In 1972, Jack Heuer, the great grandson of TAG Heuer’s founder, gave a solid gold watch to the legendary Swedish Formula 1 driver Ronnie Peterson. TAG Heuer released a steel re-edition of this special watch last year, and now a yellow gold replica is available for auction.
The 18-karat gold 1158CHN Carrera was known as “the racing driver’s watch” with less than 500 units produced. The “SuperSwede” driver’s present was given to him for his performance at the 1972 German Grand Prix at Nürburgring. On the caseback of the automatic calendar chronograph it features the personal engraving “Success Ronnie Peterson From Jack W. Heuer”. It was an uncommon gesture back then for watchmakers to sponsor race drivers for promotion, but made perfect sense given the close connection of TAG Heuer and motorsport.
The replica watch was produced last year and is a close resemblance of the original, which is now owned by the TAG Heuer museum. The one-off re-edition will be auctioned by Bonhams at the Monaco sale taking place on 11 May with an estimate of € 20,000 – 30,000. Proceeds will go to the Ronnie Peterson Memorial Foundation for supporting promising young drivers in Sweden.
