TAG Heuer Clocks
The esteemed brand TAG Heuer embodies the rich and innovative spirit of Swiss watchmaking and has played a prominent role in the long history between motorsports and luxury watches.
TAG Heuer’s beginnings were humble. The company originated in the small town of St-Imier in Switzerland, where Edouard Heuer began making silver pocket watches on his family farm in 1860. Heuer registered his first patent as Edouard Heuer & Compagnie in 1869 for the oscillating pinion, a keyless winding mechanism that revolutionized the chronograph and became the standard for all modern watches.
Heuer’s interest in sports led to further innovations in watchmaking, as the company produced pocket chronographs for the crowds that gathered at horse races and greyhound races during the 1880s. The watchmaker made timepieces for the medical profession and precision chronographs for the dashboards of airplanes and motor vehicles in the years that followed. It supplied stopwatches to the Olympics during the early 20th century, not long after Edouard’s son, Charles-Auguste Heuer was installed as head of the company. Its chronograph technology eventually migrated to wrists.
Motor racing and luxury watches have long been intertwined — Rolex, for example, was named the official timekeeper of the Daytona International Speedway in 1962, and its Daytona would appear soon afterward. Heuer’s lofty position in the sport was cemented by then — racers widely preferred Heuer chronographs, and the first iteration of the popular Heuer Autavia was a dashboard timer. The brand’s recognition continued to grow in the 1960s — the first Swiss timepiece to travel into space was the Heuer strapped to astronaut John Glenn during his historic 1962 orbit around the Earth, and the company’s association with Formula 1 also took shape during the decade.
In 1969 — the year that Heuer, Breitling and Hamilton collectively debuted their revolutionary automatic chronographs at Basel Watch Fair — Porsche driver Jo Siffert became Heuer’s official brand ambassador — the first personal sponsorship in F1 history that was non-automotive.
The Heuer Autavia chronograph reference 1163T, also known as the “Siffert” in Formula 1 circles, reached legendary status among racing fans, along with the Monaco and Heuer Carrera chronographs. The latter was designed by Edouard’s great-grandson Jack Heuer, while the now-internationally renowned square-shaped Monaco earned the spotlight when Steve McQueen wore one in the 1970s movie Le Mans. The model was later lovingly dubbed the “McQueen Monaco.”
TAG is an acronym for "Techniques d'Avant Garde" — it comes from the name of the TAG Group, a private holding company based in Luxembourg that acquired the watchmaker in 1985. TAG Heuer continues to produce high-quality luxury watches that use innovative materials, such as titanium, carbon fiber and lab-grown diamonds, underlining the brand’s commitment to sustainability. After four generations of Heuer family leadership, the company now operates under LVMH.
TAG Heuer continues to embrace the new, offering a range of smartwatches, such as its Connected model, that merge traditional craftsmanship with modern features like fitness tracking and smartphone notifications. In 2023, the TAG Heuer Carrera was named the “hottest watch” of the year by GQ magazine.
Find TAG Heuer wristwatches on 1stDibs.
1960s Swiss Modern Vintage TAG Heuer Clocks
Chrome
Late 20th Century Modern TAG Heuer Clocks
Stainless Steel
Late 20th Century Japanese Industrial TAG Heuer Clocks
Metal
1970s Japanese Industrial Vintage TAG Heuer Clocks
Cut Steel, Steel
1970s English Industrial Vintage TAG Heuer Clocks
Chrome, Steel
1980s Japanese Industrial Vintage TAG Heuer Clocks
Chrome, Cut Steel, Steel
1970s Japanese Industrial Vintage TAG Heuer Clocks
Cut Steel, Steel
1970s Japanese Industrial Vintage TAG Heuer Clocks
Cut Steel, Steel
1970s English Industrial Vintage TAG Heuer Clocks
Steel, Chrome
1960s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage TAG Heuer Clocks
Steel
Early 20th Century American Art Deco TAG Heuer Clocks
Brass
1980s Industrial Vintage TAG Heuer Clocks
Steel
20th Century French TAG Heuer Clocks
Stainless Steel
19th Century Antique TAG Heuer Clocks
Brass
Late 20th Century Modern TAG Heuer Clocks
Stainless Steel
Tag Heuer clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024The meaning of the term TAG Heuer is a luxury watchmaker based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. TAG stands for Techniques d'Avant Garde. Heuer and the brand name refers to Edouard Heuer, who founded the company in 1860. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of TAG Heuer watches from some of the world's top sellers.
- What is TAG Heuer Autavia?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022The TAG Heuer Autavia is a watch line that was inspired and adapted from dashboard timers crafted for aviation purposes. It was released as a chronograph, and later as a three-hand watch. Browse a collection of TAG Heuer Autavia watches from top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Are Tag Heuer good watches?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Tag Heuer makes good watches for those who want to sport a luxury watch without spending as much as they would on a Rolex or Patek Philippe. Tag Heuer watches are designed with high quality materials and last for years. Celebrities, including actors and professional athletes, have endorsed Tag Heuer.
- Is TAG Heuer a German brand?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022No, TAG Heuer is not a German brand. TAG Heuer is a Swiss brand established in 1860 by Edouard Heuer. TAG Heuer is a luxury brand known for its watch making, however, they also produce fashion accessories as well as eyewear. Shop a selection of TAG Heuer goods on 1stDibs.