A characteristic of the 80s F1 rubber straps that is absent in the new collection is the V-shaped grooves located at the bottom of the original straps. TAG crafted the 80s rubber straps to have a longer length so that they could comfortably fit over wetsuits, making them perfect for surfers and divers. The V-shaped grooves facilitated easy trimming to the preferred length, which was especially advantageous when the watch was worn on the wrist instead of in water. It is evident that TAG is not inclined to have its new rubber straps modified.

For many years, I have desired a classic original orange TAG F1 and finally succeeded in obtaining one earlier this year, albeit the later WA1213 model. Eddy Burgener, who designed the TAG F1 in the 80s, stated that vibrant, attention-grabbing colors were fundamental to the original collection, and the models were initially envisioned to be linked not with driving but with water sports.

In an interview with watch site Hodinkee last year, Burgener revealed that TAG intended to develop a new watch style for American surfers, divers, and other youthful beachgoers. The objective was to create a watch that was fun, colorful, and youthful, taking inspiration from the vivid surfboards and surfer clothing of the time.

To accomplish the vibrant colors, Burgener highlighted that the case had to be synthetic, which brought about the challenge of fabricating a diver’s watch with synthetic materials—a significant undertaking during that period. In the end, they selected a combination of fiberglass and plastic as the foundational material to enhance hardness and durability.

Present-day TAG solar F1s incorporate a type of bioplastic, an environmentally friendly castor-based polyamide referred to as TH-Polylight, substituting the previous “Arnite” thermoplastic. This material is shaped over a steel inner core, resulting in a sports watch that is more robust than most plastic-cased alternatives.