- Posts
- 3,082
- Likes
- 9,920
Anthony.
·I also got my Hawaii unworn with stickers and tags for 25% over Retail about 6 months ago.
Edited:
2024 KITH Heuer Formula 1 re-issue quartz watches
- Posts
- 9,418
- Likes
- 19,283
Mspeedster
·I also got my Hawaii unworn with stickers and tags for 25% over Retail about 6 months ago.
- Posts
- 56
- Likes
- 374
rudiculous
·I bought a Paris Kith it to compare it to the original. As enthusiast and dealer of the OG F1 I felt like I needed some hands-on experience. The watch was barely worn, but a piece of red in the triangle around the lume-pip already fell off. It was fun to have, but that was it for me. Uploaded on Chrono24 and sold within a day, which I did not expect at all!
- Posts
- 10,777
- Likes
- 15,061
Jim Dollares
·a piece of red in the triangle around the lume-pip already fell off
- Posts
- 704
- Likes
- 652
RockBurner
·I bought a Paris Kith it to compare it to the original. As enthusiast and dealer of the OG F1 I felt like I needed some hands-on experience. The watch was barely worn, but a piece of red in the triangle around the lume-pip already fell off. It was fun to have, but that was it for me. Uploaded on Chrono24 and sold within a day, which I did not expect at all!
...but a piece of red in the triangle around the lume-pip already fell off....
So - true to the originals then?
- Posts
- 482
- Likes
- 873
Thehighwayman
·...but a piece of red in the triangle around the lume-pip already fell off....
So - true to the originals then?
Looks like a bit of the 30 has gone awol as well.
I wonder if the bezels fit the original,looks as though they would.
- Posts
- 10,777
- Likes
- 15,061
Jim Dollares
·Looks like a bit of the 30 has gone awol as well
- Posts
- 9,418
- Likes
- 19,283
Mspeedster
·My thought too!
Looks like a bit of the 30 has gone awol as well.
I wonder if the bezels fit the original,looks as though they would.
I also wonder if the red triangle and 30 were like that when new, rather than due to wear and tear. I've worn my KITH a lot as a daily and have had no issues of any kind.
But having owned the KITH since day one of its official release, I have to say I do prefer the original. My recent purchase of my vintage blue 381.513 (with its soft strap) convinced me that an OG in newish condition is every bit as good as a KITH.
The strap makes a big difference in comfort. I've since swapped a well worn but softer strap (far left) to my Ukyo Katayama (center). The Katayama's original uncut strap is in NOS condition, but a little stiff. The softer worn strap is more comfortable and makes the OG much more enjoyable to wear, just like the KITH.
- Posts
- 482
- Likes
- 873
Thehighwayman
·TAG stated all dimensions are supposed to be identical to the OG. So, in theory, the bezel should fit. But in practice, who knows.
I also wonder if the red triangle and 30 were like that when new, rather than due to wear and tear. I've worn my KITH a lot as a daily and have had no issues of any kind.
But having owned the KITH since day one of its official release, I have to say I do prefer the original. My recent purchase of my vintage blue 381.513 (with its soft strap) convinced me that an OG in newish condition is every bit as good as a KITH.
The strap makes a big difference in comfort. I've since swapped a well worn but softer strap (far left) to my Ukyo Katayama (center). The Katayama's original uncut strap is in NOS condition, but a little stiff. The softer worn strap is more comfortable and makes the OG much more enjoyable to wear, just like the KITH.
Didn't they use the original tooling for the case?
Maybe that Kith had been worn under the cuff of something slightly abrasive like a leather jacket.
I'm always careful with the originals not to wear them under a cuff for that reason.
I think the original straps harden with age.Probably depends how they have been stored too.
I wonder if it's worth trying a rubber conditioner on them to soften them up a bit?
- Posts
- 9,418
- Likes
- 19,283
Mspeedster
·It will depend if they changed the click mechanism I expect.Does the bezel action feel and sound the same as the OG?
Didn't they use the original tooling for the case?
Maybe that Kith had been worn under the cuff of something slightly abrasive like a leather jacket.
I'm always careful with the originals not to wear them under a cuff for that reason.
I think the original straps harden with age.Probably depends how they have been stored too.
I wonder if it's worth trying a rubber conditioner on them to soften them up a bit?
And yes, they supposedly used the same molds for the KITH.
