Welcome to our luxxee magazine weekly wrap-up, where we bring you fresh news about what's going on in the watch world.
TAG and Nintendo team up!
My fondest memories growing up are around Nintendo and the effortless love they would put into their games to bring people together. I often look back on my childhood to the days of playing video games for hours on end with my best friends. Games like Legend of Zelda, Kirby, Megaman, and Mario Kart. As you get older, you don’t have time for video games. You end up gaining new passions, new perspectives and life experiences. As I’ve gotten older, I picked up watch collecting and a passion for horology. I’m beyond excited to talk about my worlds colliding and the most recent collaboration between TAG Heuer and Nintendo with the release of a Formula 1 x Mario Kart.
If you’ve been following TAG Heuer watches closely, the brand released a Connected x Super Mario LE last year, which was an obvious hit for both Heuer and Nintendo fans. The watch sold out quickly, prompting TAG to create two more limited editions; a Formula 1 Chronograph and a Formula 1 Chronograph tourbillon featuring our favourite plumber and a couple of others–a blue shell and Bullet Bill on the tourbillon version.
The Formula 1 x Mario Kart chronograph features the Heuer calibre 16 based on an SW200 or the ETA7750. The movement is housed in a 44mm stainless steel case with an engraving of the Mario Kart logo on the case back. The crown features a red M, Mario’s symbol in the game, and on his hat. The carbon fibre dial features three sub-dials, a characteristic of the 7750, and you’ll see Mario in the 9 o’clock sub-dial speeding along. In the 3 o’clock position, instead of a date window, the complication rotates through different items in the game– a representation of the item window shown after hitting a mystery item box. The Formula 1 x Mario Kart Chronograph is limited to 3,000 pieces.
The Formula 1 x Mario Kart chronograph tourbillon is an extraordinary piece and a fantastic representation of how a gaming-inspired watch can be beautiful. The 45mm Grade 5 titanium case houses the COSC-certified Heuer O2T movement, which can be seen through the sapphire case back, featuring a laser engraving of the Mario Kart logo. Turning our focus to the dial, you’ll notice it's skeletonized, giving the wearer the chance to see every nook and cranny of the Heuer O2T. The Formula 1 x Mario Kart chronograph tourbillon is limited to just 250 pieces.
I’m not sure if you can tell, but having the chance to write about this watch made my inner child happy. TAG knocked it out of the park with this release, and I’m excited to see these in stores. Writing this piece made me think back to simpler times and the many Friday and Saturday nights spent ordering pizza and having a Mario Kart tournament in my living room. Beautiful memories packed into a beautiful watch.
Timex hits its apex. The New Timex Q Chronograph
The smell of race fuel and rubber in the air, a beautiful car in front of you, the helmet goes on, and you feel the power in your hands as you grab the steering wheel. I’ll be honest, I’m surprised it took this long for Timex to release a watch like this, but at the same time, I’m glad they took their time, no pun intended. I grew up in a racing family, and Timex is one of my favourite brands, so a racing chronograph from Timex is something I was bound to love.
The Timex Q line represents the brand through the 1970s; therefore, Timex released a 70s-styled racing chronograph. However, the Timex version hits harder for me since it’s a more budget-friendly equivalent, and the Q design has differences, which make it look stunning. Offered in a panda (cream dial) and evil panda (black dial) variations, you can see the inspiration pulled from other vintage racing chronographs found on drivers' wrists, such as Clay Regazzoni, Mario Andretti, James Hunt and Jacky Ickx. The Heuer Autavia, Omega Speedmaster and Rolex Daytona are just a few design inspiration examples.
The new Q chronographs feature a quartz movement inside a 40mm brushed and polished stainless steel case. The watch features the obvious chronograph complication, a colour-matched date wheel between 4 and 5 o’clock, and is water resistant up to 50 meters. The Q chronograph is available on a quick-release leather strap or a 70s-styled adjustable stainless steel bracelet. The design is clean and elegant, offering that racing aesthetic but keeping it at a price point accessible to all collectors at any stage in their journey.
The new Timex Q Chronograph is a great way to negotiate with the past and create a unique timepiece that holds so much nostalgia towards a golden era of European motorsports. Timex's direction with their designs across all their models and lines has been outstanding, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
The Social Corner: @munich_watch_lover
If you’re a member of the watch fam on Instagram, there is one profile you NEED to check out, and that’s @munich_watch_lover. I don’t know him by name, but Munich has been following me for quite some time and likes to be my daily dose of Swiss luxury and amazing watch content.
His profile features brands of all sorts, such as Patek Philippe, Zenith, Vacheron Constantin, Bvlgari, and more affordable watches like Seiko, Spinnaker, Squale, Peren and Geckota.
Munich Watch Lover focuses on his deep love, passion and enthusiasm for all things horological, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy. He recently shared a Paul Newman Daytona ref. 6263 in absolutely stunning condition. Check him out!
Thank you for reading luxxee's weekly wrap-up and don't forget to come back next week to see what’s happening in the watch world!
