TAG Heuer unveils its latest collaboration with Porsche, with the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963, a captivating timepiece that celebrates the spirit of endurance racing and technological innovation.
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 is a remarkable timepiece inspired by the Porsche 963. It is limited to just 963 pieces worldwide as a nod to the name of the racing car.
Porsche is the most successful manufacturer in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race with 19 overall wins. The development of the Porsche 963, governed by the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona Hybrid) regulations, underscores Porsche's commitment to innovation.
The Porsche 963 is the pinnacle of Porsche’s engineering expertise, based on a Multimatic chassis derived from the LMP2 category – a second edition Le Mans Prototype developed and designed to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It features an advanced combustion engine able to run on renewable fuels, with its origins in the Porsche 918 Spyder road car. The Porsche 963 has been gathering victories on many famous racetracks across the globe.
Ahead of the 92nd edition of Le Mans taking place from 15 to 16 June, to celebrate the allure of endurance racing, its history and prowess, the newly-launched TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 embodies this drive for excellence.
TAG Heuer has integrated several distinctive Porsche elements into the design of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963. The bezel proudly features a luminescent Porsche logo, allowing for legibility even in the dark, while the strap decor showcases the Porsche 963 logo. Additionally, the watch incorporates Porsche’s iconic steering wheel motif in the oscillating mass, and a Porsche logo in 3D on the side of the steel case.
The colors chosen for the watch are the iconic racing colours of Porsche motorsport: white, red and black.
“In celebration of Porsche’s racing successes, we are extremely proud to have worked on such a timepiece with our partner. The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 is an exceptional horological piece that represents all the values we stand for: design excellence, endurance, and the surpassing of one’s limits. We particularly look forward to Porsche’s performance this year and wish all the best to the Porsche team on the racetracks” said Julien Tornare, CEO of TAG Heuer.
Blending automotive engineering with horology, the sub-dials feature four Super-LumiNova (SLN) blocks, drawing inspiration from Porsche’s innovative LED light design on the modern-day icon, the Porsche 911.
In the dark, the SLN blocks on the dial, along with the SLN-coated date revealer, illuminate the Porsche-inspired design elements, enhancing the watch’s visual appeal and practicality. These elements ensure exceptional legibility in all conditions, resonating with the endurance of 24- hour races, as drivers will be racing day and night.
The positioning of the red indexes at 04:00PM on the dial symbolizes the excitement and adrenaline associated with the countdown to a race start, capturing the essence of competitive racing within the watch’s design language.
Crafted with boldness and technical sophistication, the watch features a striking skeleton dial with tubular shapes reminiscent of Porsche’s racing car chassis — reflecting the minimalist yet robust construction seen in motorsport.
The bezel, made from forged carbon, mirrors the lightweight, high-performance components of the Porsche 963, enhancing both aesthetics and the connection to motorsport.
High craftsmanship is evident with the in-house TH20-00 movement, featuring a personalized red column wheel, emphasizing the technical savoir faire of this vertical clutch chronograph movement. The vertical position of the chronograph mechanism’s coupling, similar to the systems found in cars connecting the engine’s flywheel with the transmission, in the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 provides for a smooth and “jump free“ actuation of the stopping function.
The watch’s rubber strap shape is inspired by the NACA-style low-drag air inlets, often featured on Porsche race cars all the way back to the record-breaking Porsche 917, adding a further subtle nod to the deep shared heritage in endurance racing.
Each TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 is individually numbered XXX/963 and is presented in a dedicated packaging, complete with a travel pouch and a mention of its limited-edition status.
This exclusive collaboration with Porsche represents a unique bond rooted in motorsport heritage and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
