TAG Heuer, Team Ikuzawa, and Bamford Watch Department have collaborated to create a unique timepiece honouring Japanese racing heritage. This special watch is based on TAG Heuer’s Carrera Chronograph.
Team Ikuzawa, founded by Tetsu Ikuzawa, has a rich racing history. Tetsu began racing motorcycles at 15 and transitioned to four wheels in 1963. He competed in the British Formula Three Championship in 1966, worked with Frank Williams and the Porsche team in 1968, and raced in prestigious events like Le Mans and Formula 2. In 1979, he established i&i Racing Development, later known as Team Ikuzawa. Although Tetsu has retired from racing, his daughter Mai, a graduate of Central Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design, carries on the family’s legacy in racing and art as a creative director and automotive ambassador.
The special timepiece, designed by Mai Ikuzawa and customized by George Bamford, features a 42 mm steel case housing a white opaline finished dial with a striking red 60-second/minute scale. Two white and red contrasting chronograph counters at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock pay homage to Team Ikuzawa. The hands are adorned with white Super-LumiNova and red lacquer, displaying TAG Heuer, Carrera, and Team Ikuzawa logos, as well as the date in prominent red.
Powering the watch is the in-house Heuer 02 automatic movement with 100 meters of water resistance. It has a steel bracelet and a white fabric strap featuring a red Team Ikuzawa logo and Velcro closure. The special steel screw-down sapphire caseback displays Team Ikuzawa and BAMFORD WATCH DEPT imprints, along with a limited edition number (XXX/100). Notably, numbers one and 100 are reserved for Tetsu and Mai Ikuzawa, leaving just 98 limited pieces available exclusively for the Japanese market.
