TAG Heuer launched the Muhammad Ali Carrera Calibre 5 Middle East edition in Dubai on March 7. The tribute watch which pays homage to the legendary boxer was first unveiled in region at the Doha Jewelry and Watches Exhibition in the last week of February.
This watch is based on the lesser-known Carrera Drive Timer launched in 2014 which featured a rotating inner ring and aimed at automotive enthusiasts. The big difference in the Middle East edition from the Muhammad Ali tribute watch released last year is that it features Hindu-Arabic numerals.
The Middle East edition features a black opaline dial with the Hindu-Arabic numerals printed in white. It has faceted and polished hands for hours and minutes and a white lacquered seconds hands. The dial features a white printed TAG Heuer logo at 12 o'clock and Muhammad Ali's signature above the date window at 6 o'clock.
The watch uses a 43 mm stainless steel case with the characteristic faceted lugs seen on Carrera models and the caseback features an engraving of Muhammad Ali and his signature along with the line "Tribute to Muhammad Ali". The watch is powered by the self-winding Caliber 5, which is essentially the Selita SW200. The watch is paired with a perforated calf-leather strap characteristic of Carrera models.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The watch is inspired by the Ring Master stopwatch that Heuer made in 1957. This stopwatch featured interchangeable rings of scale and was used for timing various sports. In the pre-modern era, a boxing match was spread across 15 rounds of 3 minutes with a break of one minute between each round.
The outer ring features a red and black fixed scale used to time bouts of 15 rounds which lasted three minutes each. The second ring, an inner white and black ring with a fixed scale is to time amateur and women’s boxing bouts which lasted two minutes with a minute’s break. Much like in the Driver Timer, a crown at 10 o’ clock is used to turn the inner ring. The ring needs to be moved so that the number 1 sector is aligned with the minute hand at the start of the fight.
The Muhammad Ali Carrera Calibre 5 Middle East edition is limited to 750 pieces just like the international version that was released last year. It will retail at Dh10,900 in the United Arab Emirates.
