2012/11/17 - TAG Heuer the Aquaracer - Aquaracer 500M
“The Competition is why you do it. As an athlete, you want to be challenged and the harder it is, the more exciting it is” Jimmy Spithill
The 72-foot wing-sail catamaran of ORACLE TEAM USA, the defending champion, slices upwind across San Francisco Bay in a 21-knot breeze. The tension is palpable. At the wheel, the skipper, Jimmy Spithill, the youngest man ever to hoist the America’s Cup, glances at his watch, and then raises his eyes to the starting line. The signal sounds. Spithill, the best pre-start strategist in the history of sailing, raises his wrist. Without taking his eyes off the signal flag, he clicks the 5-minute countdown on his Aquaracer 500 Calibre 72 Countdown Chronograph. Twenty three knots and gusting higher. A glance at the Aquaracer—the countdown counter visibly marks the remaining time till the start. “Eyes on the prize, gentlemen,” Spithill shouts to his Oracle Team USA crew. The crewmembers glance again at their watches, judge the distance, ready themselves for the starting gun. Bang! The AC72 surges forward, accelerating powerfully, the hull entirely out of the water. “What’s our target, boys?” shouts the helmsmen over the wind and the crowd’s roar as he turns the wheel hard to the right side of the course, just yards from the shoreline. His crew shouts back as one, “Victory!”
A CELEBRATION OF TAG HEUER’S SAILING HERITAGE
Skippered by the stunning AQUARACER CALIBRE 72 COUNTDOWN CHRONOGRAPH LIMITED EDITION, the new Aquaracer Collection pays tribute to two of TAG Heuer’s proudest achievements in aquatic sports: the Aquaracer’s 30-years reign at the luxury helm of yachting elegance, and the brand’s Official Partnership with ORACLE TEAM USA in the 34th America’s Cup.
IN SAILING AS IN MOTOR-RACING, TAG HEUER SETS THE PACE
As the oldest sporting event in the world, dating back to 1851, the America’s Cup has a sporting pedigree as longstanding and illustrious as TAG Heuer.
The brand’s commitment to sailing and the open sea is as deep as its motor-racing heritage and love of the open road.
1892: the Swiss brand patented its first water-resistant case.
Many competitive sailing launches followed: the YACHT TIMER stopwatch (1930); the SOLUNAR (1949), a tide-reading watch with a lunar dial; the SEAFARER (1950), the world's first chronographs with tide and regatta indicators; the NAVIA (1955), a boat dashboard clock; the AQUASTAR REGATTA (1965); and the automatic SKIPPER sailing chronograph (1972).
1967: TAG Heuer was the Official Timekeeper of Intrepid, the America’s Cup winner.
1980: TAG Heuer launched the 1000, a series of regatta and diving watches.
1982: the 2000 COLLECTION, a series of professional diving watches designed by Jack Heuer that is the predecessor of today's famous AQUARACER line.
1983: launch of the Formule TAG, one of the first kevlar and carbon fiber catamarans. Helmed by sailing legend Mike Birch, it set the world record for the longest distance covered in 24 hours, logging up 524 miles during one lap of the Quebec – Saint-Malo race in 1984.
1993: Titouan Lamazou skippered the “Le TAG Heuer”, the world’s biggest monohull, during the Jules Verne Trophy.
1995: the TAG Heuer Challenge (NZL59), helmed by Chris Dickson, reached the Vuitton Cup semifinals.
2002: TAG Heuer and ORACLE BMW Racing Team were narrowly outpaced by Alinghi in the 31st America’s Cup. That same year, TAG Heuer launched the AQUAGRAPH. A professional diving chronograph with patented auto-lock turning bezel and optimized underwater readability, it was rigorously tested — and fully approved and endorsed — by the Navy SEALs, the Special Operation Forces of the United States Navy.
2003: TAG Heuer turned the 2000 Series into the AQUARACER, a versatile and sophisticated reinterpretation of the 2000 series, faithful to its technical and design codes, but with a higher-end finish and the luxury spirit of a stylish accessory.
