirium Formula 1 watch was added to the range in 2002/ 3 and features a combination analogue-digital dial. This allowed the watch to look like a normal 3-hand watch when the chronograph was not being used, with the dial lighting up to reveal a series of other functions.
Renault F1 Team
TAG Heuer offered the same movement in the 2000 Multigraph.
The Kirium Formula 1 soldiered on for two years after the other Kirium models had been discontinued, and was part of the TAG Heuer range until 2008.
Kirium Ti5
One of the most interesting Kirium models is the Kirium Ti5, first launched as a watch in 1999 and as a Chronograph in 2001.
The Ti5 name refers to Grade 5 Titanium, which is an alloy of Titanium (90%), aluminium (6%) and vanadium (4%). The case is made from Titanium, as is the deployant clasp on the rubber bracelet.
The Ti5 Kirium was only available with quartz movements, and with either a brushed or polished finish.
Both the watch and chronograph were discontinued in 2005.
Special Editions
As with all TAG Heuers, there were a couple of special editions Kiriums, which ranged from the not-so-good (above, the jewel-encrusted Kirium Formula 1) to the very cool (the McLaren edition of the Ti5 Chronograph).
Movements
As was the case with all TAG Heuers of the 1990s-2000s, movements were supplied by ETA. The movements are as follows:
- Quartz Watch: ETA 955.112
- Quartz Chronograph: ETA 251.262
- Automatic Chronometer: ETA 2892-A2 (Calibre 7)
- Automatic Chronograph: ETA 2894-2 (Calibre 17)
- Formula 1: ETA E20.231 (above)
Looking Back on the Kirium
The Kirium was a significant sales success for TAG Heuer, and in many ways is the quintessential 1990s TAG Heuer, despite only being released in 1997. The design is perhaps the most successful of the 1990s designs, even if the watch does look a little too round by today’s standards. This watch could only be a TAG Heuer.
But, as mentioned in the introduction, it was also the end of an era. The success of the Carrera and Monaco re-editions, combined with the new strategy introduced following the acquisition of TAG Heuer by LVMH in 1999, changed everything. TAG Heuer set about reducing the number of series that it offered and began to focus more on mechanical movements and watches that echoed the heritage of Heuer.
In the end, TAG Heuer chose to continue with only two of the “Six Features” designs- the 2000/ Aquaracer and the Link. There was no room for the Kirium, which all of a sudden did not fit where the TAG Heuer range was headed.
Make no mistake, these are fine watches. The quality of the materials and finishes is several steps above the early 1990s offerings and the Kirium is still a favourite of many collectors, with prices still very reasonable.
When you think about 1990s TAG Heuers that might one day be offered as a re-edition, the Kirium stands out as a watch with that potential. It’s hard to think of a more iconic design from the period and interesting to consider how the Kirium series would have evolved had it not been for the (highly successful) intervention of LVMH.
To see more photos of this well-worn TAG Heuer Kirium quartz watch (still in great condition after 15 years of hard, daily use), click here.
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Photos: Courtesy of TAG Heuer archives
The TAG Heuer Formula 1 has a special place in the brand’s history, being the first watch released following the acquisition of Heuer by Techniques d’Avant Garde (“TAG”) in 1986. While Heuer had spent the late 1970s and early 1980s desperately trying to make money from mechanical watches that were designed for a very different competitive environment, the Formula 1 was a watch of its time. It was the first analogue Heuer/ TAG Heuer series to be quartz-only and to this day there has never been an automatic model.
The inspiration for the Formula 1 was the success of the Swatch watch, which had been launched at Basel in 1983. The quartz crisis of the 1970s had forced the Swiss to re-think how to engineer a watch to make money at a much lower selling price- the F1 was priced around 30-50% of the price of an Autavia.
While the F1 was not as cheap as the Swatch, it used the same ideological template: a synthetic case, bright colours, low-cost movements and simple sales packaging to try to tempt buyers back to Swiss watches. And like the Swatch, it was a huge sales success.
The choice of name was also symbolic of the new TAG Heuer, as perhaps the only thing that TAG and Heuer had it common was their link to Formula 1 racing. Heuer had of course been a sponsor of Ferrari during the 1970s, while TAG was the principal sponsor of the Williams team from 1979-1981, before buying 50% of McLaren International at the end of the 1981 season. TAG then funded the development of the Porsche 1.5 litre turbo engine that would power the McLaren- TAG cars to consecutive World Championships in 1984 and 1985.
Tag Heuer Formula 1 Watch
Despite the immense success of the Formula 1 series, the watch was discontinued in 2000, having sold more than 3 million units. Brought back a few years later, the Formula 1 remains a key part of the TAG Heuer range focused on the value-end of the market.
