SpotlightRacing With Bold Stripes: Presenting The TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph X Gulf Timepiece

For their latest collaborative timepiece with Gulf Oil, TAG Heuer showcase fine watchmaking skills within their more accessible Formula 1 collection of timepieces. After limited editions of their square watch whose dials were decorated in Gulf Oil’s bright orange and blue hues, the official Formula One timekeepers present the new TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph X Gulf timepiece. Besides understated design tweaks to case and bezel that evoke the oil company’s iconic hues, a change in arrangement of sub-dials lets the distinctive orange and blue stripes stand out prominently on the dial. Little else disturbs these signature colours that pop against the matt black dial, and other highlights in colour only serve to enhance these contrasts.

Chance Encounters, Strategic Partnerships, And A Lasting Relationship: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph X Gulf Watch

In the 1971 film Le Mans, as fictional race car driver Michael Delaney, actor Steve McQueen drove a Gulf-sponsored Porsche 917K while wearing the Gulf livery, paired with the Heuer Monaco, in a square, water-resistant case. The film marked the start of the friendship between the three brands, though it wasn’t until much later that the first TAG Heuer X Gulf watch was released. Both the brand’s square Monaco line and the more accessible Formula 1 collection feature the Gulf stripes on dials of limited edition timepieces. After the Monaco watch in titanium housing a white dial and Gulf stripes released last year, this year, TAG Heuer watches present the Formula 1 Chronograph X Gulf watch in a sandblasted titanium case. Incidentally, this is the first Formula 1 X Gulf timepiece to be cased in titanium, and also the first to be driven by an automatic movement. At 44mm, it is also marginally larger than previous variants—whose cases were sized at 43mm—so as to accommodate the calibre 16 that powers the watch.

Marked with a tachymeter scale, the fixed bezel features a forged carbon insert, and its unique marbling frames the matt black dial. Logos of both TAG Heuer and Gulf Oil are displayed prominently at 12 and one o’clock on the bezel, respectively. Between the bezel and case is an orange ring that evokes the Gulf logo and enhances dimensionality of the case construction. Black DLC treatment decorates the crown at three and pushers, and a lacquered orange ring on the former matches the hue beneath the bezel. From the sandblasted titanium case flows a matching, integrated, three-link bracelet with the same muted metallic sheen as the case.

Between the bezel and titanium case is an orange ring that evokes the Gulf logo and enhances dimensionality of the case construction. On the black DLC treated crown is a matching lacquered orange ring

Racing Hues Of Black, Orange, Blue: TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph X Gulf Watch

On the periphery of the black opaline dial is a blue ring that offsets the orange beneath the bezel. Vertical stripes in orange and light blue run from one o’clock to five o’clock on the dial, extending all the way up to the flange that houses the minute track. These are only interrupted by the blue ring around the dial and date window at three o’clock. The 30-minute recorder at 12 o’clock and 12-hour counter at six o’clock only barely overlap on the blue stripe. Against the black of both these sub-dials, an orange hand stands out, and matches the centrally mounted chronograph hand. On the small seconds sub-dial at nine, a light blue hand indicates the current second, and skeletonised central timekeeping hands are partially filled with Super-LumiNova for easy legibility. Redesigned indexes are curved, faceted and filled with Super-LumiNova, with corresponding orange marks that interrupt the minute track on the flange.

Vertical stripes in orange and light blue run down the dial, and across the flange that houses the minute track. These are only interrupted by the blue ring on the periphery of the dial, and the date window at three o’clock

Bold and direct, the TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chronograph X Gulf timepiece emphasises the lasting impact of the Le Mans film in the brands’ shared history. And whether or not the first encounter was serendipitous, the fact that the relationship has lasted this long goes to show how much they have in common. Each new timepiece that celebrates their relationship serves to highlight their meaningful shared history and the brands’ aligned goals for the future of motorsport.