Many relationships between exceptional cars and fine timepieces have flourished over the years.
These include the collaboration between Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin on the AMVOX5 and TAG Heuer with Mercedes for the SLR Chronograph (see links below).
TAG Heuer has an older relationship with Porsche, however, perhaps the oldest of any watch/car relationship. It's therefore no coincidence that the Porsche Club of America (PCA) has chosen TAG Heuer as its partner for a beautiful watch which celebrates 55 years of the club.
The relationship is based on famous racing heritage. In preparing to shoot Le Mans, US actor Steve McQueen's main source of inspiration was his friend Jo Siffert, the Swiss racecar legend who in 1969 became the first driver ever sponsored by a watch brand: Heuer (TAG, standing for Techniques d'Avantgarde, was added in 1985 as the result of a takeover).
McQueen insisted on wearing Heuer's Monaco in the film, which had just been launched. Perhaps it was McQueen's influence, or perhaps it was Porsche driver Siffert's, but the Monaco seemed to become the preferred chronograph of the racing and fashion worlds in the 1970s.
This watch, whose unique and uncompromising geometry helped achieve its almost legendary status, is one of the most recognizable timepieces in the world.
Celebrating 55 years of the PCA, Vu TH Nguyen, executive director of the Porsche Club of America, and Georg Bartkowiak, member of the Porsche Club of Germany, who lives near the heart of Porsche's manufacturing facilities in southern Germany, decided to create a limited collector's watch for the PCA.
 The Porsche Collectors of America limited edition watch (Click to enlarge) |
That is: a 55-piece limited edition timepiece for the largest single-brand club in the world.
Since Bartkowiak is an internationally recognized watch product manager (and CEO of high-end luxury watch brand Grieb & Benzinger Platinum), he has undertaken this prestigious project.
The official limited edition TAG Heuer Monaco manufactured for the Porsche Club of America can be ordered now, though projected delivery will not take place until September.
This automatic wristwatch includes a chronograph, the equivalent of a stopwatch on the wrist. Its special dial designed in red and black rally stripes and the racing number "55," as well as the PCA's logo engraved on the back, underscore the unique quality of this collector's watch.
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The time is also legible in darker conditions thanks to the use of luminous substance on the steel hands and hour markers. Additionally, this Swiss made watch is secured to the wrist by a special black leather strap with racing holes and red stitching that is not available at retail.
A true collector's timepiece due to its high quality and rarity, it is only available through the PCA in a limited edition of 55 pieces symbolizing 55 years of the club. This limited edition Monaco is sure to please collectors worldwide, and certainly prices for the exclusive edition will explode in the collector's market.
The official retail price at launch is $5,500 and the watch is for sale online.
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