Series 1: 1986- 1990
The first generation F1 watches (The watch above is Ref. 380.513) were designed by Eddy Burgener and used an innovative case construction- a mixture of a stainless steel inner case coated with Fibreglass.
The first range was limited to two sizes (28mm and 34mm) of brightly coloured cases matched to plastic straps that you could cut to size.
The design was unlike any other contemporary Heuer or TAG Heuer watch, with the only familiar design traits being the Mercedes-style hands already used on the Diver series.
In 1987 the range expanded to include a stainless steel case and bracelet as well as a range of new colours. The Fibreglass models continued to be sold until 1993/4 and stand out today as the real signature watch of the Formula 1 series.
The first series F1 use a variety of quartz movements. Early watches use either a Harley Ronda SA 705 movement or an ESA 965.312 module, while the majority of the later watches use the ETA 955.412/ 955.414 movement.
First Generation Chronograph
In keeping with the sporting theme of the watch, TAG Heuer added a Chronograph version to the Formula 1 range in 1989 (The blue watch above being Ref. 470.513).
The Chronograph was powered by a complex mechanical-quartz movement, which appears to be made by Ronda. The module had an unusual date function on the 6 o’clock register, elapsed minutes at 3 o’clock and Chrono. seconds at 9 o’clock.
These movements were quite fragile and are very difficult/ impossible to service today, which probably explains why they were on sale for less than two years before a second generation Chronograph was launched.
Second Generation Chronograph
The 1991 Formula 1 Chronograph is my favourite model in the F1 range, with an attractive, more classical dial than the First Generation Chronograph and a much-improved ETA 251.262 1/10th Chronograph movement.
From 1991-1995 the dial on this model had “1/10th” under the TAG Heuer logo and “Chronograph” at 9 o’clock. From 1996-98, the dial changed to the layout photo that you see on this watch.
Series 2: 1997-2000
Having gone more than twelve years unchanged, TAG Heuer launched a new Formula 1 series in 1998, dropping the basic watch and upgrading the Chronograph model. The Series 2 Chronograph uses the same case design as the original, but with a distinctly different dial.
The dial has a minute scale on its outer-edge, numeral hour-markets and then a patterned inner circle. It certainly looks more modern than the original model, but seems needlessly complicated. Another change-for-the-sake-of-change was the switch to triangular hands for both the time and Chronograph hands.
The Series 2 Formula 1 continued using the ETA 251.262 movement, and introduced a Rubber-strap option.
Discontinuing the Formula 1
Despite the success of the Formula 1 series, one of the first decisions taken by the new LVMH management team in 2000 was to drop the series. The issue was not a lack of sales, but more that the low-cost F1 didn’t fit with the plans of LVMH to take the brand up-market.
The problem was that while the low-cost ethos of the Formula 1 made sense in 1985, the market had changed to the extent that a watch using mineral glass and a plastic bezel was simply seen as cheap in 2000. Just as the Heuer watches of the 1970s made no sense in the market of the 1980s, the Formula 1 seemed to no longer be relevant at the turn of the century.
The Formula 1 was not the only TAG Heuer series impacted by the desire of LVMH to focus on mechanical movements and push the brand up-market- regular readers will recall that this is the same reason that TAG Heuer chose not to release the Edgeseries that was developed in the late 1990s.
Series 3: 2004-2007
After a break of four years, TAG Heuer brought back the Formula 1 series in 2004 with an entirely new design and upgraded materials.
The Series 3 Formula One featured a titanium-carbide coated steel bezel, 316L steel case and a sapphire crystal. The dial introduced a totally new look for the F1 series, with metal-look hour-markers and numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. Also new were the triangular hands.
What did not change was the basic shape of the case and bezel, which both echo the original. The Series 3 Formula 1 has a 40mm case, bringing the watch into line with contemporary tastes- the original 34mm size feeling very small by today’s standards.
One trademarks of this series was the use of Polyurethane “bumpers” on either side of the case, something that was apparently the idea of Kimi Raikkonen, who was the “face” of the new series.
The overall look of the watch was a chunky, trendy design, which fitted with its positioning as the youthful, less formal watch in the TAG Heuer range. Sure, you might wear your Carrera Chronograph to the office, but when it’s time to either pull on the beanie and shred mountains on a Snowboard, or simply chill out- like Kimi- the Formula 1 is the watch to use. As a side-note, this is the only catalogue in Heuer/ TAG Heuer history to feature the phrase “Chill Out“.
