In the ’90s, TAG Heuer watches were everywhere. Back when I was a teenager, they were one of the “cool” watches everyone talked about — though I wasn’t into watches yet, and money was tight anyway. Fast forward many years later, and nostalgia led me straight to a TAG I remembered from those days.

About 16 years ago, I came across a TAG Heuer Formula 1 WA1210 with a navy dial and matching navy bezel. I won it at an auction for 5,700 pesos without knowing much about reference numbers or TAG Heuer history. I just wanted something that reminded me of the ’90s era I grew up in — and it became my very first TAG.

I wore that watch almost daily. Eventually, I moved to an Apple Watch, tossed this old TAG aside, and somewhere in between house moves… it disappeared. I searched everywhere and gave up. For years, it was gone.

Then this year, after falling deep into watch collecting, something unexpected happened:
My daughter found it tucked inside her jewelry box. After years of thinking it was lost forever, there it was — my first TAG, back in my hands.

A Bit of History

The Formula 1 line launched in the 1980s and lasted into the late ’90s. These were the first watches released after TAG merged with Heuer. They were sporty, affordable, durable, and designed with racing DNA and quartz reliability in mind.

Prices for these vintage Formula 1 models have been rising in recent years as collectors rediscover them.

Specs of the WA1210

The WA1210 shares its platform with other Formula 1 models from that generation:

• 35mm stainless steel case (around 9mm thick)
• 18mm lug width
• Unidirectional polycarbonate bezel (first part to wear out)
• Mineral crystal
• ETA 955.412 quartz movement
• Date at 3 o’clock
• 200m water resistance
• Signed Heuer-logo crown
• 5-link steel bracelet with signed clasp
• Mercedes-style hour hand
• Screw-down caseback

What Makes the WA1210 Special

The navy-on-navy design is what gives this watch so much charm. It’s simple, sporty, and very ’90s TAG Heuer. The first 15 minutes on the bezel are highlighted in a different color — a classic detail for these models.

Mine has seen a lot of life.

• The bezel no longer clicks.
• The lume has aged and gone dark.
• The bracelet and case show honest wear.

But that’s exactly why I love it. It’s the watch that unknowingly marked a personal milestone in my life — the moment I could finally buy something I once only saw in magazines.

Now that it’s found again, it’s staying in the collection for good.

Wrap-Up

The Tag Heuer Formula 1 WA1210 is more than a vintage piece — it’s part of my story. Losing it, replacing it, then finding it again years later feels like the perfect full circle moment in my collecting journey.