Sort of long story but back in about 1989 my brother was 20 and bought his first TAG Heuer watch, an F1 chronograph, specifically this one on the left, which he wore for about 8 years. It then sat in a drawer for a while until he gave it to me, and then I wore it for 8 years until buying the Omega on the right.



Then about a year ago I gave it back to my brother to be serviced and given to my eldest nephew, who is 8. Now this isn't a cheap rubbish watch, there is an identical one listed on eBay right now for $799, so he was told that it never comes off no matter what, and he has stuck to that, he wears it truly everywhere.

Now for her birthday a few weeks ago, my 10 year old niece got a fashion watch from her parents, about $280 worth but very nice for a girl her age. She had to take it off to go swimming at school and sadly it was stolen from the change rooms by the time she got back. She's a very responsible young girl and only took it off because as a fashion watch it had no real water resistance and she had wanted to protect it. Suffice to say the poor girl hasn't been able to sleep, and is really sad that she lost something her parents gave her as a gift.

So... my brother asked me to find her someone else, a TAG, waterproof for swimming purposes, to match her younger brother's F1, and here's what I went for:

 

Oh I know, my brother is paying for this one... I /AM/ however considering buying another TAG for the 6 year old boy (my godson) something along the lines of this since he absolutely loves green, its his favorite colour, and I can get one well under $200, his 7th birthday is in April so it would fit nicely, then all 3 kids would have TAGs, the Aquaracer for the girl and F1s for the two boys

 

Really that's part of it, the kids are going to be getting a higher end Rolex each when they're older (much older) so they need to get used to something cheaper, learn to not lose it and learn to take care of it, so it'll be quartz for now, a cheap automatic, maybe an old Seamaster or Speedmaster reduced when they're older, and finally, once they're starting their careers they get the Rolex like mum and dad.

 

Just bought my other nephew Zac his first TAG, should be on its way from Japan shortly. Little guy is turning 7 years old on the 4th of April so its time to get him his first good watch. Now all three will have TAG's at 7, 8, and 10. =)

 

These old F1s are stronger than you would expect, the cases are extremely thin and light, the bezels are made of fibreglass and act like a shock absorber protecting the watch from impacts. That blue TAG F1 chrono in the first pic went sailing with me for 8 years of competition teams racing in Vagabonds and Puffin Pacers, being beaten against steel and aluminium all day, I'd destroyed several Citizen sailing watches prior to using the F1.

 

Ahk, was it a new F1 or an old one? The modern 2000s pieces don't seem anywhere near as strong as the 80s and early 90s ones.

 

Little nephew Zac wearing his green TAG F1:

 

I like green too.