Tag Heuer Aquaracer 500m Oracle Team USA/ Defender Limited Editions
Swiss luxury watch brand TAG HEUER pays tribute to its two America’s Cup sailing partners – and the Aquaracer’s three decades at the helm of luxury yachting excellence – with a new fleet of limited edition watches and chronographs.
Swiss watchmaking legend TAG Heuer’s engagement to world-class yachting is in full sail this summer with official onboard involvement in two of the sport’s top events: and the 34th America’s Cup Finals September 7-21 with defending champion ORACLE TEAM USA and the first annual Red Bull Youth America’s Cup September 1-4 with the Swiss national TILT TEAM.
The main event is the America’s Cup, the world’s oldest active sporting trophy. This year’s Finals are being held in the San Francisco Bay, the home waters of TAG Heuer partner ORACLE TEAM USA, on board 72-foot (21.9 m) wing-sail catamarans.
The first-ever Red Bull Youth America’s Cup matches 10 national teams of six sailors, aged 19 to 24, on wing-sailed AC45 catamarans–the same platform used throughout 2011 and 2012 in the America’s Cup World Series events. With TAG Heuer’s support, the young sailors of TEAM TILT hope to bring the inaugural Red Bull Youth America’s Cup home to Switzerland.
Tag Heuer Aquaracer 500m Limited Editions
TAG Heuer, the world leader in prestigious and high-end chronographs, has participated in America’s Cup events since the 1960s, providing crews with technical support and special TAG Heuer eyewear and chronographs. This year, to celebrate its double role, the pioneering brand has launched a new fleet of limited edition Aquaracers equipped with helium valves and water-resistant to 500 meters.
(1) Tag Heuer Aquaracer 500m Calibre 72 Countdown Automatic Chronograph 43mm Oracle Team USA/ Defender Limited Edition
At the helm is the AQUARACER 500M CALIBRE 72 COUNTDOWN AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH 43 MM. Named after the official length of the 34th America’s Cup boats, stamped with the official “Team USA” logo on the dial and the iconic AC72 boat on its case back, the CALIBRE 72 was co-designed by TAG Heuer and ORACLE TEAM USA and is the favorite of legendary team CEO Sir Russell Coutts and skipper Jimmy Spithill.
With its unscratchable ceramic bezel, rubber coated pushers and screw-in crown; it is a true sailing countdown instrument, made to withstand the most extreme sailing conditions.
The countdown function at 12 o’clock makes for at-a-glance visualization of the 5 minutes before the official start of the race.
(2) Tag Heuer Aquaracer 500m Calibre 16 Chronograph 44 mm Oracle Team USA/ Defender Limited Edition
Launched in late 2012 after TAG HEUER and ORACLE TEAM USA announced their official partnership, the AQUARACER 500M CALIBRE 16 CHRONOGRAPH has a 44 mm brushed steel case, black rubber rotating bezel and black rubber strap.
The dial features a “Team USA” logo and has three sub-dials for the chronograph. It is powered by an automatic movement and comes with a 42 hour power reserve.
(3) Tag Heuer Aquaracer 500m Calibre 5 Oracle Team USA/ Defender Limited Edition
The AQUARACER 500M CALIBRE 5, also launched in 2012, has a 43 mm brushed steel case with a black rotating bezel and a brushed steel bracelet or black rubber strap.
The dial features the “ORACLE TEAM USA” logo with oversized hour markers at the 12 and 6 o’clock position and the date window is at the 9 o’clock position. The Caliber 5 watch is powered by an automatic movement with a 38-hour power reserve.
All three AQUARACER 500M limited edition timepieces sport the official colors of ORACLE TEAM USA–red, black, and white–on the hands, pusher, and face.
Technical details
Model: Tag Heuer Aquaracer 500m Calibre 72 Countdown Automatic Chronograph 43mm Oracle Team USA/ Defender Limited Edition
References
CAK211B.BA0833: With stainless steel bracelet
CAK211B.FT8019: With rubber strap
Case
Stainless steel case, fine-brushed/polished
Bezel: Black ceramic unidirectional bezel
Automatic helium valve at 10 o’clock
Water resistant to 500m
Dial
Black dial with horizontal streak effect
Hand-applied indexes and numerals 3, 6, 9 and 12
Luminescent hands and indexes are hand-applied
Running second at 9 o’clock
Hand-applied Tag Heuer logo (Team USA OR Defender)
Team USA or Defender logos
Diamond shaped hands
Red chronograph and 30-minute counter hands
Skeleton hour and minute hands
Chronograph minutes counter at 3 o’clock
Movement
TAG Heuer Calibre 72, Swiss Made, Automatic
Diameter: 30.0mm (13 ‘’’)
51 rubies
Rapid date correction
Balance frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz).
