Watch News Briefing: TAG Heuer, Nivada, and Solar Aqua

Three new sports watches take us from last weekend’s Formula 1 race in Zandvoort, through a convertible retro chronograph, all the way to the depths of the Great Lakes: TAG Heuer, Nivada Grenchen, and Solar Aqua each feature very different designs.

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph: The Final Lap at Zandvoort

Set amid North Sea dunes and steep turns, Zandvoort is one of those racetracks whose character extends far beyond the track itself. In 2026, the Dutch Grand Prix will be held there for the last time—at least for now. TAG Heuer is marking this farewell with two limited-edition 38-millimeter Formula 1 Solargraph watches.

Both models feature a sandblasted stainless steel case and a gray, opaline dial. Orange and red accents echo the colors of Dutch motorsports. This is particularly evident in the orange, bidirectional rotating bezel made of TH-Polylight, a lightweight composite material developed by TAG Heuer.

Red hour markers coated with bright Super-LumiNova and an orange-red minute track stand out against the gray background. The date window is located at the 3 o’clock position. The design thus stays true to the sporty Formula 1 style, but thanks to its comparatively compact diameter, it appears less bulky than many classic motorsport watches.

Inside, the Solargraph TH50-00 caliber is at work. It converts natural and artificial light into energy, which it uses to charge its energy storage system. When fully charged, the movement can run for up to ten months in complete darkness.

The WBY111H.FT8128 model is worn on a perforated orange rubber strap and is available in a limited edition of 1,500 pieces. The WBY111L.BA0042 pairs the case with a three-row stainless steel bracelet that is also sandblasted and is limited to 1,000 pieces.

Technical Specifications

• Part Numbers: WBY111H.FT8128 and WBY111L.BA0042
• Housing: sandblasted stainless steel
• Diameter: 38 millimeters
• Height: 9.9 millimeters
• Dial: Gray with orange and red accents
• Bezel: orange TH-Polylight, bidirectional
• Movement: Solargraph Caliber TH50-00
• Water resistance: 100 meters
• Bracelet: Rubber or three-row stainless steel
• Limited edition: 1,500 or 1,000 copies

Nivada Chronoking Summer Racing: Five Bezels for One Chronograph

With the Chronoking Summer Racing, the change isn’t limited to the color of the dial. Nivada Grenchen delivers each watch with five different bezels that can be swapped out without tools. This allows the same chronograph to take on a more classic look at times, a distinctly sporty look at others, or a more eye-catching color scheme.

The design concept is in keeping with Chronoking’s heritage. Its styling is reminiscent of racing chronographs from the 1960s and 1970s: compact proportions, contrasting sub-dials, and bezels with varying scales. The new collection translates this look into a simple watch for everyday wear.

The stainless steel case has a diameter of 38 millimeters and is 13.4 millimeters thick. Polished and brushed surfaces alternate, while a double-domed sapphire crystal echoes the vintage look of the dial. It is water-resistant to 100 meters.

The Chronoking is powered by the TMI VK63. In this Mecaquartz movement, the standard time display is quartz-controlled, while the chronograph is operated by a mechanical module. As a result, the central chronograph hand moves in small increments across the dial and immediately returns to its starting position when reset.

The Chronoking Summer Racing is available in several color combinations. You can choose from models with leather or racing straps, as well as stainless steel bracelets. There is a dedicated distribution network for Germany and Austria.

Technical Specifications

• Housing: 316L stainless steel
• Diameter: 38 millimeters
• Height: 13.4 millimeters
• Glass: double-curved sapphire crystal
• Movement: Mecaquartz Caliber TMI VK63
• Water resistance: 100 meters
• Special feature: five bezels that can be changed without tools
• Strap: leather, racing strap, or stainless steel

Solar Aqua Mishipeshu Odino: Between the Great Lake and the Arctic Summit

The Mishipeshu Odino by Solar Aqua tells its story set against the backdrop of two extremes of the Canadian landscape. On one side are the depths of the Great Lakes; on the other, the 2,147-meter-high Mount Odin on Baffin Island. Water and mountains come together in a diving watch whose design aims to be much more than a purely functional instrument.

Mishipeshu is a powerful water spirit from the folklore of Indigenous communities around the Great Lakes. The creature is often described as an underwater panther with dragon-like features and is considered the ruler of dangerous currents and deep waters. Solar Aqua connects this story to Mount Odin, whose name, in turn, refers to Norse mythology.

Geographical reference points can be found in several places on the watch. A map of the Great Lakes is engraved on the case back. Coordinates on the sides of the case refer to the landscape associated with Mishipeshu and to Mount Odin.

The brushed 40-millimeter case is made of 316L stainless steel. A newly designed, unidirectional rotating bezel with pronounced facets is designed to be easy to grip even when wearing gloves. Its angular design gives the watch a distinctly technical character.

Beneath the domed sapphire crystal lies a multi-layered, partially open dial. Its textures are reminiscent of ice surfaces, rocky mountain slopes, and camouflage patterns. A second, transparently tinted layer offers a view of parts of the movement. It is available in deep black, moss green, and dark blue.

Inside, it is powered by a mechanical Swiss movement from Peseux. The large arrow-shaped hands and raised hour markers are coated with Super-LumiNova. Other features include a screw-down, heavily knurled crown and open-backed lugs. The watch is paired with a color-coordinated silicone strap, available with either vertical stripes or crocodile embossing.

Technical Specifications

• Case: brushed 316L stainless steel
• Diameter: 40 millimeters
• Glass: domed sapphire crystal
• Dial: multi-piece and partially open
• Colors: Jet Black, Moss Green, and Dark Blue
• Movement: Swiss Peseux mechanical caliber
• Bezel: unidirectional and faceted
• Luminous material: Super-LumiNova on hands and hour markers
• Wristband: Silicone in two different textures