Avant-Garde Chronographs inspired by Motor Racing

For almost a century, TAG Heuer’s authentic link to the world of motor sports has fueled its unique creative drive, producing some of the most innovative timepieces in watchmaking history

From 100^th of a second in 1916 to 10,000^thof a second in this year’s Indy 500: a historic partnership and a extrordinary source of inspiration.

When it comes to authentic connections between the Avant-Garde of luxury Swiss watchmaking and the demanding, high-prestige world of professional motor sports, TAG Heuer rules the road! Ever since its foundation in 1860 and invention of the oscillating pinion in 1882, the brand has confirmed its unique position as car racing’s leading timekeeper while creating the world’s most coveted and prestigious sports chronographs.

In 1911, TAG Heuer launched its famous “Time of Trip,” the first dashboard chronograph developed for automobiles. This was followed in 1916 by the Micrograph, the first mechanical stopwatch able to accurately measure times to within 1/100th of a second, and in 1933, the Autavia, the first chronograph dashboard for both automobiles and aviation. The legend had just begun... In 1966, TAG Heuer’s Microtimer system wrote a new page in the history of timekeeping by mastering precision to 1,000^th of a second. From here on, nothing could stop Tag Heuer’s climb to the top: “the watch brand of reference in motor racing”. It was named official timekeeper of the Scuderia Ferrari in the 1970s, of McLaren from the 1980s, and finally of the entire Formula One World Championships from 1992 to 2003.

TAG Heuer: The Official Avant-Garde Timekeeper

TAG Heuer has always been the most precise Swiss watchmaking brand in terms of research into the mastering of time down to its most infinitesimal fractions. Between 1971-79, as sponsor and official timekeeper of the Scuderia Ferrari, TAG Heuer was associated with legendary drivers like Jacky Ickx, Niki Lauda, Gilles Villeneuve, Jody Scheckter, Mario Andretti, Clay Regazzoni, and Carlos Reutemann.

In 1985, the famous TAG Heuer –  McLaren partnership began and evolved into one of the longest successful alliances between a Formula One Racing team and a sponsor in the history of Formula One. With McLaren, TAG Heuer has won six Constructors World Championship titles, eight Drivers titles (three with Alain Prost in 1985, 1986 and 1989;three with Ayrton Senna in 1988, 1990 and 1991;and two with Mika Häkkinen in 1998 and 1999). TAG Heuer’s performances earned it also the position of the Official Timekeeper of the F1 Championship from 1992 to 2003, and since 2004, the Official Timekeeper of the Indy Racing League and the legendary Indy 500 race.

Since 2005, Juan Pablo Montoya became a TAG McLaren Mercedes driver and TAG Heuer ambassador, joining his teammate and fellow ambassador Kimi Räikkönen, 8 times Grand Prix Winner from 2005.

This unique and envied duo of ambassadors will be defending TAG Heuer colors in the 2006 Formula One World Championship.

2006: Avant-Garde chronographs inspired by the legends of motor racing

TAG Heuer has long been the watchmaker of choice among legendary drivers like Fangio, Siffert and Senna, and among passionate motor racing fans from the world over. This season is no exception, with a number of new models directly inspired by the elite corps of motor racing.

“TAG Heuer SLR for Mercedes-Benz”

An exceptional chronograph for a mythic automobile in a limited edition; the dream becomes accessible to almost everyone

After the incredible success of the first “SLR Chronograph by TAG Heuer“ Calibre 36-R at Baselworld 2004, TAG Heuer proudly launches the TAG Heuer SLR for Mercedes-Benz, an exceptional new piece of watchmaking prowess.

Destined for fans of exclusive automobiles and connoisseurs of high-end timepieces, the new SLR chronograph celebrates the long and fruitful alliance between TAG Heuer, McLaren and Mercedes-Benz.

