McLaren TAG Heuer Box Set

Reviews and news of TAG Heuer watches

Posted by: DC | 13 May 2010 | 20 Comments

In January of this year, I posted an article on Calibre 11 about the various McLaren- branded TAG Heuer watches released over the last few years, which you can read here.

1998 was a special year for McLaren, as it produced their first Drivers and Constructors World Championships since Ayrton Senna supported by Gerhard Berger triumphed in 1991.

In fact, despite having the services of four World Champions since 1998- Hakkinen, Hamilton, Raikkonen and Alonso- several years of Adrian Newey-designed cars and the backing of Mercedes-Benz, McLaren has not won the Constructors title since that 1998 victory, let alone the Drivers- Constructors double.

So this makes the 1998 a banner year for McLaren fans and this 1998 box-set of McLaren TAG Heuer’s a rare slice of memorabilia.

There were only 200 of these sets produced, each with three watches:

Mika Hakkinen 6000 Series
David Coulthard S/el Series
West McLaren Mercedes S/el Series

This particular box-set is for sale on Ebay at the moment (Item Number 350344767717) for a fixed price of GBP 5,250. That is a significant price for any Heuer/ TAG Heuer collector, but for the ardent McLaren fans, this is the only one of these sets that I have ever seen on the market. The seller states that all the watches are un-worn and complete with all documentation.

Perhaps the answer is to back Jenson Button to secure the trifecta of pole position, fastest lap and the race victory in this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix. GBP 210 placed at the odds of 25-1 would see you with enough winnings to take home this set without having to worry about the price.

Thanks to Steve Dadson for pointing out this auction and to the seller, Premier Brands Boutique, for allowing Calibre 11 to post the images (for the record, on a no-fee/commission/ anything basis).

Photos

Premier Brands Boutique

20 Comments »

Steve Dadson said:
I’d love to make that bet and it definatly has merrit but I’m not sure my wife will let me bet £210. Great article I shall be keeping this in my favourites box, thanks David.

Steve

# 14 May 2010 at 19:16

Sol Jenson said:
great atricle, we bought one of these box sets from southerby’s auction house around 5 years ago for one of our directors leaving gift and paid a few thousand pounds more then the ebay listed price, great bargain for any collector, very rare box set to find.

# 19 May 2010 at 09:23

DC (author) said:
Steve, just as well you listened to your wife!

Sol, sounds like a high price- assume he was a big McLaren fan.

David

# 22 May 2010 at 22:45

Robert said:
i looked into this particular item on ebay. the listing price at the time was 4,500GBP.

i was surprise to see the seller had numberous auctions for the same item it seemed and thus made me weary of buying. however, a great buy for any Mclaeren/Tag Heuer fan and collector.

# 24 October 2010 at 04:23

DC (author) said:
Yes, I think that its been up on eBay several times now- its a high price that I think he may get, but only froma small sub-0set of TAG Heuer collectors..you need someone who also loves McLaren and see it as more of a McLaren piece of memorabilia rather than as three watches…

dc

# 25 October 2010 at 09:20

Sally said:
Hi guys, stumbled upon this article as I’m researching a Box Set of watches that were among my dad’s possessions when he died back in 2003. Can anyone recommend where to get them valued as my local jewelers did a valuation for Dad’s estate at £600 in 2004!!

# 7 December 2010 at 07:24

DC (author) said:
Hi Sally,

Well, the GBP600 doesn’t sound right- but it looks like no-one is biting at GBP4500-ish either.

A guess- and these don’t come around often enough to offer you accurate guidance based on previous sales- would be that a mint set might sell for GBP2000-2500.

As always with these types of box-sets, you’ll get a higher price from a keen McLaren fan that you will from a keen TAG Heuer fan

Good luck

David

# 7 December 2010 at 17:58

Howard said:
back in the year or so after it was released I saw it in La Jolla (San Diego), California for $10,000…I would have bought it however the box was had a scratch and a chip. I have 2 of the Hakkinen watches (black XXXX/2500, I believe and a white face one, yes authentic XXXX/1000, I also have the McLaren Team watch as I am a Formula One Auto racing fan, all the way back to the days of Bruce McLaren and CanAm cars.

