First Look – TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf 2018 Special Edition
Right in the middle of the Geneva car-show, TAG Heuer just announced that a global partnership has been signed with Gulf Oil International, one of the most legendary motorsports’ sponsors. So, what happens when a brand known for its racing-car roots teams up with one of the best-known players in the automotive industry? Well, the result is the immediately recognisable famous blue and orange stripes applied to one of the most iconic motorsports chronographs, the square-shaped Monaco. Please meet the TAG Heuer Monaco Gulf 2018 Special Edition.
When I told a Panerai-loving friend that after years of looking only at the Luminor I was starting to favour the Radiomir, he wasn’t at all surprised. “It’s called maturity,” he said. While that seems unlikely, there is definitely something more refined and self-assured in the smooth, uninterrupted lines of the Radiomir’s cushion case. Something perhaps more versatile and classic in its application, too; a man for, if not all, then more seasons? Whatever the case, the reasons for choosing the Radiomir as your next Panerai extend well beyond its considerable aesthetic charms. The Radiomir — as I discovered in the video that explores the contrasts in Panerai’s two main collections — tells the lion’s share of the brand’s interesting history, despite the younger, more muscled and glamorous younger brother getting the limelight. This review of the PAM 00514 Radiomir 1940 should help acquaint you with more of the details that make the watch special in its own right.
I’m putting myself out there in this video, which aims to establish whether the Panerai Luminor or Radiomir collection is more your jam. I’m pulling zero punches when I admit, in the opening few seconds, that at the time I bought my first ‘real’ watch, a Luminor PAM 177, I didn’t even know the Radiomir collection existed. This video is for people who are still unsure where they would stand if push turned to Panerai purchase, but want to explore. Is the slightly more svelte Radiomir, with its rounded cushion case, right? Or are you more connected to the big old Luminor crown guard? Beyond the looks, what about their histories? The stories that explain why they exist? If you’ve ever considered any of these questions, we hopefully have the answers for you right here. Back to that first luxury watch love of mine, the Luminor. The truth is, it wouldn’t have made much difference at the time if I had been more educated. I’d seen it in a magazine I was editing. It was a profound case of love at first sight. As bizarre as it might seem now, I’d never been much into watches before that moment. Little did I…