Following the seriousness of its Carrera RS 2.7-inspired Porsche collaboration, TAG Heuer has shifted gears in dramatic fashion with the new Formula 1 x Mario Kart releases โ a pair of limited editions that give nostalgic collectors a choice between a straight-down-the-middle chronograph ($4,300) and one of the brandโs most complicated mechanical watches ($25,600).
Both based on TAG Heuerโs Formula 1 collection of motoring-inspired sports timers, the more affordable Mario Kart chronograph features โeaster eggsโ from the eponymous Nintendo video game series in its date and totaliser displays. Meanwhile, the much pricier tourbillon-chronograph incorporates ephemera of the Super Mario Kart universe in a kinetic fashion: by affixing the gameโs characters and symbols directly to the tourbillon carriage.
Historically, the watch industry at large seldom passes up an opportunity to leverage pop cultureโs wide and whimsical appeal โ with everybody from OMEGA to Konstantin Chaykin having previously leaned into their collecting basesโ mutual fondness for fictional comic and cartoon characters.
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In TAG Heuerโs universe, the Mario connection started with the brandโs popular Connected smartwatch in 2021- this new release broadens the scope of that partnership even further, through the addition of mechanical watches.
As a watchmaking proposition (powered by TAGโs native Calibre 16) the steel chronograph is fairly self-explanatory. It does however contain several adorable nods to Nintendoโs iconic series: the base dial features the same chequerboard motif players will find in-game and Mario is pictured in his characteristic red kart inside the chronograph register at 9 oโclock.
Instead of a traditional date window, TAG Heuerโs designers have also peppered a number of power-up symbols that will be familiar to Mario Kart fans throughout the chronographโs 31-day cycle โ a small gesture that makes the experience of wearing this that much more cheerful.
The meteoric jump in price for the tourbillon-chronograph is due to that releaseโs use of titanium and, more importantly, the incorporation of the eponymous flying tourbillon. The dialโs layered multi-level design uses the red and black colour palette of Mario Kart to striking visual effect, though the main attraction is obviously the tourbillon cage: decorated at three points on its axis with Mario, who in turn chases (or is being chased) by the โspiny shellโ and โbullet billโ power-ups. TAGโs watchmakers have adjusted the complication so that it makes one revolution per minute.
In an industry that can sometimes take itself quite seriously, this latest collaboration from TAG Heuer is a lighthearted blend of fun and complication. For more details, visit the TAG Heuer site below.
