Watch News: TAG introduces sailing smartwatch

TAG Heuer has created what it is calling the first Swiss sports “smartwatch,” made for the crew of Oracle Team USA to wear when competing in the 34th America’s Cup.

Michelle Graff michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com

TAG President and CEO Stephane Linder said the smartwatch the brand created for the sailing team Oracle Team USA “represents the next generation of competitive sport technology.”New York--TAG Heuer has created what it is calling the first Swiss sports “smartwatch,” made for the crew of Oracle Team USA to wear when competing in the 34th America’s Cup.

The special versions of the Aquaracer 500M Calibre 72 Countdown chronograph TAG Heuer created are customized for the tasks of each specific sailor and wirelessly link to the boat’s onboard computers to give the crew access to race condition data in real time. The high-contrast LED screen displays constantly updated information on how the boat and its sails are behaving, relaying data such as boat speed, foil balance, sail pressure and true wind speed, direction and angle.

The 51 mm watch, which TAG Heuer said is also the first smartwatch created for competitive sailing, has a leather strap and utilizes the brand’s patented “splashproof” technology, first used for TAG Heuer eyewear.

TAG Heuer made only 50 of these special Aquaracer 72 watches and none are available commercially.
The brand does make a number of limited-edition watches that pay homage to the Oracle team, including a limited-edition, but less sophisticated, version of the Aquaracer 72, an Aquaracer 500M Calibre 16 Chronograph and an Aquaracer 500M Calibre 5.

So-called smartwatches made headlines earlier this month when Samsung beat Apple in the race to produce an ultra-modern watch that works with today’s cell phones. The Samsung Gear debuted on Sept. 4 and operates in tandem with the Galaxy Note 3 smartphone.

Tudor calls it a comeback
High-end Swiss watch brand Tudor marked its return to the American market with a party held Sept. 12, the final night of New York Fashion Week, at the IAC Building in Manhattan.

Created in 1926, the brand name Tudor was registered for Hans Wilsdorf, the co-founder of Rolex. The brand relaunched in 2007, and, along with Rolex, comprises the portfolio owned by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation.

Those in attendance at the event included stage and screen actor Alan Cumming and New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey.

Tudor unveiled a specially branded Audi R8 commemorating the just-announced Tudor United SportsCar Championship sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association. Also on display were two Ducati Diavel Carbon motorcycles, showcased with the brand’s Fastrider Black Shield collection.

Tudor makes

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both men’s and women’s watches. The brand’s models, inspired by motorsports since the 1970s, include the Heritage Chrono Blue, Heritage Black Bay and Pelagos.

For Breitling and Bentley, it’s Beckham
Soccer star David Beckham, who was announced as a brand ambassador for Breitling in 2006, is now also the face of Breitling for Bentley and is starring in a new advertising campaign for the line.

American photographer Anthony Mandler shot the advertisement, the making of which is pictured below, featuring the British soccer star in the California desert. The brand said the “dark, original and striking” portrait is supposed to reflect the spirit of Breitling for Bentley.

Breitling started making Bentley-branded chronographs in 2003.

Jewelry co. debuts Swiss watch collection
Alor International Ltd., the jewelry company founded by the Zemer family in 1979, recently launched Alor Swiss Watches. The brand has six collections on tap for fall/winter 2013.

They are: 1979, Alor, Cavo, Valenti, Forte and EliteSub. While several of the styles can be worn by both genders, the brand’s emphasis is on creating timepieces for women.

Price points range from $695 to $4,000, and the watches will be available for retail sale nationwide in mid-October.

“It’s about time, It’s about me,” is the brand’s tagline and its fall advertising campaign includes national TV commercials and full-page ads in Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire and Niche Media publications. In addition, Alor is the official sponsor of the Los Angeles Confidential 2013 Emmy party.

Michelle Graffis the editor-in-chief at National Jeweler, directing the publication’s coverage both online and in print.