ACWS
Tag Heuer celebrated 30 years on Seas
Tuesday 22 May 2012
TAG Heuer starts “30 years of Aquaracer” celebrations in style in Venezia launching the new Aquaracer 500 ultra slim mechanical watch as well as the Oracle Team USA Limited editions mechanical chronographs and watches. The Oracle Team USA chronograph is worn by TAG Heuer ambassador James Spithill, leading the America’s Cup World Series 2011-2012 after finishing on the podium in Venezia Match and Fleet races run this week-end.
During America’s Cup World Series round in Venice, TAG Heuer unveiled the new Aquaracer 500M due to be delivered as of September 2012.
30 years after the launch of the 2000 series, the universe of the Aquaracer did not change : it’s made of competition, passion, and performance. The new Aquaracer 500 showcases unrivalled mastering of technology and design. Slimmer than ever, the 500 meters waterproof mechanical watch does not compromise on quality and reliability but takes the Aquaracer to new heights in terms of elegance and sophistication with its thin polished steel caseband and avant-garde unscratchable and refined ceramic black and blue bezels.
TAG Heuer took the occasion of its partnership with America’s Cup World Series scoreboard leader, Oracle Team USA “Spithill”, to also introduce its Oracle Team USA 2012 Limited editions, namely an Aquaracer 500 mechanical Watch and a Mechanical Chronograph, specially designed to meet the demanding requirements of Oracle Team USA, the Defender of the 34th America’s Cup, and its lead team members, Russell Coutts, James Spithill and Darren Bundock.
For its second major event in Europe with ORACLE TEAM USA, TAG Heuer and guests lived a stunning experience in Venice, watching AC45 boats competing within the mythical ‘Grand Canal’ in front of Piazza San Marco.
Aquaracer 500: Crafted for Intense Life !
Venice, Italy – May 18th 2012
Through partnerships with sailing teams, TAG Heuer has been involved in the America’s Cup, one of the world’s greatest sport trophies, for almost 40 years. All started in 1967 when TAG Heuer was the official timekeeper of Intrepid, two times America’s Cup winner. Over the years, the Swiss watch brand supporting several teams including ORACLE BMW Racing in 2003 for the 31st America’s Cup.
“We are proud to be back on board with ORACLE TEAM USA, the Defender for the 34th America’s Cup” said Jean-Christophe Babin, TAG Heuer President and CEO. “Being already associated with top team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and its top drivers Lewis Hamilton & Jenson Button in Formula 1, rather than Audi Sport at Le Mans 24, it sounds logical for us to support the Defender for the 34th America’s Cup with such well-known athletes: Russell Coutts, 4 times winner of the America’s Cup and Jimmy Spithill, the youngest ever winner of the Cup.”
And the Swiss brand has a strong knowledge and experience in water-resistance watchmaking, from its first water-resistant patent in 1895 to the first Aquaracer series launched in 1982 under the “2000 series” name. Since 1982, the Aquaracer has been the single most sold TAG Heuer series worldwide, today adorning the wrist of several millions of watch lovers. It evolved in performances, style and quality but never compromised on its K iconic codes and functionalities: unsurpassed waterproofness, unidirectional turning bezel with 6 studs for easy handling as well as easiness to read days and nights thanks to oversized although elegant indexes. To celebrate this historical anniversary, TAG Heuer developed groundbreaking new products: “We want to break every record ever set, for both man and machine,” said TAG Heuer President and CEO Jean-Christophe Babin. “We challenged our teams to create the most elegant yet resistant Aquaracer watch ever. Ceramic became obvious. A material that is four times harder than steel, yet lighter; unscratchable, yet precious. A perfect fit for the new Aquaracer, water resistant to 500M, a watch with “performance” in its DNA.” Ceramic makes the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 500M Ceramic watches uniquely suitable for the most thrilling sailing adventure on the planet.
The Aquaracer ‘Team USA’ watch and chronograph complete this launch, as a tribute to TAG Heuer’s partnership with ORACLE TEAM USA. These limited editions pieces combine all features of the other Aquaracer together with specific details such as the “DEFENDER” and “TEAM USA” logos on the dial. “We are glad to have such a great partner as TAG Heuer is. We are sharing this passion for innovation, pioneering and obviously sailing”, explained Russell Coutts, CEO of ORACLE TEAM USA. “It’s an honor to wear the Aquaracer ‘TEAM USA’ limited edition and the entire team is proud to contribute in the launch of the new Aquaracer 500M series.” Russell Coutts and skippers of the two ORACLE TEAM USA boats, Jimmy Spithill and Darren Bundock, are wearing Aquaracer 500M ‘Team USA’ Calibre 16 44mm chronographs, while the rest of the sailors is endorsing Aquaracer 500M ‘Team USA’ Calibre 5 43mm watches.
From Wednesday the 16th to Sunday the 20th, the America’s Cup World Series offered to Italian public an amazing show in Venice ‘Grand Canal’. This is the reason why TAG Heuer decided to choose this event to launch the new Aquaracer 500M series and celebrate 30 years on Seas.
After 3 days of regattas in VeniceORACLE TEAM USA SPITHILL finished on the podium in both the fleet and match racing championships and now holds a 4-point lead in the 2011-12 ACWS Season Championship heading into next month’s final event. ” We wish them all the best for the end of this round which will take place in Newport and we’re looking forward the 34th America’s Cup match in San Francisco in September 2013!” concluded Jean-Christophe Babin.
