By John Galt
Tag Heuer association with the legendary endurance race; Le Mans 24 hour is a long one stretching all the way back to the 1970’s with their collaboration with Ferrari, but I’m sure most of you will remember Steve McQueen wearing a Monaco in the infamous film Le Mans.
For 2015 Tag Heuer are partnering with the Nissan Nismo team who after an absence of 16years are back and back with a bang, their revolutionary new car is one of a kind and the only car in the 2015 line-up to be powered this way, we are talking 1,000 horsepower, hybrid front wheel drive and a V6 3-litre engine.
To commemorate this collaboration between TAG and Nissan, TAG has released a Nismo special edition timepiece the TAG Carrera Nismo Calibre 16.
The 43mm case is made in titanium and coated in black then micro-blasted with titanium carbide which makes it extremely resistant to scratching and a lot lighter than stainless steel, the bezel is ceramic featuring a tachometer scale and an NISMO logo in printed. Dial on the piece is black with nice dark charcoal grey pinstripes with the NISMO logo inserted into the sub-seconds chronograph dial, the rest of the dial is made up as we come to expect from TAG and their calibre 16 chronograph’s with day & date displayed at 3’o’clock, subdials at 12 & 6’o’clock showing hours and minutes. TAG Heuer has added several splattering’s of red accents over the piece including the chronograph hands and central second hand giving it an even sportier feel.
This special edition Calibre 16 uses either the ETA 7750 or its clone the Sellita SW-500 movement as its base with a tri-compax layout, a cam actuated 12-hour chronograph with Day-date indication and beats at 4-hertz frequency. An automatic rotor keeps the 42-hour power reserve replenished. The case back is solid so no exhibition to see the beating heart but does feature the Nissan NISMO decal.
Finishing of the special edition is a soft touch matt black alligator strap with red stitching.
Water resistant to 100m.
The TAG Heuer Carrera Nismo Calibre 16 special edition is priced at $5,300 but we are led to believe even though it is a special edition it will not be non-limited.
Conclusion
I must say this collaboration works perfectly for both sides; it helps TAG to remain as part of the Le Mans culture and also Nissan after their long absence from Le Mans are back with a one of a kind car. Piecewise it is what we have come to expect from TAG and their sporty race-derived editions. Cool looks coupled with robust build this is one to definitely have on your wrist at Le Mans.
For more info, please visit tagheuer.com
JOHN GALT – CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
John Galt caught thehorology bug back in 2010 on his first visit to a London watch show and has snowballed since; John has become an avid writer and blogger of timepieces of all kinds, from everyday timepieces to modern Luxury HauteHorology, his favorite brands being HYT and GreubelForsey that push the boundaries of modern watch-making. John keeps a keen interest in the UK watch scene with their many emerging brands and timepiece’s. John Galt currently contributes watch related articles for online publications in the UK and USA. You can follow John on Twitter @johng73 Read his articles here.
