Generally speaking, the fake watches are in our possession for a few days or, maybe if we’re lucky, almost a month. Sometimes the relationship lasts a little longer than that. So today we’re going to talk about my favorite replica TAG Heuer.
If you know my taste in watches, the fact that I own a TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 01 typically comes as a bit of a surprise, as there’s a perception that I like the simpler, smaller things in watch life. For those who know me and my history in watches a little better, the fact that I’m rocking a big, bold, skeletonised chronograph raises no eyebrows at all.
I first saw the fake Heuer 01 when it was launched, back in 2019. It was a watch that was presented as the face of Jean-Claude Biver’s ‘new’ TAG Heuer. And while my original focus was on the ceramic bezel version with red highlights, the fake watch I ended up strapping onto my wrist was this, the Grey Phantom, which removed any hint of color, used a titanium case and bezel, and came on a titanium H-Link bracelet.

I chose it because I love lightweight titanium on sporty watches, and the monochromatic appearance was amazing, stylistically versatile and subtle.
-To be honest, the weight is a real draw-card for me. I don’t think that I’d give this watch anywhere near as much wrist time if I’d opted for a steel-cased version. In fact, I’ve stripped the weight down even further, wearing it almost exclusively on a three-ring Zulu-style strap, instead of the bracelet.
The grey-on-grey might not be ideal for legibility, but it maximizes the textural quality of the watch, which for me is what it’s all about. I also like the fact that this comparatively neutral palette lets me inject color via the straps.
It Is fair to say that most of us think about best replica watches from a top-down perspective; it’s how we check the time after all, and most watch shots are all about that smiling face. And while the dial side of this Heuer 01 has a lot to offer, it’s that 16 or 17mm of height, combined with the short lugs that really make the watch stand tall on the wrist.
I must admit that if I was picking this watch up today, I’d be attracted by one of the slightly smaller offerings. Of course, I recommend it to a lot of people with smaller wrists, but I’ve got the wrist that can handle a 45mm watch with ease, so I’m pretty happy on that front. It’s a cool, fusion-y look, and genuinely makes for a more convenient winding and setting experience, but I know that someday, far in the future, that rubber is going to degrade and need to be replaced, and that’s not something I’m expecting.
There are plenty of visible scratches on the lugs and the bezel, and while on other fake watches these marks might stress me out, and they just seem to add to the appeal on the tag Heuer 01 Grey Phantom. I still really dig this watch; it’s great fun.