2005-2007: the brand hosted the "Trophée TAG Heuer Aquaracer" in St-Tropez, France, and became official chronograph, timekeeper and sunglasses partner of the China Team Challenge, the first Chinese team to vie for a challenger spot in the America's Cup.
That same year, TAG Heuer brought out the AQUARACER CALIBRE S CHRONOGRAPH, the world’s first electro-mechanical movement with regatta mode — a unique, backwards-turning hand for regatta countdown.
2009: it launched its most charismatic collection of water sports-inspired watches yet: the AQUARACER 500M, a diving chronograph with automatic helium valve, water resistant to 500 meters. Endorsed by TAG Heuer spokesperson and environmental advocate Leonardo DiCaprio, it is one of the most successful timepieces in the brand’s history.
Now, in the exciting run-up to the 34th America’s Cup, which will be held in San Francisco in 2013, TAG Heuer is crewed with defending champions ORACLE TEAM USA. To celebrate, and demonstrate its prowess on and in the water, it proudly launches its most impressive AQUARACER to date: THE AQUARACER Calibre 72 Countdown chronograph.
THE AQUARACER CALIBRE 72 COUNTDOWN CHRONOGRAPH
THE ULTIMATE SAILING CHRONOGRAPH
The advanced-tech Aquaracer worn by the ORACLE TEAM USA pays homage to an exceptional legacy. Avant-garde engineering sets it apart, as does the quality of its manufacture: each is subjected to TAG Heuer’s full arsenal of operating tests--the most exacting and rigorous testing procedure in the Swiss watchmaking world. Inspired by its past and its partnership with ORACLE TEAM USA, the AQUARACER CALIBRE 72 COUNTDOWN CHRONOGRAPH is a marvel of 21st Century technology, and a faithful interpretation of TAG Heuer’s pioneering sailing heritage. It is a must-have design object, an interpretation of the great Heuer yachting watches of the past, beautiful to the eyes and a pleasure to wear. First and foremost, however, it is a sportswatch, inspired by and designed for the best sailors in the world’s most prestigious race.
Ruggedness and reliability steer the aesthetics and performance is the core concern.
Jack Heuer’s famous TAG HEUER 6, the six crucial design characteristics of the original AQUARACER and the standard for all aquatic sportwatches ever since, are complimented with new components and an unprecedented level of functional luxury.
The new Aquaracer carries the classic TAG Heuer features that make the Swiss brand the undisputed world leader for sports chronograph design and performance :
1) Easy-read black dial with red chronograph and 30-minute hands and a five-windowed countdown counter at 12 o’clock. With three different colors corresponding to three intervals of 5 minutes, this function can be used either as a 5, a 10 or a 15 minutes countdown;
2) Unidirectional turning bezel in ultra-resistant black ceramic with silver numerals and “COUNTDOWN” engraved in lacquered red;
3) 43mm case in alternate fine-brushed and polished steel, screw-in crown with double safety gaskets, easy-grip black rubber pushers & crown and a screw-in case back decorated with a special stamp of the ORACLE TEAM USA boat;
4) Water resistance guaranteed to 500 meters and automatic helium release valve in polished steel at 10 o’clock, for professional divers operating at great depths for prolonged periods of time;
5) Three-row fine-brushed steel bracelet with polished edges and fine-brushed steel folding clasp with safety push buttons to prevent accidental opening. The edition also comes with a new exclusive black rubber strap with a steel pin buckle—another first for the Aquaracer.
6) Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflection treatment.
More than an iconic chronograph, a statement.
THE AQUARACER 500M CALIBRE 16 CHRONOGRAPH
The other must-have chronograph in the new Aquaracer fleet has the same bold black dial and finishes as the Oracle team’s Calibre 72, this time with white or yellow-green luminescent markers on the hands and hand-applied indexes. Other standouts: the generous, 43mm steel case and black ceramic bezel and the black rubber overmolding on the pushers and crown. Helium valve at 10 o’clock, water resistance guaranteed to 500 meters, angled date window at 3, and three black counters-- chronograph minute at 12, chronograph hour at 6, running second at 9. The bracelet options: triple-row steel bracelet with folding clasp with safety push buttons, or black rubber strap with 2 horizontal streak effect decorations and the first-time ever steel pin buckle.
