Ultra-exclusive Chronograph by TAG Heuer and Mercedes-Benz

The SLR limited-edition Chronograph by TAG Heuer

Fluid lines, high end internally-developed architecture, unconventional styling, leading-edge ergonomic design: the SLR chronograph, like the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren to which it pays tribute, is at the forefront of design. Exclusively designed for Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren owners, the daring chronograph was designed and developed by TAG Heuer product development teams in Chaux-de- Fonds, together with the Geneva watchmaker, Jean-François Ruchonnet.

It draws on the unique design acumen of the world's most prestigious luxury-car manufacturer and the engineering and horological savoir-faire of the world's most prestigious maker of luxury sports watches. The two logos - the TAG Heuer shield and the star of Mercedes-Benz - grace the black dial, which looks like a sports car dashboard. The two SLR "gill" patterns stamped at 3 o'clock pay homage to the car's signature side-mounted exhausts, an echo of the 1950s SLRS.

Another unique touch is the off-centred date counter at 7:30. Under the hood lies the peerless Calibre 36 automatic movement. Like the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren's hand-built, supercharged 626-hp V8 engine, this is an exceptional source of power. The only 1/10 of a second automatic chronograph, beating 36,000 times a second, it is the standard-bearer of TAG Heuer's watchmaking tradition. Yet it also represents an exciting new innovation, unique to the SLR Chronograph: the Calibre 36 has been specially outfitted by TAG Heuer watchmakers with a regulator that provides the TAG Heuer SLR's dial the look and utility of a sports-car dashboard, with individual gauges for each function. All of which can be read simultaneously. Therefore it's name: Calibre 36 Regulator

For reading the time, the hour hand has been shifted to the counter at 12 o'clock, while the hand at the center of the dial displays minutes and the counter at 9 o'clock displays seconds. For chronograph functions, the 6 o'clock counter displays hours, the 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock displays minutes and seconds sweep by on the central hand.

Another inspiration drawn from the prestigious sports car is the unique placement of the timepiece's chronograph push buttons on the top of the fine-brushed stainless-steel case. This extraordinary ergonomic innovation - a first in the world of watchmaking - mirrors the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren's unique steering wheel gearshift. Water resistant to 50 meters, the polished crown is adorned with the Mercedes-Benz logo, while the caseback is engraved with a limited edition number.

The SLR Chronograph is 14mm thick, with a diameter of 40 mm from 3 to 9 o'clock. Both sides of the sapphire crystal are treated with an anti-reflective coating. The dial is black and the stylish strap is in crocodile leather, with a folding, push-button buckle. Luminous markers give added visibility to the hands.