A limited edition novelty in honor of the Indianapolis 500 race.
TAG Heuer has introduced a new piece from the Formula 1 collection. The watch is dedicated to the American race 'Indianapolis 500', also known as the 'Indy 500'.
The watch is designed for an audience that engages with motorsport beyond the racetrack. Plus, TAG Heuer acknowledges current trends and the growing presence of women in racing culture. Hence, the compact case of the novelty is 38mm in diameter. The case is made of sandblasted steel and comes with a matching bracelet featuring three-row links. The case is water-resistant up to 100 meters.
The dial and case back feature the Indy 500 logo. The case back is also adorned with a brickwork engraving, referencing the surface at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that marked the finish line for many generations of racers. The black dial contrasts with the brown minute track. The texture of the case resembles the functional surfaces of racing cars.
The lightweight bidirectional bezel is made of TH polylight plastic. Large hands and applied hour markers with white Super LumiNova provide optimal visibility, even if lighting conditions worsen. The markers at the '6', '9', and '12 o'clock' positions have a shield shape, directly linking the novelty with the visual codes of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 collection.
The model is powered by the Solargraph movement, which uses both natural and artificial light as an almost unlimited energy source. One minute of direct sunlight exposure is enough for the watch to run for a whole day. A full charge of the mechanism takes no less than 40 hours, but the result is impressive - 10 months of autonomous operation in complete darkness.
If the mechanism stops, it is easy to 'revive': just hold the watch in the light for at least 10 seconds. The battery life is 15 years. The watch is limited to a series of 1,110 pieces. The estimated cost of the model is $2,250.