TAG Heuer, the iconic Swiss luxury watchmaker, proudly unveils the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963, a stunning timepiece that embodies the spirit of endurance racing and technological innovation. This exclusive collaboration with Porsche highlights a unique bond rooted in motorsport heritage and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
TAG Heuer and Porsche share a rich history, marked by an independent and powerful mindset and a commitment to functional design. For nearly 70 years, their paths have crossed on and off the racetrack, with the solid and lasting bond between them stemming from their joint roots in motorsports, united by the iconic Carrera name.
The origins of this partnership trace back to the legendary Carrera Panamericana race, one of the world’s most dangerous races. Inspired by their victory at this race in 1954, Porsche named its most powerful engine variants “Carrera.” Concurrently, Jack Heuer named his 1963 chronograph “Carrera” after learning about the race’s evocative name from the racing driver Rodriguez brothers at the infamous Sebring track in 1962.
Another race intrinsically linked to both TAG Heuer and Porsche is the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
LET THE RACE BEGIN
Porsche’s history at Le Mans is storied, with numerous victories making them the most successful manufacturer in the race’s history with 19 overall wins. The Porsche 963, developed under the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona Hybrid) regulations, epitomizes their commitment to innovation. This vehicle, based on a Multimatic* chassis from the LMP2 category, features an advanced combustion engine capable of running on renewable fuels, rooted in the Porsche 918 Spyder road car. The Porsche 963 has garnered victories on many of the world’s most famous racetracks.
In celebration of endurance racing, TAG Heuer introduces the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963, a timepiece that embodies the drive for excellence.
“In celebration of Porsche’s racing successes, we are extremely proud to have worked on such a timepiece with our partner. The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 is an exceptional horological piece that represents all the values we stand for: design excellence, endurance, and the surpassing of one’s limits. We particularly look forward to Porsche’s performance this year and wish all the best to the Porsche team on the racetracks,” said Julien Tornare, CEO of TAG Heuer.
DESIGN AND ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 is a remarkable watch, limited to just 963 pieces worldwide, a nod to the racing car’s name. Each watch integrates precision and performance, celebrating Porsche’s racing heritage with design elements that capture the thrill of endurance racing.
Combining automotive engineering with horology, the sub-dials feature four Super-LumiNova (SLN) blocks, inspired by Porsche’s innovative LED light design on the Porsche 911. In the dark, these SLN blocks and the SLN-coated date revealer illuminate, enhancing the watch’s visual appeal and practicality. These features ensure exceptional legibility in all conditions, resonating with the 24-hour race endurance, where drivers compete day and night.
The red indexes positioned at 04:00 PM symbolize the excitement and adrenaline of a race countdown, capturing the essence of competitive racing within the watch’s design.
Crafted with boldness and technical sophistication, the watch features a striking skeleton dial with tubular shapes reminiscent of Porsche’s racing car chassis, reflecting the minimalist yet robust construction seen in motorsport. The bezel, made from forged carbon, mirrors the lightweight, high-performance components of the Porsche 963, enhancing both aesthetics and the connection to motorsport.
The watch boasts the in-house TH20-00 movement, featuring a personalized red column wheel, highlighting the technical expertise of this vertical clutch chronograph movement. The vertical coupling mechanism, similar to systems in cars connecting the engine’s flywheel with the transmission, ensures smooth and “jump-free” activation of the stopwatch function.
The rubber strap’s shape is inspired by the NACA-style low-drag air inlets, featured on Porsche race cars like the record-breaking Porsche 917, further nodding to the deep heritage in endurance racing.
The watch’s colors are the iconic racing hues of Porsche motorsport: white, red, and black.
DISTINCTIVE PORSCHE ELEMENTS
TAG Heuer has incorporated several distinctive Porsche elements into the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963, delighting Porsche fans. The bezel features a luminescent Porsche logo for legibility in the dark, and the strap showcases the Porsche 963 logo. Additionally, the watch includes Porsche’s iconic steering wheel motif in the oscillating mass and a 3D Porsche logo on the side of the steel case, emphasizing the integration of car manufacturer-inspired details.
Each TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 is individually numbered and presented in dedicated packaging, complete with a travel pouch and a mention of its limited-edition status.
As TAG Heuer and Porsche continue to strengthen their partnership, this timepiece stands as a testament to the spirit of endurance racing and the shared pursuit of perfection by Porsche and TAG Heuer.
Race fans, start your engines!
*Multimatic: a supplier of components, systems, and engineering services for the automotive industry.
For more information, please visit TAGHeuer.com.