TAG HEUER - Maria Sharapova Welcomes the Tesla Roadster

Brand ambassador Maria Sharapova welcomed the TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster to American soil, in Manhattan Beach, Calif.





Press release


The tennis champion, wearing her white TAG Heuer Formula 1 ceramic and stainless steel watch and the TAG Heuer sunglasses she designed, drove the TAG Heuer Tesla roadster around the streets of Manhattan Beach, catching the eyes of beach-goers and fellow drivers alike.

TAG Heuer and the Porsche Club of America

TAG Heuer celebrates 55 years of the Porsche Club of America (PCA) by manufacturing a 55-piece limited edition for the largest single-brand club in the world. It is no coincidence that the PCA has chosen TAG Heuer as its partner for the limited edition watch, which is based on famous racing heritage.

TAG HEUER - BONHAMS - Unique 150th anniversary

Bonhams reveals a unique 150th anniversary Heuer watch to be sold for charity in december





Press release

Funds to go to Green Cross International, supported by Tag Heuer through Leonardo DiCaprio partnership

TAG Heuer - Carrera Chronograph Calibre 1887

The version of the new Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph calibre 1887 that I was checking out personally will be changed a bit. The image at the bottom of this article of the black dialed version watch represents what the final version that will be available late this year. Until then, the version you see images of is available. At least that is how I understand it. I think that in the future the "half year 1887" will be a collector's item.

TAG Heuer Aquaracer - Making waves

Water - Tag Heuer's deepest design source






Press Release

Aquaracer 500 calibre 16

The Swiss brand’s constant search for better performance in and on the water has led to some of its greatest luxury design achievements, including this year’s new AQUARACER 500M Chronograph and AQUARACER 500M Full Black.

TAG Heuer’s passion for the dreamworld of open seas and the demanding challenges of professional diving and sailing is as legendary as its love for the open road and the world of motor sports. The Swiss brand patented its first water-resistant case in 1895 and launched its first water-resistant wrist chronograph in 1939. In 1942, it presented its first regatta stopwatch, the YACHTING timer. The Heuer SOLUNAR (1949) was the world’s first watch with tide indicator, and the MAREOGRAPH-SEAFARER (1950) was the first chronograph with a tide level indicator and regatta dial counter on a sub-counter.

TAG Heuer - Suzann Pettersen as ambassador

A long-time friend of the Swiss brand, the Norwegian golf champion has recently joined the power pool of ambassadors proudly embodying TAG Heuer.





Press Release

Having started playing at 6 years old and having been a professional for seven years, Suzann Pettersen, now 29 and No. 3 women’s golf player in the world, represents TAG Heuer’s winning spirit. The thrill of winning majors is driving her and she thrives for the best; she wishes to earn the leading position on the official LPGA Money List, as she now is second.

A fan of the brand for many years, she enjoys wearing her Link model with diamonds as much as her Lady Aquaracer steel and gold, and recognizes herself in the sporty yet sophisticated message the brand wants to convey.TAG Heuer endorses women of particular talent whose appeal are based on their confident persona and excelling mindset.

TAG Heuer Aquaracer 500M Automatic Chronograph (44MM)

Water - Tag Heuer's deepest design source.






Press Release

The "AQUARACER 500M AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH (44MM)"

The Swiss brand’s constant search for better performance in and on the water has led to some of its greatest luxury design achievements, including this year’s new AQUARACER 500M Chronograph and AQUARACER 500M Full Black.

TAG Heuer’s passion for the dreamworld of open seas and the demanding challenges of professional diving and sailing is as legendary as its love for the open road and the world of motor sports. The Swiss brand patented its first water-resistant case in 1895 and launched its first water-resistant wrist chronograph in 1939. In 1942, it presented its first regatta stopwatch, the YACHTING timer. The Heuer SOLUNAR (1949) was the world’s first watch with tide indicator, and the MAREOGRAPH-SEAFARER (1950) was the first chronograph with a tide level indicator and regatta dial counter on a sub-counter.

In 1968, it began outfitting boats with the NAVIA, a water-resistant instrument for boat dashboards. It also brought out the SKIPPER, a mechanical chronograph with regatta countdown, which was re-edited in 1972 as an automatic chronograph version.

In 1982, the 2000 SERIES was launched. Designed by Jack Heuer, the 2000 was the first line of professional sports watches equipped with the now-famous

“TAG HEUER 6 FEATURES”:

1) Scratch-resistant domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflection treated interior
2) Screw-in crown with double safety gaskets to prevent dust or water penetration
3) Water resistance guaranteed to 300 meters
4) Luminescent hands, hour markers and bezel scale for easy reading underwater
5) Unidirectional turning bezel to ensure error-free elapsed dive-time measurement
6) Double-safety, quick-action bracelet clasp to prevent accidental opening.