# 21 December 2010 at 13:14

Howard said:
I also saw the Coulthard watch on E-Bay years ago, I would assume it was authentic, afterall, who would want to make the effort to fake a Coulthard watch, unless they were going to use it for a fake in a fake set of the 3 watches. I did not get it because I already had about 6 S/eL’s and I did remember that when I saw the watch it seemed somewhat small. Smaller than my basic non-chronometer S/eL…my first Tag Heuer watch.

# 21 December 2010 at 13:19

DC (author) said:
Thanks for posting Howard. If you have the time, it would be great to get some close-up photos of the Hakkinen watch- lots of McLaren fans here like yourself.

Agree that the Coulthard watch would have been genuine- fakes wouldn’t have been worth the effort

David

# 21 December 2010 at 13:59

Howard said:
To David:

If you were David Coulthard, I sincerely apologize. I have always respected and admired David Coulthard for his talent, spirit, personality, honor, etc. I did not mean in any way to demean the prestige of one of my favorite drivers in Formula One of all time. I have seen the Autavia box set, the one I was looking for when it was new. But it’s a tad pricey for me now. I sold my Mercedes SLR metal band on EBay a while back as I did not desire to wear a leather banded watch, as the next years release came with metal or rubber, however the bands were not interchangeable with my 1st release SLR. I may go back and get one of the 2nd generation ones, and the 2nd band so that I could switch from metal to rubber. Have picked up a Panerai 327 Chrono Daylight Titanium metal band. The titanium on the watch is nowhere near the durability of my Tag Ti5, as it will pick up fine line marks from rubbing it against I don’t know what, maybe jeans that were not washed with enough fabric softener. I wish a rubber band would be an option for this watch, however, my only option is probably the leather band that comes on the same watch, which Panerai calls the 326.

# 23 January 2011 at 18:42

DC (author) said:
Howard, let me put your mind at ease- I share Coulthard’s initials and first name, but that’s the only connection- anyhow, I don’t think your comment was disrespectful in any way.

Personally, I far preferred Hakkinen as a driver, but really like Coulthard’s work as a commentator and am looking forward to him commentating more on BBC this year.

The Ti5 is a cool watch- sounds like you have a nice collection

David

# 23 January 2011 at 18:56

gc said:
Do you think the lower the number on these box sets the more valuable they will be? I have a very low number set and was told that the first few were given to the drivers etc? any truth in that rumor?

# 5 March 2011 at 07:45

DC (author) said:
Not sure gc- If you had a set that was owned by a driver, then yes..but otherwise I’m not sure that it will make much difference.

I haven’t heard that the drivers/ team were given these box sets- but it makes sense that they would have been given the watches.

David

# 7 March 2011 at 09:16

gc said:
Cheers David,ive locked them away as an investment think they were set 4 or 5? gc

# 8 March 2011 at 13:20

DC (author) said:
That is a nice low serial number- worth holding on to, as you say

dc

# 9 March 2011 at 23:32

humanomaly said:
A Coulthard S/eL just transacted on E-Bay, I believe…..I would have scrutinized and considered…it.

DC…I also have the Ti McLaren set with the piece of Titanium and a bearing of some sort…the watch is very similar to the Ti5 but not as nice. I believe there were 1200 sets of these. I have the 4 Link Senna’s, ahhhh……too many to take care of, thinking of thinning out my collection. One watch which I never picked up was a Calibre 36 movement watch….I almost waited for the Monza edition of it, but the dealer told me it wasn’t going to be made. It was. I bought the regular Monza and did not cherish it. I’m sure there are some new Link Calibre 36′s out there still.

# 17 March 2011 at 20:32

DC (author) said:
Sounds like you have a great collection. What makes you say that the McLaren Ti Kirium isn’t as nice as the standard model…is it the same watch with a McLaren logo, or are there other differences?

If you missed out on a Monza Calibre 36 a few years ago, you might be able to buy one again soon..

# 18 March 2011 at 09:58

Howard said:
DC, There are differences, I will get out my photo equipment and show you.
It’s a chronograph, but I recall it only has 2 inner movement display circles, the band is not flat and plain as the Ti5, but it does have some markings on it, which differentiate it. This is just from memory.

# 24 March 2011 at 06:26

David said:
I have a set Trilogy 1998 complete with all paperwork boxes etc, the watches have never been worn and are in mint conditions.

Its no 42 -200.

If anyone would wish to put an offer in of around £6,000

# 27 September 2011 at 02:37