TAG Heuer’s 60th-anniversary celebration continues apace, and today the brand is looking toward the future with a completely reconceived Carrera chronograph in two color configurations: steely blue and reverse-panda black. The model is being touted the “Glassbox” for its domed, curved, crystal, which pays homage to similarly domed hesalite crystal designs from the 1970s.
This new Glassbox design allows TAG a new unique way to display the inner tachymeter scale. Where it has typically been displayed – flat – on the outer edges of the dial, now it slopes down, matching the curvature of the crystal. On the blue dial model, the three-register dial includes a minimalist small-seconds subdial at six o’clock which is paired with a date aperture. Conversely, the black dial model takes the reverse panda into the watch’s seventh decade featuring three silver-toned subregisters, and a date aperture at – gasp – 12 o’clock. But there’s historical precedent for this. The reverse panda takes inspiration from classic Carrera models of the past like the ref. 3147 Dato 12, (the first Heuer Carrera with chronograph and calendar functions), and the reference 2447NS.
These two color variations bring completely different looks to the watch – one being decidedly modern by way of the blue, and then there’s the black – where the past meets the future. They both share the same 39mm case and newly re-shaped pushers.
Inside the watches is a newly evolved version of the Heuer 02, called the TH20-00 featuring an oscillating weight that offers bidirectional winding (previous iterations only charged the mainspring if the rotor moved in a counter-clockwise direction). It offers 80 hours of power reserve, and higher-grade finishing, and joins the latest series of TAG Heuer movements.
If you followed the excitement of Watches & Wonders 2023, you’ll know Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer concentrated almost solely on their Carrera collection. The series of motorsport-inspired timepieces celebrates its 60th anniversary this year and in turn, TAG Heuer have launched several exciting editions of the watch. Alongside a sophisticated Carrera Tourbillon, a duo of stunning Carrrera “Glassbox” Chronographs and a range of colourful 36mm Carrera Date watches, we’re welcomed to a new pair of TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph 42mm watches.
Jack Heuer’s original 1963 Carrera chronograph is arguably one of the most iconic luxury watches in history. Taking its name from the Carrera Panamericana race, the watch had strong angular lugs, a clean, bi-compax layout dial and a smooth fixed bezel with no tachymeter in sight. It established a blueprint for all other sports watches going forward, targeting the wrists of both professional drivers and sports car enthusiasts alike. Back in 2020, TAG Heuer paid tribute to this original design by launching a range of refined Carrera Chronographs with all the same attributes and now joining these is the new duo of TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph 42mm watches with fresh, sunray-brushed, orange-accented dials. The cases of the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph 42mm watches offer the same refined aesthetics as the early Carrera models and consequently those launched in 2020. The 42mm stainless steel cases are brightly polished with angular lugs, a fixed unadorned bezel, a knurled crown at 3 o’clock and two piston-style chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock. There’s still no tachymeter scale on the dial or bezel but instead just an angled flange protected by domed and bevelled sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment. The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph 42mm watches are water resistant to 100 metres. For the dials, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph 42mm watch is available in a choice of dark blue or black. Both add a bold pop of colour to the otherwise monochromatic display with bright orange and red accents used on the gradient track and chronograph hands. The black and blue sunray brushed dials elect rhodium-plated hardware for the faceted hour markers and polished hour and minute hands and the chronograph counters at 3 and 9 o’clock are adorned in azurage detailing. The small seconds at 6 o’clock has a printed scale and incorporates a date window at its bottom end. The hour and minute hands and applied indexes also glow in the dark with green Superluminova. Both TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph 42mm watches are powered by the Swiss watchmaker’s in-house Heuer 02 automatic winding movement. It is a column-wheel and vertical clutch equipped chronograph movement with a power reserve of 80 hours, 33 jewels and a frequency of 28,800vph. You can enjoy the movement through the sapphire crystal exhibition case back of each TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph 42mm watch. Finally, the new releases are completed by calfskin leather straps in black or blue. They close by stainless steel folding buckles with double-safety push buttons.
