TAG Heuer and Porsche join forces once more for a stunning new timepiece

The trajectories of TAG Heuer and Porsche have crossed and re-crossed over the decades as both brands have evolved into major names in their respective fields.

The roots of that bond – re-established once again by the collaborative release of the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 – can be found at the legendary Carrera Panamericana race, the famously thrilling and dangerous motoring event which delivered Porsche one of its first major victories in 1954.

That victory led Porsche to attach the Carrera name to its most powerful engine variants. At the same time, Jack Heuer chose to name his iconic new 1963 chronograph the Carrera, after hearing about the race’s highly evocative name from the racing driver Rodriguez brothers at the side of the famous US racetrack Sebring in 1962.

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The two brands also share deep connections to the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Porsche is the most successful manufacturer in the history of the race with 19 overall wins.

The demands of the famous endurance race have heavily influenced the development of the Porsche 963, considered the pinnacle of Porsche’s engineering expertise which has notched victories on famous racetracks across the globe.

It’s that famous car TAG Heuer now celebrates with its most famous model of chronograph – a tribute to the spirit of endurance racing and technological innovation. A limited edition in distinctive white, red and black colour scheme, fittingly restricted to 963 pieces worldwide, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 expertly combines state-of-the-art horological technology with Porsche-inspired design elements and the sporty functionality and performance for which this model is renowned.

The truly collaborative nature of this timepiece is immediately apparent from its striking minimalist, skeleton dial with tubular shapes which evoke Porsche’s racing car chassis.

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The forged carbon bezel featuring a luminescent Porsche logo is inspired by the lightweight, high-performance components of the Porsche 963 while the logo also appears on the 44mm diameter, steel fine-brushed and polished case.

Lumed blocks on the chronograph sub-dials are inspired by Porsche’s innovative LED light design on the modern-day icon, the Porsche 911. These luminescent elements on the dial, including the date revealer, ensure exceptional legibility in all conditions – a nod to the practicality and usefulness of such readability during the night stretch of 24- hour endurance races

TAG Heuer’s in-house TH20-00 movement powers this special watch - the vertical clutch chronograph movement highlighted by a personalized red column wheel.

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The positioning of the mechanism’s coupling is reminiscent of systems found in cars connecting the engine’s flywheel with the transmission – here it facilitates a smooth, ‘jump free’ engagement of the stopping function when timing.

High-end motoring tech extends to the timepiece’s rubber strap, inspired by the NACA-style low-drag air inlets sometimes featured on Porsche race cars all the way back to the record-breaking Porsche 917. It features ‘963’ engraved on a fine brushed, polished steel central link and is enclosed by a folding clasp with double safety push-buttons.

There’s a seamlessness and coherence about this striking limited edition, a by-product of the deep shared heritage between these two famous brands and their hard-earned reputations for technical and design excellence.