- Posts
- 482
- Likes
- 873
Thehighwayman
·The bezels sound and feel similar, but they're not the same. The KITH feels and sounds better to me, it's crisper and yet smoother. Maybe due to the age difference.
And yes, they supposedly used the same molds for the KITH.
I was quite suprised they still had the original tooling. Makes you wonder what else is mothballed!
- Posts
- 24
- Likes
- 21
Salazaar
·Interesting, could just be wear in the plastic click spring on the originals. The top of the plastic teeth lose their sharp edge and the bezel action is a bit softer.
I was quite suprised they still had the original tooling. Makes you wonder what else is mothballed!
No supplier would keep a mold for 40+ years. It was a new tool that was based on the dimensions of the original cases.
- Posts
- 482
- Likes
- 873
- Posts
- 56
- Likes
- 374
rudiculous
·So - true to the originals then?
TAG stated all dimensions are supposed to be identical to the OG. So, in theory, the bezel should fit. But in practice, who knows.
Wasn't it that the old F1's used a plastic insert and this might be steel? Also a reason for the sound difference.
I think the original straps harden with age.
- Posts
- 482
- Likes
- 873
Thehighwayman
·Exactly what I thought 😂
I would guess they don't fit as the ring to hold the bezel in place should be different. Therefore the design has probably undergone some slight modifications on the inside.
Wasn't it that the old F1's used a plastic insert and this might be steel? Also a reason for the sound difference.
In my experience the more worn they are the better. The old rubbery version soaks up all the wristjuice and wears great 😳 The newer straps that TAG produced until some years ago are way more plasticy than rubber.
- Posts
- 9,418
- Likes
- 19,283
Mspeedster
·https://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/a60699839/tag-heuer-kith-formula-1/
From the jump, Fieg was adamant that bringing back the 35mm iteration of the watch (it also released in a 28mm diameter in the initial run) was the only way to go. Some folks internally at TAG disagreed, hoping for something a little larger to satisfy modern tastes. But once the team tracked down the original maker of the plastic mold for the first generation of the Formula 1, the question of size was no longer up for debate. They’d keep it true to the OG.
- Posts
- 482
- Likes
- 873
Thehighwayman
·According to some articles, such as this one from Esquire, TAG Heuer was able to track down the original mold.
https://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/a60699839/tag-heuer-kith-formula-1/
Steel core was made by MRP SA I think.
It's not impossible I guess.
You sometimes see that with injection moulded plastic model kits. There are kits from the 60's or 70's where the tooling was kept and passed through various hands and then gets cleaned up and re used for reissues.
- Posts
- 9,418
- Likes
- 19,283
Mspeedster
·In my experience the more worn they are the better. The old rubbery version soaks up all the wristjuice and wears great 😳 The newer straps that TAG produced until some years ago are way more plasticy than rubber.
The only strap I know for a fact is absolutely original was on my first OG, bought in '87. It's the thick type and has hardened with age, environment or perhaps from not being worn. OTOH, my latest purchase of a mint condition OG with a thick black strap is surprisingly soft and rubbery. I assume the strap is original to the watch, but don't know for sure.
With the thin type strap, the well worn one that came on my OG McLaren "Shell" is also soft. The NOS condition one that came on my Katayama is stiffer and more plasticky.
Then I have two newer replacement straps bought directly from TAG Heuer. One is more plasticky, similar to my Katayama's strap. The other new one is slightly softer, but not as soft as the well worn thin one.
EDIT: In thinking about it more, I tend to agree with you. My original one from '87 might have hardened from non-use over the last 20 years or so. Also, I don't think my Ukyo Katayama was worn much, if at all, as it was practically NOS condition when I bought it years ago.
Edited:
- Posts
- 24
- Likes
- 21
Salazaar
·According to some articles, such as this one from Esquire, TAG Heuer was able to track down the original mold.
https://www.esquire.com/style/mens-accessories/a60699839/tag-heuer-kith-formula-1/
My sources ? I worked at TAG Heuer (at La Chaux-de-Fonds) during the development of these watches.
It's easy to write a nice marketing story but the development reality is nearly always something different from the story that is told.
- Posts
- 23,583
- Likes
- 34,113
Aquagraph
·Yeah, they tracked down the supplier, not the molds. I guarantee you that new molds have been made.
My sources ? I worked at TAG Heuer (at La Chaux-de-Fonds) during the development of these watches.
It's easy to write a nice marketing story but the development reality is nearly always something different from the story that is told.