These technical specifications have since become the industry standard for authentic and highest quality dive and sports watches.

TAG Heuer Grand Carrera Calibre 6RS

WAV511A.FC6224

WAV511B.FC6224

WAV511C.FC6230

WAV511B.FC6230

Movement: TAG Heuer Calibre 6 RS C.O.S.C – Automatic – Rotating System at 6 o’clock indicating the small second - Date

Water resistance: 100 m

Crystal: Double anti-reflective curved sapphire crystal

Case: Ø 40.2 mm in fine-brushed steel with curved faceted polished horns - Double sapphire caseback sealed by 6 screws

Bezel: Fine-brushed and polished bezel

Dial:

• Rotating Small Second System at 6 o’clock decorated with Côtes de Genève and diamond polished facets
• Opalin central area and external spiral effect area
• Hand-applied curved faceted index with double finishings
• Hand-applied TAG Heuer logo
• hands with polished facets
• Luminescent markers on hands
• “Grand CARRERA – CALIBRE 6 - AUTOMATIC – CHRONOMETER OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED” written on the dial
• Date window at 3 o’clock

Crown: Oversize screw-in crown

Bracelet:

• 3 rows multi faceted steel bracelet. Finishing: alternated polished and fine-brushed central row and fine-brushed lateral rows with polished edges

OR

• Black alligator strap

OR

• Brown alligator strap

Clasp: Solid steel folding clasp with safety push buttons and applied TAG Heuer logo

Specifications may depend on the model.

**More Information About TAG Heuer Grand Carrera Calibre 6RS

TAG Heuer-Aquaracer Quartz Chronograph Grande Date

Aquaracer

Quartz Chronograph Grande Date

CAF101B.BA0821

Movement: Quartz Chronograph

Glace: Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal

Dimension: 43 mm

Dial: Black, silver, blue or yellow dial with spiral effect and 3 counters, small second at 3 o’clock, minute at 9 o’clock and a “twin-hand” semi-circular counter at 6 o’clock.

During 30 minutes, this semi-circular counter will work as a 1/10th of a second chronograph counter and then will turn into an hour chronograph counter. The red side of the hand indicates 1/10th of a second from 00 to 05 on the inner scale and the polished finished side of the hand indicates 1/10th of a second from 05 to 10 on the outer scale.

Large date window at 12 o’clock
Polished-finished hands and luminescent markers on hands and indexes for improved legibility in darkness
Hand applied indexes and TAG Heuer logo

Case in fine-brushed steel with polished edges

Screw-in case back with stamped diver decoration

Unique dual bezel composed of fixed aluminium ring (black, blue and yellow dial) / fixed polished steel ring (silver dial) and unidirectional turning bezel in fine-brushed steel with fine-brushed studs and minutes scale:
• Engraved numerals with black varnish on the turning base
• Luminescent dot at 12 o’clock

Bracelet: 3-row fine-brushed steel bracelet with solid steel clasp, diving extension system and safety push buttons
Black rubber strap with protruded TAG Heuer logo & inscriptions and steel pin buckle

Water resistance: 300m.

TAG Heuer-New Aquaracer Leonardo DiCaprio Ltd Edition (43mm)

Movement : TAG Heuer Calibre 5 – Automatic – Date

WAJ2116.FT6022

TAG HEUER - Tesla Odyssey of Pioneers in Moscow

First 100% electric GT car on the Red Square.






Press Release

For the first time ever, the Russian capital welcomed a 100% electric GT car, as TAG Heuer’s Odyssey of Pioneers stopped on the historical Red Square and exposed its TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster in the AVTOVILLE retro-cars museum.

TAG HEUER-CARRERA 1887 CHRONOGRAPH

TAG HEUER: THE UNDISPUTED WORLD CHAMPION OF CHRONOGRAPHS

For five generations, TAG Heuer has marshalled its resources and know-how in a concerted effort to master the tiniest fractions of time. This incessant drive has made the Swiss brand the unrivalled leader in high-end chronographs — one of mechanical watchmaking’s most sophisticated and demanding complications. Examples of TAG Heuer’s prowess in this field are legion, from the 1/100th-of-a-second Mikrograph stopwatch in 1916 to the 2006 Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix winning Calibre 360, the first mechanical wrist chronograph to beat 360,000/hour.

Today, this mastery is epitomized by TAG Heuer’s unparalleled line-up of 7 mechanical chronograph movements (Calibre 11 and 12 developed with Dubois-Depraz, Calibre 16 and 17 from ETA, new in-house Calibre 1887 unveiled in December 2009, Calibre 36 developed with Zenith and Calibre 360).

