WATCHES: MY TAG HEUER SERIES 4000 AUTOMATIC

 I've always been attracted to watches that look out of the ordinary. While my appetite for exotic looks and features could be met through the purchase of watches with extensive complications, alas my funding for my interest is limited and would have to be managed prudently. Still, there are a lot of not too expensive watches out there that fit the bill. Take this particular watch for instance.

I joined the banking industry in 1993 and I celebrated getting my first paycheck by buying this watch. This is a mid-size Tag Heuer series 4000 date automatic. It has a silver colored dial with luminous baton style hour markers and date aperture at 3 o'clock. Logo embosed on dial is in gold. All three hands are in gold and both hour and minute hands are luminous.



As this is a diver's watch it is rated up to a depth of 200 meters and features a rotatable unidirectional bi-colored bezel and a gold plated screw winding crown. The stainless steel bracelet has a locking clasp and has an extension clasp to allow wearing of the watch with a wet suit.

What makes this watch different is how the metal red colored Heuer logo in the bezel matches up and completes the logo design when it is aligned with the green colored Tag metal logo on the case. Most watches would be signed 5x. For this watch with the dial, bezel/case, caseback, crown, bracelet and movement all signed, that would make the watch sextuple (o.t. don't you just love saying that word) signed.

What I don't like about this watch is the green and red enamel paint on the bezel/case is easily chipped and the color fades off especially if you immerse this often in seawater. The bezel also is a weak spot; mine is no longer unidirectional and can only turn one way. My bezel also no longer has that level of resistance it had when it was new. It's starting to get lose and turns easily when the bezel rubs firmly against something. The luminous properties of the dial have also started to dim over time which is characteristic of tritium.

Another weak spot is the bracelet - one of my links broke lose and the watch almost fell. Luckily, I was wearing long sleeves which covered the watch at that time and prevented it from falling off my wrist. Getting a replacement link is next to impossible. The authorized Tag Heuer service center is Watchworks located at Ali Mall. While I enjoy going over there to flirt with the pretty receptionists at the counter, the procedure to get a replacement link requires you to leave your name and contact number. They will then order the part for you and give you a call when they get it. You can then bring the watch over and they will install it for you. However this watch is no longer manufactured and to date, Watchworks has not been able to secure the part. Fortunately there is the internet and a search led me to this guy who had a few links available for sale. I brought these over together with the watch and Watchworks installed it in a few minutes.

I use this as my beater watch. Aside from the weak spots I cited, I haven't had any trouble with it. It starts to tick after a few shakes and flicks on the wrist during those times when I don't use the watch for a long period. Keeps accurate time plus has that sentimental value of symbolizing the fruits of my labor.