Also new for the series were the movements, with the F1 watch using the ETA F06.111, while the Chronograph version below (with the distinctive tri-colour 6 o’clock register) was powered by the ETA G10.711.
Note that all the Formula 1 watches from 2004 to today have the words “TAG Heuer Formula 1” on the dial, rather than just the model name “Formula 1“as on other TAG Heuer watches. This is thanks to Bernie Ecclestone’s obsession with limiting/ protecting/ exploiting the “Formula 1” brand.
Series 4: 2007-2011
The fourth series is very much an evolution of the 2003 re-design. Out go the Polyurethane bumpers, replaced by “TAG Heuer” branding on the side of the case, as you see above.
The new series was 1mm larger (41mm for both the Chronograph and the watch) and once again used improved materials, most notably the finishing on the bezel which now used raised fine-brushed numbers (vs. engraved and painted numbers).
The distinguishing design detail of the new Chronograph was the over-sized 6 o’clock register, framed by a silver ring.
The watch version uses markers for all hours and added 5-minute numerals to the minute scale on the outer-edge of the dial.
Both the Chronograph and the three-hand watch continued with same movements- ETA G10.711 movement and ETA F06.111 respectively.
2008: Series 4 Extensions
Several extensions of the Series 4 model were introduced to keep the Formula 1 current and in fashion- as you’d expect, watches that were purposely trendy have to change more often as tastes evolve.
Grande Date Chronograph- 2008
The Grande Date series (so-called because of the two-digit date window at 12 o’clock) was launched in 2008 with an over-sized 44mm case. While I like the size of these larger watches, the dial design is far too complicated- different sized sub-dials, plenty of colours and patterns and lots of text make it a very busy dial.
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The Grande Date Chronograph uses the Ronda 5040B movement.
Grande Date Watch- 2009
More attractive is the Grande Date watch which was launched the following year using the same 44mm case. This model brings back printed numerals to the dial and for the first time used a register at 6 o’clock to show elapsed seconds.
The Grande Date Formula 1 watch uses a Ronda 6004B Quartz movement.
Revised Watch- 2010
In 2010 TAG Heuer released a second version of the Formula 1 watch, which is my favourite of the current range. To me this model has the same spirit as the original- simple, clear, yet still stylish.
This model comes in Khaki and Orange, meaning that just like the original, there are plenty of colour options.
Series 5: 2012-2015
In 2012 TAG Heuer launched a revamped Formula 1 series- it was time for the Formula 1 to grow up. While the case shape stayed the same, the range settled on a 42mm case for both watch and chronograph models and the more elaborate designs were dropped. In their place were polished edges, improved quality and a “grown-up” feel. No doubt some of the edge of the original F1 was diluted in these changes, but it did ensure that the range was no longer seen as a cheap, entry level watch.
Tag Heuer Kirium Formula 1 Manual
For the first time, the fifth series also introduced a series of automatic movements, using the Calibre 16 movement. While still based in the traditional Formula 1 case, the use of mechanical movements took the Formula 1 series into a different sector of the market.
Series 6: 2015- Present
The 2015 model represents perhaps the most significant change in the model’s almost 30 year history, with the watches abandoning the case design used since 1986. In its place is a case based on the 1970s Heuer Autavia, giving the watch an entirely new look, but still a watch with Formula 1 heritage.
While there remain some quartz models in the range, TAG Heuer expanded the number of mechanical movements to include Calibre 5, 6 and 7 variants.
Looking back on the TAG Heuer Formula 1
The Formula 1 has been able to establish itself as the sporting, unpretentious model in the TAG Heuer range. The watch that it’s OK to buy in bright Orange and the watch that I’d always choose in quartz, even if TAG Heuer did offer a mechanical version. For many people it was more than this: it was their first “proper” watch.
My memory of the watch is seeing the McLaren team wearing the red version as part of their team uniform for the Grand Prix. Combined with the fact that TAG engines were winning races seemingly every weekend, the watch had real credibility as the Formula 1 watch from the minute it was launched.
As with many low-cost, innovative designs, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 has become more expensive and conservative over time. But the spirit of the original is still there in today’s Formula 1 and there is still a place for the watch is today’s TAG Heuer range, even as the focus of the company switches to complex mechanical movements.
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Tag Heuer Instruction Manual
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Photos
– Series 1 Watches: Watchestobuy.com
– Series 1 catalog: Chuck Maddox
– Series 1/ Gen 1 Chrono: MarkTH
– Series 1/ Gen 1 Chrono Red: Tyler Thielmann
– Series 1/ Gen 1 Movement: bmwfreak
– Series 3 Watch: sixtysix
– Series 4 Chronograph: Wisconsin Proud