To strengthen its longstanding leadership and continued growth in luxury chronographs, TAG Heuer needed further differentiation among the “engines” powering its masterpieces, more variety of performance and construction, and an unlimited access to high-volume movements. This is why, in early 2006, TAG Heuer started working on the design and development of the Calibre 1887, an automatic chronograph movement of superlative reliability and sophistication. Unveiled at the McLaren Technology Centre in December 2009, this powerful 21st century engine is now being launched commercially in an all-new Carrera chronograph of stunning design and performance.

The TAG Heuer Carrera 1887 Chronograph extends the mythical Carrera collection, which was created in 1964 by Jack Heuer. The brand’s CEO in the 60s and 70s, Jack Heuer is the creative genius behind key TAG Heuer icons like the Monaco, the Silverstone or the Aquaracer (born as the “1000 Series” in 1979). Today he is TAG Heuer’s Honorary Chairman, and as active as ever. A legend in the watch industry, he has overseen the redesign of every new generation of the Carrera family.

The TAG Heuer Carrera 1887 Chronograph is the 21st century design evolution of the 1964 icon, more than ever celebrating and emphasizing its original minimalism, purity, readability and understated elegance. A “Grand Classique” re-invented for TAG Heuer’s 150th Anniversary, it is faithful to the original in design and spirit, but its radical new “engine”, the Calibre 1887, turns it into a 3rd Millennium chronograph in terms of size, quality, performance and accuracy.

Details of Monaco V4

Model: TAG Heuer Monaco V4

Movement: TAG Heuer V4

Ref: WAW2170.FC6261

Price: €50,000

Description: There have been some great bargain watches featured here over the last couple of weeks, but here is something from the other end of the spectrum- a fantastic unworn TAG Heuer Monaco V4 .

The V4 is a genuinely revolutionary new type of watch movement, using belts and weights to drive the movement rather than traditional springs and rotors.

This watch is located in the EU and has not been worn. TAG Heuer are producing only 150 of these platinum watches- of which 85 have been delivered as of December- so if you do want one, here is a unique chance to own one of the world’s most spectacular watches. So still a bargain? Well, given that it retails new for €70,000, I guess it is for someone looking to spend serious, serious money on a new watch for 2010.

Heuer Silverstone Photos

Reference 110.313B (Blue)

TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 360 & Carrera Day-Date

In 2006 TAG Heuer released four limited edition Carrera 360 models- White Gold, Rose Gold, Stainless steel and black PVD. The watches marked a turning point for TAG in the development of its own in house movements. Although based on an ETA movement, TAG developed a complex chronograph module that achieves 360,000 vibrations per hour, 10 times of the El Primero movement and allowing timing to 1/100 of a second. So a real landmark watch, and at a real landmark price for TAG- between $12,000 and $25,000 depending on the model- serious cash for any watch and well above the price of most Tag’s.

Fast forward to late 2008 and TAG released a Day/ date Carrera that borrows heavily in style from the Calibre 360- same Arabic numerals, similar case style and similar crown.

This is by no means unusual and generally works well- the hardcore and wealthy enthusiast gets the first sight of new technology and the latest shape, while the rest of us wait a couple of years and then get a reasonably priced version of these halo watches. The benefit for TAG is also clear, as they are able to showcase their latest materials and technology while at the same time establishing the brand at higher price points, which seems to be the aim of every watch brand these days.

Where it can fall apart is when the original owner of the halo watch wants to sell their watch on the second-hand market. At the moment there is a beautiful Calibre 360 for sale on a well know watch sales forum- the owner is a very reliable member of the board and the watch is in as new condition with all boxes, papers etc. Asking price? About 2/3rds of the original RRP- or just over $10,000. Wow- that’s a lot for any TAG, let alone one that has now spawned a very reasonably priced clone for a fraction of the price. Most TAG/ Heuer enthusiasts will tel you that for that price you could get a Mint Monaco 1133B with box/ papers…or you could probably buy one of the new Limited Edition 40th anniversary Monaco’s…plus a Carrera day/ date. Still, I hope it does sell and am sure that whoever buys it will consider themselves lucky to have found one of these watches in NOS condition, but with a nice discount from new

This year we’ve seen all 4 versions of the Calibre 360 available on the secondary market, and
were slow to move. The question of the resale values of these Halo TAGs will become all the more important over the next few months, because as you may have heard, the Monaco V4 is finally coming to market. Looks like there will be a platinum version on sale in November in a Limited Edition of 150 (to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Heuer/ TAG Heuer). Price? About US$120,000.

