Tag Battery change....

It looks it is time again... my wife first luxury watch, her Tag Heuer is showing EOL (End Of Life)... Time for battery change. 

Tag EOL, the sweep seconds hand move once every 4 seconds...

Normally I would change the battery myself, but with failing sight... Time for the experts to take over. Off to my friendly neighborhood watch guy. Yes, I have a new one, well basically the old shop, but new owners. 

The watch ready for battery change.

With the expert. Removing the case back.

Case back removal. 

Battery and battery spacer removal.

Testing the battery. Just to make sure it is the battery and not the movement. Something I cannot do if I change the battery myself. 

New battery installed.

All done in less then 5 minutes. Gasket lubricated, battery changed, insides cleaned. What more can I ask for.

This time it is the TAG Heuer that needs a battery change. It is from the discontinued 1500 Series and it is a ladies model.

The watch with a dead battery.

The new battery. Would love to use a Swiss made battery but sadly my watch guy, out of stock. :(

Out with the tools, tweezers, both metal and plastic, some Rodico, case back opening tool and strap change tool.

First disconnect the bracelet at the clasp. This makes it easier to change the battery as you will have better access. You don't have to remove the bracelet.

The case back.

The case back removed. I use some Rodico to clean the insides and the sides of the case back.

The movement with the dead battery. The battery is held in place by a 'washer/ spacer' thing. The bent parts rest against the case back and thus preventing the battery from dropping out.

Don't forget to lubricate the gasket. You can see the gasket is pretty dry.

After a short spa treatment. All lubricated.

The washer/ spacer thing. Don't lose this.

The old battery. Remember to use the plastic tweezers to remove the battery. You do not want to short out the PCB of the movement.

The movement ready to receive the new battery. Use some Rodico to clean the contacts and surrounding areas. Or you can use a blower.

The new battery.

The battery in the movement.

Don't forget to check and make sure the watch is working before you close the case back. Do a simple flip to check. But be careful to ensure nothing falls out of the movement. This is especially true when you are changing batteries on watches (quartz) with alarm or sound.

Put back the washer/ spacer thing.

The gasket is next. Be careful you do not rub the gasket against the movement and leave a trail of lubricant. If you do, use the Rodico to clean it up.

Close the case back and you are done. Here is a neat trick. You can use the Rodico to 'hold' the case back and align it to the case and screw it back in. You don't have to struggle to hold the case back while trying to screw it back in. This is especially true when working on small watches.

All done.

TAG Heuer One Piece Collaboration

I so want one. TAG Heuer has released two collaboration models with One Piece. What is One Piece? 

From Wiki....

"The One Piece manga and anime series features an extensive cast of characters created by Eiichiro Oda. The series takes place in a fictional universe where vast numbers of pirates, soldiers, revolutionaries, and other adventurers fight each other using various superhuman and supernatural abilities. The series' storyline follows the adventures of a group of pirates as they search for the series eponymous treasure."

The main characters in the series are:

Monkey D. Luffy: Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates

His crew:

Roronoa Zoro: pirate hunter

Nami: master thief and navigator

Usopp: marksman and inventor

Sanji: chef and martial artist

Tony Tony Chopper: doctor and is a reindeer

Nico Robin: archaeologist

Franky: cyborg shipwright

Brook: living skeleton musician

Photograph: TAG Heuer

I like them as I am following their adventures both on manga and anime. :)

The two models in the collaboration are:

Reference: WAN2114.BA0822

Automatic Caliber 5, 41mm

Reference: CAN1012.BA0821

Quartz movement, 43mm

Photographs: TAG Heuer

Both watches were released on 15/9/2012 and retails for about USD 3,200. The watches are based on the popular Aquaracer range. Both are a limited edition run of only 250 pieces. Both watches will carry the skull sign (One Piece Skull) at the 10 o'clock position and on the case back. 

Photograph: TAG Heuer

Why at the 10 o'clock position? Well, I can only assume it is because there are 10 of them in the Straw Hat pirates. But there is only 9? Well, the ship is considered part of the team. I would love to be able to the get the automatic version. 

For more information:

TAG Heuer One Piece Collaboration

Photograph: TAG Heuer

Sponsorship...

I have seen watch companies sponsoring the clocks in airports, airport lounges, hotels and train stations, but I have never seen anyone being a sponsor of an aquarium. That was until we visited the Siam Ocean World in Bangkok. 

One of the main sponsor of the aquarium is TAG Heuer. I think that is just cool. 

I would love to get one of the clocks for my house. 

Best way to show and monitor the time for all the shows in the aquarium. 

Hats off to TAG Heuer. 

Tag Heuer Popular Diving Spot Limited Edition 2011 Watch

Tag Heuer in Japan has released the 2011 Limited Edition watch in their Diving Spot Collection. As usual, there will be a Gent and Ladies model. As with last year, the Aquaracer has been selected for the series. This time, the popular diving spot chosen is the Hayman Island on the Great Barrier Reef.

