TAG Heuer is famed for its long-term association with motorsports and recently marked 80 years of the Monaco Grand Prix with a skeletonised version of its iconic Monaco racing chronograph. But for watch enthusiasts, there’s another TAG collaboration that is just as memorable, and which produced one of the Swiss watchmaker’s most lusted-after rarities – yacht racing. It’s been 40 years since TAG Heuer discontinued the colourful and distinctive Skipper model, but 2023 sees the return of this classic sailing watch.
You’ll also like:
Let’s be clear, you’re unlikely to get your hands on the original groundbreaking TAG Heuer Skipper. First created in 1968, there were only 300 of the early models produced and the later models ceased production in 1983. In that time, the design made quite an impact on watch fans, so much so that a limited edition Hodinkee collaborative model was released in 2017.
This latest iteration is inspired by the earliest models but utilizes TAG’s recently introduced ‘glassbox’ Carrera design. This innovative feature forgoes a bezel and instead has an oversized crystal paired with a curved dial. It means this new 39mm Skipper feels and wears like a smaller watch and is highly legible.
Of course, it’s the yacht racing colour palette and the unusual chronograph features that made the original Skipper such a memorable watch. Originally, TAG took the colouring from the deck of the America’s Cup boat Intrepid to use on the countdown sub-dial. It’s an instantly recognisable blue that is now an integral part of the Skipper DNA. The dial itself features a deeper maritime blue with a sunray finish.
The perfectly placed chronograph counters give this watch its distinctive aesthetic, with the sub-dial at 9 o’clock counting 12 hours and displaying the Skipper wording. At 6 o’clock sits the subtle small seconds sub-dial with the date window tucked neatly below. But it’s the remaining sub-dial that grabs your attention and features the signature ‘Intrepid blue’.
This unique feature was created specifically for racing yacht Skippers who had the unenviable task of getting a moving boat to an unmarked startline in the middle of a choppy ocean. The sub-dial counts down 15 minutes, in colourful 5-minute segments.
The specialist yacht racing dial and innovative Glassbox construction are matched with TAG’s in-house Calibre TH20-06 chronograph movement. The chronograph features are controlled by bold pushers and the movement is visible through an exhibition back. TAG boasts that this latest Skipper watch is the flagship model for a host of new maritime-inspired watches.
TAG Heuer Skipper
Reference: CBS2213.FN6002
Diameter: 39mm
Height: 13.9mm
Case: Stainless Steel
Movement: Calibre TH20-06
Strap: Water Resistant Textile
Water Resistance: 100M
Price: AUD $9,800