I guess if you can afford to spend $120,000 on any watch, then resale is not such a big issue. For the rest of us, lets hope that we see a Monaco V4 priced at maybe double today’s Monaco price within a couple of years…trickle down economics at its best

TAG Heuer Targa Florio

The TAG Heuer Targa Florio was released in 2001 and marketed as tribute to the famous Italian road race, despite actually drawing its inspiration from the Heuer Flieger (German for “Pilot”) watches of the 1930s.

The early 2000s were a renaissance period for lovers of the TAG Heuer re-edition series, with TAG releasing a steady stream of watches that drew their looks from the old Heuer catalogue.

The Targa Florio was one of three new re-edition watches announced as part of the classics series. The highest profile of these 2001 releases was the blue TAG Heuer Monaco in the Steve McQueen colours- up until that point, the Monaco that had been available from the late 1990s had only been available in black and silver. Alongside the new blue Monaco was the Calibre 36 version of the TAG Heuer Monza (the El Primero movement) and the Targa Florio.

The official press release at the time described the Targa Florio as follows:
"In a complete revival of the timepiece worn by the F1 world champion Juan-Manuel Fangio, the new generation Targa Florio is faithful to its predecessor in its contemporary feel. It’s clean, black dial and seconds and minute counters make for a subtle, yet striking timepiece. The Targa Florio chronograph is available with a brown or black leather strap for a sporty look or an alligator strap for sophisticated chic”

The Targa Florio Road Race

The Targa Florio was an endurance road race that was first held in the mountains of Southern Italy in 1906. Created by wealthy enthusiast Vincenzo Florio, the Targa (meaning “Plate” or”Shield”) was the most prestigious motor race in the world in its early years, pre-dating the F1 World Championship by almost 50 years. The race itself was held over a course that varied in size, but was usually more than 70 kilometers long and wound its way through the villages of Palermo. Winners of the race included Stirling Moss, Nuvolari and in 1970, the Heuer-sponsored Jo Siffert. Ironically, while TAG Heuer promoted the Targa Florio with the image of Juan Manuel Fangio, he would never win the race, finishing second to his team-mate Moss in 1955.

Eventually the cars out-grew the circuit and safety concerns (led by Austrian Helmut Marko who today is a prominent member of the Red Bull Racing F1 team) led to the race losing its Sports Car World Championship status in 1973 and its cancellation all-together in 1977.

The Inspiration

The inspiration for the design of the TAG Heuer Targa Florio were the Heuer Flieger chronographs of the 1930s, such as the watch pictured on the left which shows the later model featuring two chronograph buttons. There are many similarities between the Flieger and the Targa Florio- the coin-edge bezel, the bold white numerals at each hour (including the chrono sub-dial overlapping the “10″ and the “2″), the over-sized crown and the shape of the two chrono re-set buttons are all a close match.

Despite this, there was no connection between the original Heuer Flieger and motor racing.

An interesting side-story to the Flieger watches was the mysterious appearance of the over-sized Heuer Flieger watches beginning around the time that the Targa Florio was released. These fakes first emerged from Eastern Europe and took on several design cues from the TAG Heuer re-edition. You can read more about these fake over-sized watches here at OnTheDash.

Targa Florio Re-edition

The first Targa Florio (Ref. CX2110), pictured at the top of this page, was powered by a Calibre 17 (ETA 2894-2) movement and featured a plexi-glass crystal. Later in the model-life, this plexi-glass was replaced by sapphire crystal, as it would also be on the 1957 Limited edition model. The standard model with the sapphire crystal model has the reference CX2112.

Limited Edition Targa Florio

Around 2003 TAG Heuer released a limited edition Juan Manuel Fangio Targa Florio that was limited to 1957 watches- the year that Fangio won the last of his five F1 World Championships, this time driving for Maserati.

The 1957 watch (Ref. Cx2113) is shown on the left and is mostly the same as the standard CX2110 edition, except for the following:

• Sapphire crystal instead of plexi-glass
• Fangio’s signature below the TAG Heuer shield
• Number of each watch engraved on the back

Argentina Special Targa Florio

Not to be confused with the limited edition of 1957 watches, TAG Heuer also released a second Juan Manuel Fangio limited edition- this time of just 200 watches that were available only in Argentina (Ref. CX2111).

Perhaps confusingly, this Fangio edition did not have his signature on the front of the watch, and so is basically identical to the original CX2110. It did come with a specially engraved case-back and a special tribute book. The price? USD20,000.

I’ve seen two of these sets offered second-hand- one where the seller was seeking USD16,000 (not sure if it ever sold) and the second that did sell for almost USD8000- which still seems like a large premium over the standard model for a nice book and a personal letter from TAG Heuer.