As stockbroker Jordan Belfort in Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-nominated The Wolf Of Wall Street, Leonardo DiCaprio wears a selection of vintage timepieces including the TAG Heuer series 1000 Professional.
The TAG Heuer 1000 is in fact a Diver’s watch. Why you would need a gold, rolex-inspired time piece 200m below deck is beyond me but then again, why bloomin’ not?
The 18k all-gold variant screams luxury and importance while the complementary black face is smart and business-like. A quick glance and it looks like an exact copy of Rolex’s steel Submariner.
When you learn about Jordan Belfort you realise this is the exact watch for him. Brash, over-the-top with an in-your-face, ‘I-am-rich’ style whilst simultaneously building a legacy on stealing worth from other companies.
Meanwhile, Wolf aside, November saw the official launch of TAG Heuer’s latest production facility at Chevenez, in north eastern Switzerland. Showcasing the first glimpse of its new in-house chronograph movement, the Calibre 1969, currently in limited production at the spanking new CHF10m plant.
As TAG Heuer’s new CEO, Stephane Linder, explained, the Calibre 1969 serves two functions. It allows TAG Heuer to shortly become the world’s largest manufacturer of monobranded mechanical chronographs, and increases still further the LVMH-owned company’s expertise in this particular function by combining a new, slimmer construction with a greatly increased power reserve (compared to its first in-house movement, 2009’s Calbire 1887) It’s not an easy alliance and one that makes the Calibre 1969 a leader in its field when it launches – most probably at next year’s Baselworld fair.
The new Calibre 1969 will be featured in the round-cased Carrera design most recently associated with TAG Heuer’s ground-breaking Mikrogirder and MikroToubillon S pieces.
Like all TAG Heuer’s designs is much more than just a stylish timepiece; it’s about function, practicality, craftmanship and power.
For the UK premiere, out-of-character Leonardo stuck to TAG Heuer by wearing his own Carrera Calibre 1887 (featuring TAG Heuer’s in-house movement).
The contemporary sports watch inspired by motor racing may be a relatively sober selection for Belfort to be wearing, but on DiCaprio, resplendent in a Giorgio Armani Prince of Wales check suit, the white dial with rose gold numerals and elegant alligator strap creates just the right impression. Detailed, smart and luxurious without the exasperating need to exaggerate and show off.
So, whether it’s deep sea diving, fast car racing or simply worn under a silk shirt for a boardroom meeting; if you’re overtly ostentatious or shy and modest, there’s a TAG Heuer out there just for you.
