Racing Watch: Is It Dressy Or Sporty?

We’ve covered some distinctly sporty watches previously, like the retro digital sport watch. And today, we’re gonna go back to no man’s land once again, with the racing watch. But what exactly is a “racing” watch, I hear you ask?… Well, it’s a chronograph watch that features a tachymeter. There are other chronograph watches that aren’t racing watches. To qualify as a racing watch you’re gonna need a tachymeter built into the watch, usually on a fixed bezel. And for today’s example, we’re gonna take a look at the Tag Heuer Link Calibre 16.

Close-up of a Tag Heuer Link Calibre 16, a typical racing watch.
Tag Heuer Link Calibre 16, an automatic mechanical chronograph, with a tachymeter printed on the fixed bezel.
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Tag Heuer Link Chronograph, A Typical Racing Watch

Tag Heuer is an established Swiss watch brand with a very long horological history… But no, we’re not dipping our toes into that history today… The Tag Heuer Link is a series of watches, built around a unique bracelet design. And for this episode, we’re specifically looking at the Tag Heuer Link Calibre 16 Chronograph (Ref No. CJF2115). Henceforth, we shall call it the “Link 16”. Anyway, the Link’s unique feature is, well, the links… Specifically, the links of the bracelet. And the Link 16 shares the same unique links too.

Close-up side profile of the Link 16 racing watch, displaying the unique S-link bracelet.
The Link series of watches’ unique bracelet consists of a two-part, S-shaped links. And this Link 16 shares the same design language too.
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Dressing The Racing Watch

The Link 16 is, without a doubt, a sport watch, both design and purpose. Specifically, a racing watch. However, just like the dressy dive watch, the Link 16 is also somewhat dressy looking too. Hence, I expect it to suit up rather well too. So let’s run it through the formality spectrum to see just how well it holds up :-

(1) Business Formal

Solid charcoal grey suit, solid white shirt, solid burgundy tie, and solid white pocket square. Is this a good match for the racing watch?
Two-piece, solid charcoal grey suit, with a solid white shirt, solid burgundy tie, and solid white pocket square.
Image by Author
Close up of a pair of solid black plain toe Oxford dress shoes.
Solid black, plain-toe Oxfords, are as conservative as you can go.
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NO – The Link 16 may look a little dressy for a sport watch, that’s a given. But it’s a sport watch through and through. All the sub-dials and tachymeter on the bezel lend to it being too busy to look dressy. Just stick to classic dress watches whenever you suit up.

(2) Business Semi-Formal

Solid olive green suit, solid blue shirt with white contrasting collar and cuffs. Burgundy tie with small repeating patterns, and pocket square.
Two-piece, solid olive green suit, with sporty, slanted hip pockets, and a ticket pocket above the right hip pocket. A pale blue shirt with contrasting collar and cuffs, small-patterned burgundy tie and coordinating pocket square.
Image by Author
Close up of a pair of whole cut in ox blood, with wingtip patterned brogue. Another type of typical dress shoes.
Whole cut in ox blood, with burnished toes, and wingtip patterned brogue.
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Generally, It’s still a NO – You’re still pretty dressy to pair with any sport watches. But if you dare to bend the rules just a little, you may still get away with the Link 16. Anything less dressy looking than the Link 16, say a stereotypical racing watch, then no. Personally, I’d stay clear, even with this smart looking Link 16.

(3) Business Informal

Solid navy, double breasted blazer, with 6 X 2 gold buttons. Solid blue shirt with navy and yellow regimental striped tie, solid grey trousers, and pocket square.
Double breasted navy blazer with 6 X 2 gold buttons. Solid pale blue shirt with navy and yellow regimental striped tie. Solid medium grey trousers, and a contrasting pocket square.
Image by Author
Close up of a pair of brown double monk-straps. A less dressy dress shoes.
Brown, double monk-straps, to exude a more playful vibe.
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YES – Now I’m starting to get a little more comfortable pairing with a racing watch. After all, the modern blazer descended from sporting apparels. Specifically for above water sporting activities. Hence, sport watches with blazers go hand-in-hand.

