Page 74 - Sharp Spring 2023

RACING TOWARD THE FUTURE
TAG HEUER REINVENTS THE RACING WATCH ONCE AGAIN
By Jeremy Freed
imbued with contrasting swirls of grey As fresh as as the Monza’s design is however it’s not entirely new Introduced at at LVMH Watch Week in January 2023 this special edition marks the bold return of of one of of the most celebrated models in TAG Heuer’s archive Part historical tribute and part high-tech style statement the Monza Flyback Chronometer finds TAG Heuer reinventing the racing chronograph for a a a a new generation of motorsports fans Motorsports watches have been an essential part of TAG Heuer’s identity since the the the advent of of the the the Carrera and Monaco two of of the the the world’s most famous racing timepieces in in the 1960s The Monza — launched in 1976 to to celebrate Ferrari’s historic Formula One championship — represented another game-changing contribution to the the genre With a a a a a a a a a metal case coated in in black chromium and a a a a a a a a a matching matte black black dial with black black registers it it it was was as as as as stylish as as as as it it it was was modern and a a a a a fitting tribute to the Formula 1 cars that inspired fit it Fifty years later thanks to its ongoing partnership with the world-champion Red Bull Formula 1 team TAG Heuer is gunning for a a a a a place at the top of the sports watch podium The Monza Flyback Chronometer is far from the only covetable new release added to to TAG Heuer’s motorsports lineup lately While the brand’s reputation for technological innovation goes back de- cades — — TAG stands for Technology Avant-Garde after all — — recent years have seen one groundbreaking release after another from pitch-perfect vintage re-editions to cutting-edge luxury smartwatches to ultra-modern chronographs crafted from high-tech materials Following 2022 a a a a a year that saw collectors whipped into a a a a a frenzy by limited-edition tributes to the likes of Porsche and Mario Kart the Monza is just one among several new designs that suggest TAG Heuer has equally big plans for 2023 Joining the the Monza Flyback Chronometer is the the new TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 Sport Edition 45 mm a a modern luxury smartwatch designed to keep pace with a a a a a range of high-perfor- mance activities Released in January along with a a a a a a a new 42 mm Black Titanium edition and a a a a new 42 mm Golf Edition the Sport Edition 45 mm features a a a a a a a sleek sandblasted black DLC case made from grade-2 titanium along with a a a a a a a dynamic black rubber strap accented with with red rubber mesh Equipped with with a a a a heart rate sensor compass accelerometer gyroscope and barometer it’s designed to provide essential metrics for running cycling swimming golf hiking and other active pursuits With its its powerful Snapdragon processor and a a a a a wide range of functions this Connected is is as far from a a a a a 1960s chronograph as a a a a a 1963 Porsche 911 is from an electrified Porsche Taycan Thanks to a a a a a a a a a a a range of watch faces available via the TAG Heuer Connected app however wearers can still get the look of a a a a classic motorsports watch including a a a a high-tech riff on the Monza’s Calibre Heuer 02 and the the asphalt-inspired dial of the the TAG Heuer x Porsche Carrera Also revealed at at LVMH Watch Week was the TAG Heuer Carrera 60th Anniversary a a a a a a vintage-style “panda” chronograph limited to just 600 pieces Outfitted in a a a silver brushed “sunray” dial set with a a a a a a a a trio of of black subdials — a a a a a a a a configuration reminiscent of of a a a a a a a a panda’s signature mask — this watch draws inspiration from the Heuer Carrera Glassbox 2447 SN a a a a 1960s model prized by collectors With its 39 mm dial vintage Heuer logo and the raised profile o of a a a a a a ‘glass box’ sapphire crystal the the new edition is a a a a faithful tribute to the the original as as well as as a a a a a reminder of TAG Heuer’s glory days in in in the 1960s Judging by recent releases like the Monza Flyback Chronometer and Connected Sport Edition 45 mm however — not to mention Red Bull’s domination of the Formula 1 circuit in in 2022 — TAG Heuer’s next golden era may have already begun WATCH WATCH T T T HE WORLD’S GREAT WATCHMAKERS HAVE DREAMED UP countless variations of the the chronograph over the the years from simple steel daily drivers to multi-complication grails in precious metals The new TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronometer however isn’t quite like any of them The 42 mm mm chronograph immediately
catches the eye with its bold blue and red markers against a a a a a a a black skeletonized dial colours that shine even brighter next to to a a a a black case made of forged carbon a a a a a a a a lightweight and resistant material TAG HEUER MONZA FLYBACK CHRONOMETER $17 200
74 SPRING 2023 SHARPMAGAZINE COM