1980s TAG Heuer 1000 Diver Gold-Plated (Ref. 984.013N) “Wolf of Wall Street”

While it may not be a “$40,000 Gold f**king watch” as it was infamously exclaimed to be on screen, the gold-plated TAG Heuer 1000 Diver ref. 984.013N has earned its own cult status in both horological and pop-culture history. Famously worn by Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street, the watch appears during the film’s most bombastic moments—used as a bold symbol of excess before being theatrically hurled into a room of unsuspecting salesmen. Making for a scene that is unapologetically brash, perfectly period-correct, and utterly unforgettable.

In reality, the watch was almost certainly chosen for its visual resemblance to a solid-gold Rolex Submariner, projecting wealth and success at a glance. Yet the TAG Heuer 1000 Diver stands firmly on its own merits. During the 1980s and 1990s, the 1000 series became one of the brand’s most popular sport watches, prized for its robust construction, reliable performance, and sharp, contemporary design that felt equally at home on the wrist of a professional diver or an ambitious Wall Street trader.

Born out of necessity during the turmoil of the 1970s quartz crisis, the 1000 series represented a pivotal chapter in Heuer’s survival story. Battery-powered, precise, and significantly more economical to produce, these quartz divers retained the brand’s tool-watch DNA while embracing modern technology. Many collectors credit the 1000 series as a cornerstone that helped carry the company through one of the most challenging periods in Swiss watchmaking history.

Today, the gold-plated TAG Heuer 1000 Diver Ref. 984.013N is more than a capable vintage dive watch—it’s a time capsule of 1980s ambition, cinematic lore, and a defining moment in TAG Heuer’s evolution.