One of the weirdest, most unexpected collaborations of the year came in October when TAG Heuer dropped a pair of Formula 1 chronographs. dedicated to the world of Mario Kart. This isn’t the first collaboration between the elite Swiss watch maker and the classic Nintendo brand (they’ve launched Mario-themed versions of TAG’s Connected smartwatches in the past), but this release, introduced by a $25k chronograph complete with mini Marios and a Koopa Case racing around its tourbillon cage, has taken it to a whole new level of sophistication. .
The TAG Heuer Formula 1 x Mario Kart not only reveals that the Venn diagrams of watch collectors and Mario Kart aficionados boast considerable overlap, it also shows that many will be happy to drop out five-figure sums on a chronograph decorated with their favorite characters. But for anyone who missed out on that sold-out sale (or doesn’t like spending the price of a new Honda Accord on an accessory), there’s another Nintendo collaboration that will fill the Mario-shaped hole in the box. Your jewelry: G-Shock DW5600SMB-4.
Designed in collaboration with the creative geniuses at Nintendo, this collaboration brings together the two giants of 1980s tech for the first time: Casio G-Shock and the original Super Mario Bros. game. Released in 1983 and 1985 respectively, both G-Shock and Super Mario Bros. revolutionized their industry and both brands are still at the top of their game almost 40 years later. Based on the 1987 G-Shock 5600, which has a classic boxy look that has aged like vintage Bordeaux, the new G-Shock DW5600SMB-4 is adorned with a plumber’s signature brown and red color scheme. Original Goomba. Other details, such as the vintage video game font of the dial, the strap decorated with a Mario pixel motif, and the backlight show Mario frozen in a 1-Up mid-win, for sure. will appeal to anyone who remembers the days when 8-bit gaming was king.
With the success of the first two collaborations of TAG Heuer and Nintendo, you can bet there will be many more Super Mario collaborations. Likewise, you can expect other watch makers to follow suit, using classic 1980s gaming IPs to integrate into their watches. Until then, G-Shock x Super Mario Bros. new offers everything the watch lover needs for $150—which leaves plenty of room in the budget for the Seiko x Zelda, Timex x Donkey Kong, or anything else that must have brains the smartest in watchmaking will come up with in the new year.