TAG Heuer and Mercedes-Benz: A Synergy of Pure Prestige

The first SLR chronograph, produced in 2004, marked the next step in a partnership that has linked Mercedes-Benz with TAG Heuer since 1995 (and McLaren since 1985) These high-luxury brands share the same values dearly: performance, design, prestige, innovation, and, of course, a passion for car racing. These values find their roots in their mutual history and heritage. In 1955 Juan Manuel Fangio drove the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (Sports, Light, Racing) “Silver Arrow” around the hairpin turns of the “Mille Miglia,” one of the most breathtaking circuits in motor racing. Fangio was wearing on his wrist that day, just as every Formula One driver since, a TAG Heuer timepiece – called Heuer at the time.

TAG Heuer SLR for Mercedes-Benz – A New Limited Series

From zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of over 300 km/h, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, launched in 2003, is one of the world’s most powerful and exclusive sports cars.

Like the high-performance, luxury sports car that inspired it, the TAG Heuer SLR for Mercedes-Benz is an audacious creation, blending Classicism and Avant-Garde, with an overall design that reflects the values of the “dream car”: power, performance, motor-racing spirit, innovation and elegance. Launched in a limited edition of 3,500 pcs, its pushbuttons are boldly positioned on the top of the case, ergonomically inclined at 45 degrees; a timekeeping scale is audaciously placed inside the case on a rotating, mechanic, unidirectional ring driven by a second crown at 9 o’clock. The exterior bezel, elegantly polished in black finish and engraved “SLR,” is thus able to feature a tachymeter, like those used by professional racers to calculate speed.

To accentuate these innovations even further, the dial features superbly high-end finishings: ten double index diamond facets have been applied by hand one-by-one; two rhodium-plated rings elegantly circle the counters at 3 and 9 o’clock; and the hands have been diamond-tipped by hand.

The alliance of two brands of prestige – “TAG Heuer” and “Mercedes-Benz” – discretely adorn the dial in silver at 12 o’clock.

The chronograph’s classic alligator bracelet is boldly integrated inside the case, thus allowing for a perfectly streamlined profile on the wrist. The bracelet also features a safety buckle operated by pushbuttons and engraved with “SLR.”

A strong design (43mm diameter) for a powerful automobile, the TAG Heuer SLR for Mercedes-Benz is a high-end creation of character reserved for admirers of the world’s most exclusive timepieces.

“Carrera Tachymeter Racing”

1964 – 2006: History of a myth

Since its creation by Jack Heuer in 1964, the Carrera chronograph has been one of TAG Heuer’s most iconic models, celebrated as much for its design as for its technological prowess. It derives its name from the Carrera Panamericana Mexico, a famously difficult car race of the 1950s, among whose participants was the legendary Argentinean driver Juan Manuel Fangio who won the last edition. Worn on the wrist by most F1 drivers in the 1970s, the Carrera has become the must-have chronograph of watch collectors and die-hard fans of motor racing.

TAG Heuer has recently released several new models of this emblematic timepiece, all in keeping with the elegant, sporty and authentic character of the original. Two new Carrera tachymeters were launched at the end of 2005: a model with chocolate-brown dial, tachymeter and bracelet; and a model with blue dial and tachymeter and steel bracelet.

 
The brand-new Carrera Tachymeter Racing is targeted at fans of strong sensations. Furnished with a tachymeter on its fixed bezel for calculating speed, it pays homage to the great motor racing legends and “gentleman drivers.” Its rubber bracelet, partially perforated, is inspired by the mythic universe of racecar driving in the 1950s, and the red needles and massive beveled indexes on the black dial call to mind the speed counters on classic racecar dashboards

This new sporty chronograph will be available in April 2006. More than a new version of a model that already enjoys cult status, this new addition to the distinguished line perpetuates its historic heritage and the passion that fuels it. More sporty than ever, the Carrera Tachymeter Racing is, like all Carrera chronographs, an object of desire and audacity, timeless and indispensable.