The Gents model: WAP201Y.BA0830

Basic specifications:

Functions: hours, minutes, seconds and date

Case: stainless steel, 41 mm diameter, 11 mm thick

Movement: Caliber 5 automatic movement

Crystal: sapphire

Water resistant: 30 ATM

Limited Edition: 800 pieces

Price: USD 3,150

The Ladies Model: WAF141Y.BA0823

Basic specifications:

Functions: hours, minutes, seconds and date

Case: stainless steel, 27 mm diameter, 9 mm thick

Movement: quartz movement

Crystal: sapphire

Water resistant: 30 ATM

Limited Edition: 400 pieces

Price: USD 2,500

Both watches will feature a blue dial (with horizontal lines) and graced by a silhouette of heart shape Hayman Island at the 6 o'clock position, the legend ‘Hayman, Great Barrier Reef’ and as with the rest of the collection, the case back will be engraved with a map of the Hayman Island and serialized with the limited edition run.

Photographs: Tag Heuer

Tag Heuer Popular Diving Spot Limited Edition 2010 Watch

Tag Heuer in Japan has released the 2010 Limited Edition watch in this Diving Spot Collection. This is also the 10th Anniversary of the collection. As usual, there will be a Gent and Ladies model. Again the Aquaracer is used for the series. This time, the popular diving island of Maui is celebrated in the series.

The Gents model: WAF2012.BA0818

Basic specifications:

Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, day and date

Case: stainless steel, 41 mm diameter, 11 mm thick

Movement: Caliber 5 automatic movement

Crystal: sapphire

Water resistant: 30 ATM

Limited Edition: 700 pieces

Price: USD 2,900

The Ladies Model: WAF141W.BA0823

Basic specifications:

Functions: hours, minutes, seconds and date

Case: stainless steel, 27 mm diameter, 9 mm thick

Movement: quartz movement

Crystal: sapphire

Water resistant: 30 ATM

Limited Edition: 500 pieces

Price: USD 2,100

Both watches will feature a black Mother of Pearl dial and graced by a silhouette of a whale at the 6 o'clock position and as with the rest of the collection, the case back will be engraved with a map of the island of Maui.

Photographs: Tag Heuer

Perhaps the wife and I might get a pair when we visit Japan later in the year.

Tag Heuer Popular Diving Spot Limited Edition Watches

I just found out about this series from Tag Heuer. It is the Popular Diving Spot series. The watches in this series are from the 2000 series (Exclusive, Classic or Aquaracer). From what I found (and very limited information), the series started in 2001 and it is an annual affair (every summer). Both men and women are available but not for all years.

All the watches are issued with 'Electric Blue' dial (to represent the sea?). For the women model (not all), the dial is made from mother of Pearl. The case back will be engraved with the map of location featured in that year. The location name will be rendered on the dial along with a icon of some sea creature (diver included) that is native to that location. Some models are quartz and some are mechanical (automatic). All watches are fitted with sapphire crystal as standard.

Most models will offer a water resistance rating of 20 ATM. The newer models will offer 30 ATM.

I believe this series is a Japanese market exclusive series, thus the limited information on the watches.

Well on with it. I will provide as much information as I can find.

2001: Blue Holes, Palau.

No information.

2002: Rangiroa, Tahiti. Diver.

Men model: WN111A.BA0332 - 3,000 pieces

Women model: WN131A.BA0333 - 1,500 pieces

Photograph: rakuten.jp

2003: Seychelles. Manta Ray.

Men model: CN111D.BA0337 Chronograph model - 3,000 pieces

Women model: WN131D.BA0333 - 2,000 pieces

Photograph: rakuten.jp

2004: Cayman Islands. Hammer Head Shark.

Men model: WN111M.BA0332 - 2,000 pieces

Women model: WN131M.BA0333 - 1,000 pieces

Photographs: rakuten.jp

2005: Maldives. Shark.

Men model: WAF211M.BA0806 - 1,000 pieces

Photograph: rakuten.jp

2006: The Fiji Islands. Turtle.

Men model: No part number. Aquaracer Automatic - 1,300 pieces.

2007: Bora Bora, Tahiti. Sea horse.

Men model: WAF211N.BA0806 - 900 pieces

Women model: WAF141N.BA0812 - 600 pieces

Photographs: loveshop

Photograph: ishida

2008: The Bahamas.

No information.

2009: Ile des Pins, New Caledonia. Manta Ray.

Men model: WAF211T.BA0806 - 800 pieces (will feature the Tag Heuer Calibre 5)

Women model: WAF141.BA0812 - 600 pieces

For more information:

http://www.tagheuer.co.jp/collection/aquaracer/aquaracer_ile_des_pins_diving_limited_edition_2009/

The men's model.

The women's model.

The case back.

Photographs: Tag Heuer (Japan).