In 1986, the TAG Heuer brand was introduced to the world, a merger of aviation company Techniques d’Avant Garde and Swiss watchmaker Heuer.

Having been a sponsor in Formula 1—Ferrari in 1971 and McLaren in 1979—TAG Heuer launched its new brand with the Formula 1 line. It was a dynamic series of funky-colored quartz watches with a 35mm case.

I distinctly remember this watch—even if I lived in a humble neighborhood—because I had a fashionable neighbor at the time. This guy owned Seiko, Swatch, and TAG Heuer timepieces. And I fancied them all. Come to think of it, maybe he was responsible for my obsession with watches.

Both his Swatch and TAG Heuer had snazzy styling. Very appropriate for the youth-oriented trend throughout the ’80s.

To celebrate the return of the watch brand as the official timekeeper of the popular motorsport series beginning this year, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 is back. It now has a bigger 38mm TH-Polylight case with diamond-like carbon (DLC) treatment.

The main selling point here is the Solargraph movement. This is the first appearance of this movement in the Formula 1 line. I once owned an automatic variant, but the series is really known for its battery-powered watches.

TAG Heuer’s Solargraph movement is known for harnessing the sun, an unlimited energy source and offers many guaranteed benefits. With the Solargraph movement, the watch’s battery is recharged by the sun or artificial light. A two-minute exposure to direct sunlight is enough to power the watch for an entire day. Once fully charged, after less than 40 hours in the sun, the watch can run for up to 10 months with no light exposure. If the timepiece stops ticking, it only needs exposure to any light source for 10 seconds to get it started again, thanks to its ultra-efficient recharge time. Its battery boasts an impressive 15-year lifespan, ensuring long-term reliability.

This reissue happily takes me back to when I was bopping to New Wave music and sporting Sebago Docksides. I can’t think of a better way to close this article than with the oft-used maxim: “Time flies.”

Oh yes, it does.