Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland – 13 October 2022: After kicking off their partnership in 2021 with the TAG Heuer Connected x Super Mario Limited Edition which quickly became a must-have among fans, the Swiss luxury watchmaker and Nintendo are back with two limited-edition mechanical watches this year, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 × Mario Kart Limited Editions (Chronograph and Chronograph Tourbillon).

Fans of the energetic, intrepid Super Mario will recognize their favorite character taking over one of TAG Heuer’s emblematic collections, fittingly dedicated to racing. The two never-seen-before designs were achieved through close collaboration between the TAG Heuer and Nintendo teams to customize every detail of these pieces. The watches highlight the common themes shared by the TAG Heuer Formula 1 collection and the Mario Kart series: adrenaline, speed, competitiveness, all the way to victory.

“We are excited to reveal the two latest pieces born from our collaboration with Nintendo. The TAG Heuer Formula 1 X Mario Kart Limited Editions (Chronograph and Chronograph Tourbillon) expertly mix fun gaming references that will delight fans of Mario Kart around the world, with refined and high performing timekeeping.” explains Frédéric Arnault, CEO of TAG Heuer. “The spirit of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 collection was the perfect match for mechanical Mario Kart limited editions, thanks to its modern and playful personality, driven by speed and friendly competition. The two timepieces are designed for lovers of fine watchmaking who have kept their fresh, fun outlook on life.”

Powered by the automatic Calibre 16 movement, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 × Mario Kart Limited Edition (Chronograph) is limited to 3000 pieces. It was imagined in a 44-mm steel case infused with references to the world-famous racing games series: the Mario Kart logo is inscribed on the black polished ceramic tachymeter bezel with Super-LumiNova®, the 2 o’clock pusher and crown are circled with an iconic red lacquer, Mario’s M symbol is etched on the crown and Mario Kart logo is engraved on the dedicated screwed-down case back along with the outline of him in a racecar.

The bold, assertive, and elegant dial features a black and anthracite checkered pattern inspired by the racetrack, custom asphalt textured sub-counters with Mario appearing in the 9 o’clock permanent seconds indicator which is circled in an iconic red. The unmistakable color is also present on the lacquered central hand, hour chronograph counter hand and 60-second or minute scale on the flange.

Delighting its owner with “easter eggs” or extra surprises, the date window at 3 o’clock will regularly intercalate fan favorite Mario Kart items including Bullet Bill, the Banana and more, in lieu of the date number.

The Haute Horlogerie piece of this drop is the TAG Heuer Formula 1 × Mario Kart Limited Edition (Chronograph Tourbillon), limited to only 250 pieces.

The slightly larger 45-mm case is made of high-performance grade 5 titanium, projecting a sporty yet refined look, which mixes fine-brushed and polished finishings. The crown and pushers are fine-brushed steel, and the screwed-down case back is grade 5 titanium with a custom sapphire glass featuring the Mario Kart logo, through which TAG Heuer’s high precision COSC-certified Calibre Heuer 02T movement can be fully appreciated. The case back is engraved with XXX/250.

The black polished ceramic bezel with a tachymeter scale up to 400 km/h includes the Mario Kart logo in white Super-LumiNova® at the top right. The 2 o’clock pusher and crown are circled with red lacquer with the “M” symbol of Mario also highlighted on the top of the crown.

The dial is a sophisticated skeletonized black with an iconic red contrasting lines along the cutouts, adding depth and energy to the watch’s face, and a matching central hands and 60-second or minute scale on the flange.

The tri-compax layout showcases two grained chronograph sub-counters at 3 and 9 o’clock, with the tourbillon centered at 6 o’clock. At 12 o’clock, a gearwheel echoes the rims on racecar tires. The tourbillon cage with alternate finishings and circled with Super-LumiNova® was fully redesigned to showcase Mario in his kart, the Spiny Shell and Bullet Bill moving in rhythm with the complication.

Both timepieces share a black calf leather strap with contrasting red stitching and lining and a custom embossed pattern. The folding buckle – made of steel on the chronograph and titanium on the tourbillon - is also personalized with the “M” symbol of Mario. They will be presented in specially developed black watch boxes with matching travel pouches.

Two unmissable highlights of TAG Heuer’s limited editions in 2022, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 × Mario Kart Limited Edition chronographs bring unbridled creativity, fresh style and high watchmaking performance to Mario fans worldwide.

Available from 20 October 2022, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 × Mario Kart Limited Edition (Chronograph) will be sold exclusively in TAG Heuer boutiques, on the brands’ e-commerce websites in select countries, as well as at select retail partners. The TAG Heuer Formula 1 × Mario Kart Limited Edition (Chronograph Tourbillon) will be sold exclusively in TAG Heuer boutiques and on the brands’ e-commerce websites in select countries.

TAG Heuer, founded in 1860 by Edouard Heuer in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland, is a luxury watch brand that is part of LVMH Moët Hennessey Louis Vuitton SE (“LVMH”), the world’s leading luxury group. Based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland and with four production sites, TAG Heuer has 1470 employees and is active in  139  countries. TAG Heuer products are available online on the watchmaker’s website, select countries and in 160 boutiques and 3,500  points of sale worldwide. The company  is headed up by Frédéric Arnault, CEO of TAG Heuer.  

For 160 years, TAG Heuer has demonstrated pure avant-garde watchmaking spirit and a commitment to innovation with revolutionary technologies that have included the oscillating pinion for mechanical stopwatches in 1887, the  Mikrograph in 1916, the first automatic-winding chronograph movement – Calibre 11 – in 1969, the first luxury smartwatch in 2015, and the ground-breaking  Isograph technology in 2019, made possible through a unique collaboration with the TAG Heuer Institute. Today, the  brand’s core collection consists of three iconic families  designed  by Jack Heuer – TAG Heuer Carrera, Monaco and Autavia  – and is rounded out with the contemporary Link, Aquaracer, Formula 1 and Connected lines.  

Capturing TAG Heuer’s motto, “Don’t Crack Under Pressure”, are prominent partnerships and brand ambassadors  that express the brand’s  passion for action and  high performance.

Reference	:	CAZ201E.FC6517
Limited edition	:	3000 pieces
Movement	:	Calibre 16 Automatic
Functions	:	Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Dial	:	Black dial, checkered pattern
Flange	:	Black flange with 60 second/minute scale 3 counters: 12 o’clock: black grained minute chronograph counter Rhodium-plated polished hand 6 o’clock: black grained hour chronograph counter Red lacquered hand 9 o’clock: black grained permanent second indicator Rhodium-platedpolished hand Rhodium-plated polished applied indexes with white Super-LumiNova® Rhodium-plated facetted, polished hour and minute hands with white Super-LumiNova® Red lacquered central hand with white Super-LumiNova® Angled date display at 3 o’clock White TAG HEUER applied logo FORMULA 1 CALIBRE 16 printed
Case	:	Polished and fine-brushed stainless-steel case Black ceramic polished
Diameter	:	44 mm
Bezel	:	Black ceramic polished tachymeter fixed
Glass	:	Flat sapphire crystal
Crown	:	Polished stainless-steel crown at 3 o’clock Fine-brushed stainless-steel push-buttons at 2 and 4 o’clock
Case back	:	Stainless-steel screwed with special engraving
Water resistance	:	200 m
Bracelet	:	Textured black calf skin strap with custom embossed pattern, red lining
Buckle	:	Fine-brushed steel folding clasp with double safety push-buttons
Prices	:	4,150 €
Availability	:	From October 2022