Power reserve: about 40 hours
Decoration: Fine-brushed oscillating mass with « TAG Heuer – Calibre 72 – Swiss Made » engraving
Display
Hours and minutes
Small seconds at 3 o’clock
Chronograph minutes at 9
Chronograph hour counter at 6 o’clock
Chronograph central second
Minutes countdown disc at 12 o’clock
Date window
Bracelet
Stainless steel bracelet/ black rubber strap
Model: Tag Heuer Aquaracer 500m Calibre 16 Chronograph 44 mm Oracle Team USA/ Defender Limited Edition
References
CAJ2111.BA0872: Black dial with Team USA Logo, stainless steel bracelet
CAJ2111.FT6036: Black dial with Team USA Logo, black rubber strap
CAJ2112.BA0872: Black dial with Defender Logo, stainless steel bracelet
CAJ2112.FT6036: Black dial with Defender Logo, black rubber strap
Case
Stainless steel case, fine-brushed finish
Black rubber unidirectional turning bezel
Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
Screw-in black rubber over-molded crown with Tag Heuer logo
Black rubber over-molded push buttons with grooves on the side
Screw-in case back with a special Oracle Racing boat stamping
Fine brushed steel automatic helium valve at 10 with red tip
Dial
Black dial with vertical streak effect
Hand-applied indexes and numerals 3, 6, 9 and 12
Chronograph Minute at 12 counters with azurage
Chronograph Hour at 6 counters with azurage
Running second at 9
Red 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph hands, and chronograph second hand with red tip
Rhodium plated hour and minute hands and indexes
Hand-applied Tag Heuer logo (Team USA or Defender)
Team USA or Defender logos
Date window at 3 o’clock
Movement
TAG Heuer Calibre 16
Swiss Made Automatic movement
Diameter: 30.4 mm (13 ¼”’) — 25 rubies
Rapid date correction
Balance frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz).
Power reserve: about 42 hours.
Decoration: Oscillating mass: “Côtes de Genève”, engraved “TAG Heuer — Calibre 16 — Swiss Made”.
Display
Hours and minutes
Small seconds at 9 o’clock
Chronograph counters for hours and minutes
Central seconds counter
Date window
Bracelet
Stainless steel bracelet, fine-brushed / polished finish
Black rubber strap
Model: Tag Heuer Aquaracer 500m 43 mm Calibre 5 Oracle Team USA/ Defender Limited Edition
References
WAJ2118.BA0870: Stainless steel case, black rubber turning bezel, Black dial with Team USA logo, and stainless steel bracelet
WAJ2118.FT6015: Stainless steel case, black rubber turning bezel, Black dial with Team USA logo, and black rubber strap
WAJ2119.BA0870: Stainless steel case, black rubber turning bezel, Black dial with Defender logo, and stainless steel bracelet
WAJ2119.FT6015: Stainless steel case, black rubber turning bezel, Black dial with Defender logo, and black rubber strap
WAJ2182.FT6015: Grade 2 titanium case coated with titanium carbide, Black dial, 18K rose gold bezel, and black rubber strap
Movement
TAG Heuer Calibre 5
Swiss Made Automatic movement
Diameter: 26 mm (11 ½”’) — 25 to 26 rubies depending on the execution.
Rapid date correction
Balance frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz).
Power reserve: 38 hours.
Oscillating mass decorated with Côtes de Genève*, engraved “TAG Heuer — Calibre 5 — Swiss Made”
Display
Hours, minutes and seconds
Date window
Other features
43mm diameter case
Sapphire crystal glass with double antireflective treatment
Unidirectional turning bezel
Black dial with vertical streak effect
Rhodium plated hour and minute hands and indexes
Red second hand
Hand-applied Tag Heuer logo (Team USA OR Defender)
Team USA or Defender logos
Screw-in black rubber over-molded crown with Tag Heuer logo
Date window at 9 o’clock with a magnifying lens
Fine brushed steel automatic helium valve at 10 with red tip
Hand-applied indexes
Sapphire case-back with a special Oracle Racing black printed lettering
