INSIGHT-RADAR: Industry News Briefs

Formula 1 in Madrid, Bremont at the U.S. Open, and pictures of the ocean

Motorsports, tennis, underwater photography, and a new destination for haute horlogerie: The latest issue of INSIGHT-RADAR shows how watch brands tell their stories far beyond new models. TAG Heuer is making its mark on the new Formula 1 Grand Prix in Madrid, Bremont is accompanying an actor to the US Open, Blancpain is showcasing stunning images of the underwater world, and H. Moser & Cie. is opening its first boutique in Milan.

TAG Heuer and the Return of Formula 1 to Madrid

After more than 40 years, Formula 1 returned to Madrid on September 13, 2026. For the premiere, TAG Heuer served not only as a partner but also as the title sponsor of the 2026 Formula 1 TAG Heuer Gran Premio de España. As a result, the Swiss watch brand was already featured in the race’s official name.

For TAG Heuer, this role represents a particularly high-profile continuation of its long history in motorsports. The partnership extends far beyond traditional track-side advertising: As the title partner, the brand helped give the new Grand Prix its own identity from the very beginning and position the racing series’ return to the Spanish capital as a standalone event.

The brand’s involvement wasn’t limited to race day. TAG Heuer put together a three-day program for international guests that also included venues off the track. Madrid thus became not merely a backdrop, but an extended venue for the Grand Prix experience. The brand combined the sporting highlight with gatherings and events throughout the city.

Preparations for this presence had already begun a year earlier, when TAG Heuer announced the partnership at an event in Madrid. The first edition of the race now demonstrated how the partnership is being implemented in practice: through the name, the visual identity, and a supporting program that more closely links the Grand Prix to its host city.

For TAG Heuer, Madrid thus fits into a strategy that combines historical credibility in racing with new formats. The first Grand Prix was less a look back at past chapters in motorsports than an attempt to establish a new tradition.

Paul Antony Kelly wears a Bremont at the U.S. Open

Canadian actor Paul Antony Kelly attended the U.S. Open in New York wearing a Bremont Supernova Chronograph on his wrist. The model features an integrated bracelet, a 904L stainless steel case, and a distinctly futuristic design.

For Bremont, the Supernova is also part of an extraordinary chapter in space exploration: Later this year, one of these watches is set to travel aboard a lunar rover—in collaboration with the California-based space company Astrolab—to the Moon’s South Pole, where it will remain.

Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026

French photographer Julien Anton is the 2026 Ocean Photographer of the Year. The jury honored his photograph of a male seahorse with two juveniles. More than 15,000 images from around the world were submitted to the competition.

Blancpain is a co-organizer of the competition and also presented the Female Fifty Fathoms Award to Jenny Stock. The British underwater photographer, documentary filmmaker, and author works for BBC and National Geographic productions, among others. Established in 2021, the award honors women whose work opens up new perspectives on the underwater world.

H. Moser & Cie. Opens Its First Boutique in Milan

H. Moser & Cie., in partnership with the Italian jeweler Rocca, is opening the Schaffhausen-based manufacturer’s first boutique in Milan. Located in the gallery at Via Montenapoleone 10, the boutique carries not only the brand’s well-known collections but also models available exclusively in the brand’s boutiques.

The interior incorporates H. Moser & Cie.’s signature design elements: exposed concrete, clean lines, and vertical display cases reminiscent of an art gallery. Accents in the brand’s signature blue tie the understated architecture to the manufactory’s visual identity.

For Rocca and H. Moser & Cie., the opening marks another step in their collaboration. A year earlier, the two partners had already opened a Moser boutique in Seoul. French Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly of the BWT Alpine Team also attended the official opening in Milan, taking part in the ceremony alongside select guests.

The four announcements showcase different forms of brand presence: from a title sponsorship in elite sports to a high-profile appearance and a new boutique, to a long-term commitment to raising awareness and protecting the oceans.