Watch Paparazzi

Cricketer Shreyas Iyer spotted wearing Tag Heuer

Shreyas Iyer, one of Indian cricket's most technically accomplished middle-order batsmen, was recently photographed wearing the Tag Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph in reference CAU2010 — a model that quietly sits at one of the more interesting crossroads in the Swiss brand's catalogue.

The CAU2010 is built around a 44mm stainless steel case and pairs it with a black ceramic bezel — a detail that separates it from the bulk of the Formula 1 range, which typically relies on aluminium or polished steel inserts. The dial is black with applied indices, red chronograph seconds hand, and a tachymeter scale on the bezel, referencing the line's motorsport DNA directly. Water resistance is rated to 200 metres, making it a legitimate tool watch rather than a purely aesthetic proposition.

Under the caseback sits the Calibre 16, a modified ETA Valjoux 7750-based automatic chronograph movement running at 28,800 vph with approximately 42 hours of power reserve. Tag Heuer has long relied on this architecture across its sports chronograph range, and while it lacks the prestige of an in-house calibre, the Valjoux platform's reliability and serviceability are well established across decades of production. The column-wheel and vertical clutch architecture deliver smooth, precise chronograph engagement.

Collector opinion on the Formula 1 line has historically been divided — purists often favour the brand's Carrera or Monaco references — but the CAU2010's ceramic bezel specification gives it genuine material credibility at its price point. Among younger collectors and sports professionals in South Asia, the Formula 1 Chronograph has built a loyal following precisely because it delivers Swiss automatic chronograph mechanics without crossing into flagship territory.

Iyer's affinity for the CAU2010 is consistent with the profile of the watch: performance-oriented, polished enough for formal occasions, and worn without the self-consciousness of a more ostentatious choice. At a retail price of approximately $3,700, the Tag Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph CAU2010 represents accessible Swiss horology executed with more substance than its positioning suggests.