Exactly two years ago, Porsche formed one of the strongest partnerships ever seen between a car manufacturer and a watchmaker. Together they have created five successful timepieces. Two years on and they have just introduced their sixth timepiece: the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche Orange Racing, showcasing the enduring passion for racing that is shared by both these iconic brands.
TAG Heuer and Porsche share a rich history, an independent and powerful mindset, and a dedication to design excellence. With their joint roots in motorsports, this is a natural partnership with a common thread being the Carrera name.
The Carrera Panamericana was reputed to be the most dangerous race of any type in the world, running for five consecutive years from 1950 to 1954. And it’s this legendary race that inspired both Porsche, which won its first class victory at the Carrera Panamericana race in 1954 and named its most powerful model in its honour, and Jack Heuer, who named his new 1963 chronograph accordingly after hearing about the race’s highly evocative name from the Rodriguez brothers in Sebring in 1962.
Since the sixties, the Porsche 911 Carrera and the TAG Heuer Carrera have become icons and were recently celebrated in Paris at the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7’s 50th anniversary.
TAG Heuer CEO Frédéric Arnault says:
“With such a strong heritage shared with Porsche in the racing field, we are excited to present a new watch that embodies every aspect of this incredible sport. It is also a nod to the history shared by TAG Heuer and Porsche – a history on which we continue to build. Together, with their expertise and creativity, our teams have created a bold and powerful timepiece encased in a sporty yet elegant design.”
Robert Ader, Chief Marketing Officer at Porsche AG, adds:
“The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche Orange Racing is all about the racing universe and represents the high performance and thrill of speed, values that we share deeply with TAG Heuer, and a fine example of our common mindset as we continue our exciting journey as partners.”
The design of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche Orange Racing has not only an unmistakable Porsche aesthetic but also the racing world that surrounds it. You can’t miss the vibrant orange colour found throughout the watch which was inspired by the colour of the heat sparks the car makes on the asphalt, as well as the colour of fire, which is an emblematic symbol of speed. You will also find orange used on the Porsche logo on the bezel, as well as on the lacquer on the crown and second hand.
Black is another key colour feature of this special edition timepiece, which offers the perfect contrast to the orange.
A feature carried over from the 2021 and 2022 TAG Heuer Carrera x Porsche is the custom-designed oscillating weight, a nod to the Porsche steering wheel. The weight is clearly visible through the sapphire glass case back and is labelled with “Porsche” and “TAG Heuer” featuring black and orange touches.
The 44mm steel case is fitted with a carbon-like black calfskin strap which highlights the vivid orange and makes for the perfect finishing touch to the racing inspiration of the watch, with the strap’s stitching reminiscent of the seat upholstery of Porsche cars.
The special edition TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche Orange Racing comes in a beautifully designed co-branded TAG Heuer x Porsche black box with orange detailing, just like the watch itself, and is available from February 2023 from TAG Heuer boutiques, select retail partners and on the Tag Heuer website: www.tagheuer.com.
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is Editor of Our Man On The Ground, a former member of The British Guild of Travel Writers and professional photographer.
Photographs courtesy of TAG Heuer
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