(4) Business Casual

Grey sport jacket in mini-Glen check weave, a solid pink OCBD shirt with block stripe knit tie in autumn colours, and a pair of solid burgundy chinos.
Grey sport jacket in mini-Glen check weave. Solid pink OCBD shirt with a knit tie in autumn colours. Solid burgundy chinos, and a contrasting pocket square.
Image by Author
Close up of a pair of brown penny loafers. One of the least dressy dress shoes.
Brown penny loafers, a typical “less dressy” dress shoes.
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A definite YES – This is definitely the sweet spot for the racing watch, even a stereotypical racing watch.

(5) Dressy Casual

Unstructured, charcoal brown flannel sport jacket, denim OCBD shirt, and khaki chinos.
Charcoal brown, unstructured sport jacket with an open collared denim OCBD shirt. Khaki chinos, and a contrasting pocket square.
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Close up of a pair of khaki canvas derbies.
Derby shoes in tan canvas stretch what it means to be “dress” shoes.
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YES – No argument from me. Go ahead and pair this racing watch, any racing watch, with this outfit.

(6) Just Casual

Denim trucker jacket, solid white t-shirt, and solid olive green jeans.
Denim trucker jacket, solid white t-shirt, and olive green jeans.
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Close up of a pair of white trainers.
White trainers, with a thin red and black stripe. A stereotypical pair of casual footwear.
Image by Daniel Storek of Unsplash

MAYBE – Now we’re getting a little too casual for comfort, pairing with a racing watch… Definitely not for the Link 16, but perhaps a more rugged and/or stereotypical looking racing watch?

The Racing Watch’s Natural Habitat

Make no mistake, a racing watch is still very much a sport watch. It’s still very much a form follows function formula. The Link 16 is merely a more polished, dressier version, of the typical racing watch. And for me personally, I’ll wear it with a blazer any day…

Solid navy, double breasted blazer, bold stripe blue/white shirt, patterned blue day cravat, displaying the Tag Heuer Link Calibre 16 as a typical racing watch.
Solid navy blazer, bold stripe blue/white shirt, and a flamboyant day cravat. Dressy enough for sipping martinis by the pool of a members-only country club, but still considered relatively dressed down.
Image by Author
Close-up wrist shot of the Link 16, matched with solid navy blazer and stripe blue/white shirt. Showcasing the busy dial of a typical racing watch.
The Link 16 on the wrist, with a navy blazer and a bold stripe blue/white shirt. Notice how busy the watch gets with all the sub-dials and tachymeter on the bezel?
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Close-up wrist shot of the Link 16 racing watch side profile, matched with solid navy blazer and stripe blue/white shirt. Showcasing the unique S-link bracelet.
The Tag Heuer Link series’ claim to fame, the unique S-link bracelet. It’s hard to describe how it wears without actually seeing it in person.
Image by Author

Disclaimer – This Watch Is A Loaner Unit

This Link 16 belongs to a personal a friend of mine, who graciously requested to remain anonymous. Henceforth, we shall just call him Mr X. Anyway, Mr X is also a fellow horology enthusiast, and owns several other interesting watches too. With luck, he might agree to loan me his other watches to feature in future episodes.

If you like what you read here, you can buy me a coffee, and support me to write future episodes. Can’t deny it, caffeine really drives all the research for every episode we publish. Anyway, leave your comments and questions below. And come back for the next episode. We’ve got a real oxymoron of a watch – the luxury digital watch

Do you own, or are you planning to purchase a racing watch?
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About CHOW Wei Ming

Brand consultant, photographer, creative director, storyteller, and a true believer of the power of visual communications. Outwardly expresses a friendly disposition, but hides a perfectionist nature deep inside him.

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