Written by: Catherine Wolinski

While many luxury watchmakers can boast celebrity ambassadors, TAG Heuer, the high-end Swiss company best known for its sports and stop watches, can be said to have one of the most enticing—Leonardo DiCaprio.  The heart throb turned Oscar winner has contributed considerably to the company’s success, as well as to the environment.  It only made sense that the conglomerate and film star work together to create a timepiece that is as charitable as it is chic—the Aquaracer 500M.

Leo sporting a TAG Heuer Aquaracer 500M Leonardo DiCaprio Limited Edition Watch

 DiCaprio is a passionate philanthropist who has typically used his stardom for good, involving himself in environmentally friendly activities from donating to relief efforts in Haiti to freeing a Tiger in Russia.  After signing on with TAG Heuer, a company that claims commitment to the environment as well, the two decided to work together to create a special edition automatic watch which will generate royalties for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Green Cross International.

The timepieces, officially called the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 500M Leonardo DiCaprio Limited Editions, are designed based on sustainability and “green” manufacturing, including criteria such as

• Reusing heat generated by machines to heat the workshops

• Recycling Monaco V4 drive belt scraps

• Using vegetal roofs with insulating and water filtering properties

• Implementing a new laser engraving system that saves 900 litres of water per hour

In 2009, TAG and DiCaprio worked with a Green specialist to develop manufacturing changes such as cutting steel scraps by two thirds, reducing water consumption by 70 percent, and reducing fuel consumption by 11 percent, all while increasing their productivity. DiCaprio has also inspired TAG Heuer to implement other green measures in its subsidiaries, such as paperless offices in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as online catalogue to reduce paper usage.

a close up of the TAG Heuer Aquaracer 500M

A luxury collection known for their local production and high quality, TAG watches have a unique power and automatic movement, said to maneuver according to the movements of its wearer. Another company secret fans might like to know? While Leo may have taken a large part in the creation of the Aquaracer 500M Leonardo DiCaprio Limited Editions, his favorite—the reportedly masculine and highly functional Calibre 16 Automatic Chronograph.

Leo's favorite, the Calibre 16 Automatic Chronograph