A sailor’s delight that can endure the toughest sailing conditions.
Cal. 72 Countdown Chronograph
Limited Edition
Cal. 72 Countdown Chronograph
Cal. 16 Chronograph
Technical Specifications
AQUARACER 500M - Cal. 72 Countdown Chronograph (43mm)
Limited Edition*
Movement : TAG HEUER Calibre 72 – Chronograph – Countdown – Date
Dial :
- Black dial with horizontal streak effect
- Countdown function at 12 o’clock
- 2 black counters :
- chronograph minute at 9 o’clock
- running second at 3 o’clock
- Luminescent markers on hands and hand-applied indexes
- Skeleton hour and minute hands for perfect readability of countdown
- (Red*) chronograph and 30-minute counter hands (with blue tip**)
- Running second hand with a triangle-shaped tip
- Hand-applied TAG Heuer (and TEAM USA*) logos at 6 o‘clock
- Angled date window at 12 o’clock with a magnifying lens
- “AQUARACER – SWISS MADE”* / “AQUARACER COUNTDOWN CHRONOGRAPH 500M / 1660 ft – SWISS MADE”** white lettering on the dial
Case :
- Case diameter : 43mm
- Alternate fine-brushed and polished steel case
- Unidirectional turning black ceramic bezel:
- Engraved, silver lacquered numerals on bezel
- Engraved, red lacquered ”COUNTDOWN” on bezel*
- Luminescent dot at 12 o’clock
- Polished chimney, fine-brushed base and polished studs
- Black rubber overmolding on pushers and screw-in crown with TAG Heuer logo
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with antireflective treatment
- Screw-in case back with a special ORACLE TEAM USA boat stamped* / special stamped sailing winch** decoration
- Polished steel automatic helium valve at 10 o’clock
- Water-resistance: 500 meters
Bracelet :
- 3-row fine-brushed steel bracelet with polished edges
- Fine-brushed steel folding clasp with safety push buttons
- Black rubber strap with 2 horizontal streak effect decorations
- Alternate fine-brushed and polished steel pin buckle
Avaibility : March 2013 (ex La Chaux-de-Fonds)
AQUARACER 500M - Cal. 16 Chronograph (43mm)
Movement : TAG HEUER Calibre 16 – Chronograph – Date
Dial :
- Black dial with horizontal streak effect
- 3 black counters :
- chronograph minute at 12 o’clock
- chronograph hour at 6 o’clock
- running second at 9 o’clock
- White* or Specific yellow-green** luminescent markers on hands and hand-applied indexes
- Chronograph and running second hand with a triangle-shaped tip
- Hand-applied TAG Heuer logo at 3 o‘clock
- Angled date window at 3 o’clock highlighted with white square printing
- “AQUARACER – 500M / 1660 ft – CALIBRE 16 AUTOMATIC – SWISS MADE” white lettering on the dial
Case :
- Case diameter : 43mm
- Alternate fine-brushed and polished steel case
- Unidirectional turning black ceramic bezel:
- Engraved, silver lacquered numerals on bezel
- Luminescent dot at 12 o’clock
- Polished chimney, fine-brushed base and polished studs
- Black rubber overmolding on pushers and screw-in crown with TAG Heuer logo
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with antireflective treatment
- Screw-in case back with a diver stamped decoration
- Polished steel automatic helium valve at 10 o’clock
- Water-resistance: 500 meters
Bracelet :
- 3-row fine-brushed steel bracelet with polished edges
- Fine-brushed steel folding clasp with safety push buttons
- Black rubber strap with 2 horizontal streak effect decorations
- Alternate fine-brushed and polished steel pin buckle
Avaibility : March 2013 (ex La Chaux-de-Fonds)
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