Ask anyone with a passion for boxing and you’re likely to hear them say that Muhammad Ali was the GOAT – Greatest Of All Time. He achieved a staggering list of accolades in his time, and some of these – such as his reign as the only three-time lineal heavyweight champion – remain unsurpassed. At the heart of it, Muhammad Ali was a boxer who wasn’t just fast in the ring. He was a true showman and a philosopher of life.
His passing earlier this year was marked with several tributes in many different forms and now, Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer is proud to contribute to the boxer’s legacy. Last month, the brand unveiled the new TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 Ring Master Muhammad Ali timepiece at a charity event to remember the greatest of all time by. Hosted at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn where Ali once trained under the watchful eye of Angelo Dundee, Ali’s legacy was celebrated among some of the well-known personalities from the boxing world.
At the event, the commemorative TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 Ring Master Muhammad Ali was presented to The Muhammad Ali Center alongside a pair of autographed boxing gloves that were auctioned. Proceeds from their sale went to The Muhammad Ali Center. The tribute timepiece is a special one-off creation, inspired by TAG Heuer’s very own Ring Master stopwatch. Introduced in 1957, the original watch came with seven interchangeable rings, each one featuring a different scale for various sports, including one for boxing that showcased the number of rounds in a match.
While the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 Ring Master Muhammad Ali is a one-off in a gold case, fans will still have a chance to get their hands on a stainless steel variant. At the event, TAG Heuer introduced the new collection that will be available to the public for purchase. Powered by the Calibre 5 movement, the 43mm-wide stainless steel Ring Master is a strong statement on the wrist with the black, red and silver colour palette. True fans of the sport, and of Muhammad Ali will find its style familiar and appealing.
In addition to the rotary rings with scale showing the 15 rounds of boxing that circles the dial, the watch immediately stands out because of Ali’s signature across the dial that fits in well with the retro-style numerals. The fact that TAG Heuer went with the older 15-round scale (as opposed to the modern 12-round boxing matches) is a nice touch from the brand and one that adds flavour.
Turn the watch over and an engraved portrait of Ali sits on the back, gloved fists at the ready with the inscription “Tribute to Muhammad Ali” over it. In his signature stance, Ali looks poised to take up the fight, providing an inspirational metaphor to the watch owner. The watch also recalls the 1986 Heuer Boxing watch design, which was also inspired by the original stopwatch. The Heuer Boxing watch was also an innovative piece, in full black PVD at the time.
Limited to just 750 pieces for the new TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 Ring Master Muhammad Ali in stainless steel, it’s a collection that will ring out clear as day for the many missing Ali and his tremendous presence in the boxing world.
The new TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 Ring Master Muhammad Ali is available at all TAG Heuer boutiques
