Some brands have enough novelties that selecting a few (or just the one) for periodicals like this becomes its own challenge. The editor told me he decided on the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Automatic Chronograph x Gulf purely on the merits of the bracelet, even though he has not yet seen it in the metal. To be sure, the bracelet sets the watch apart from anything else in the Formula 1 collection, and such things should be marked by collectors. Especially in the Gulf collabs like this one (which happens to be limited to 1,000 numbered pieces), which is the fourth such expression in contemporary times.

Few colour combinations command instant recognition across motorsport history quite like the distinctive powder blue and marigold orange of Gulf Oil. First immortalised on John Wyer’s dominant Ford GT40s and Porsche 917Ks (and sealed into horological folklore by Steve McQueen in the 1971 film Le Mans, in a different Heuer chapter), the livery has long transcended existence itself to become aesthetic shorthand for endurance racing. (Gulf Oil itself is part of Chevron today.)

Marking the fourth iteration within the Formula 1 collection to wear Gulf’s colours, this limited edition departs from traditional steel to embrace lightweight track-focused materials. Housed in a sandblasted Grade 2 titanium case, the watch features an angular F1 chassis aesthetic complemented by rectangular black DLC-coated titanium pushers and an orange-lacquered crown. Framing the dial is a fixed tachymeter bezel fitted with a forged carbon insert – its marbled texture ensuring no two examples are identical – separated from the case proper by an exposed orange gasket ring.

The dial layout prioritises high-contrast instrument legibility, as one might expect. Across a matte black opalin surface, twin vertical stripes in Gulf blue and orange run down the right flank, seamlessly framing the 3 o’clock date aperture. A vibrant blue running chapter ring encircles the perimeter, coordinating with the 9 o’clock running seconds subdial. In contrast, the chronograph totalisers (30-minute counter at 12 o’clock and a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock) feature vivid orange hands matched to the central chronograph seconds hand. Skeletonised hour and minute hands and rhodiumplated applied indices treated with Super luminova maintain low-light readability.

Inside beats the automatic Calibre 16, which is no stranger to the TAG Heuer catalogue; it is Sellita SW500–derived and thus incredibly resilient. Fitted with an integrated sandblasted Grade 2 titanium three-row bracelet (unique in the entire range as far
s we know) and offering more-than-you-need water resistance, the timepiece delivers full sports utility.

Limited to 1,000 individually numbered pieces with an engraved Gulf caseback medallion, the release merges vintage paddock romance with modern racing mechanics.

This story was first seen as part of the WOW #86 Autumn 2026 issue.

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