oliver ford Posts: pilot specialist [9/19/04 20:25 GMT]:

chuck, you apear to be "the daddy" (as we say in the uk) when it comes to anything tag heuer related.

Oh, not really... There are any one of a number of fellows here who are virile when it comes to TAG-Heuer information...

i want to purchase a pilot specialist chrono either a heuer auto or a more recent tag heuer quatz with a black dial but dont know much about availability (are the quatz ones current in some contries?

However the Pilot's models are something of a favorite for me!

The Pilot's are difficult to find in automatic trim. They were made in both Heuer and TAG-Heuer nomenclature, in both Silver and Black dial, but any auto is a difficult target. One in good condition and well maintained can expect the same type of accuracy as one would expect with automatic movements (like ETA/DD's, Valjoux 7750 or Lemania 5100's): nearly certainly within +/-15 probably better than +/- 10 and perhaps within COSC specs.

The Quartz models, (especially the TAG-Heuer examples, are more plentiful than the Automatics. Now of course there were two different movements used in these Pilot's. The early models were a ¹/₂ second model with the subdials orientated at 12, 6 and 9 on the dial, while the more current models featured a ¹/₁₀th second readout movement with subdials at 2, 6 and 10... The later versions (both White dial with Blue subs, and Black dial with Silver subs), both TAG-Heuer incidentally, are easier to find, but I prefer the older versions myself which are all more readily available than the automatic models of any dial or nomenclature.

from what i can gather prodution ceased in 1997).

Oliver, you didn't specify which particular model on this point. I know that I priced a Black Dial TAG-Heuer of the early pattern (I can't remember for the life of me if it was quartz or automatic now) in the spring of 1995, so I know that the early examples were still in the product line as of 1995, at some point TAG-Heuer discontinued the early pattern Automatic and replaced the early pattern Quartz. By winter 1998-1999 when I next looked at the TAG-Heuer line the new pattern models were all that was listed. So if you say 1997, it sounds consistant with my experience.

what sort of acuracy can be expected from each type of movement ?

Stated above (got a little ahead of myself there).

and what sort of price has to be paid for a good condition one?

Nearly any model of quartz, when one can be found, can be had south of $700 or so. Expect to pay $700 or more for any Automatic model. And those are just general guidelines, antsy buyers/sellers, books/boxes/papers might shift that.

one on ebay today didnt sell with a start price of £499 seemed to high to me coupled with the seller uping the start price during the week???

£499 seems high to me for anything other than an automatic model, if it was a quartz then the seller set the bar too high to generate any bidding interest. He should relist the watch with a low start and a reasonable reserve if he's serious about selling, which he may not be.

any input from any one else welcome regards Ollie

Hope this was helpful.

-- Chuck