In case you’d instructed me eighteen months in the past that the TAG Heuer Carrera would, in very brief order, discover itself as soon as once more on the heart of fanatic curiosity, there’s an excellent likelihood I’d have laughed you out of the room. And but, right here we sit, 17 months on from the discharge of the Carrera ‘Glassbox’ and there could be little question — thanks partially to an expanded lineup of compelling variants of the 39mm chronograph, in addition to thrilling interpretations just like the extensively mentioned and wanted Seafarer LE for HODINKEE — that TAG Heuer’s signature chronograph is among the hottest watches available on the market.
However the Glassbox is just one facet of the Carrera story. Now, TAG Heuer is leaning into the opposite facet with the disclosing of a brand new technical chronograph. The place the Carrera ‘Glassbox’ seems to the historical past of the Carrera, the brand new Carrera Excessive Sport — launched as a group of six watches unfold throughout two fashions: the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Excessive Sport and the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Excessive Sport — current a imaginative and prescient of the long run and a daring one at that.
The 2 new fashions share loads in frequent, most notably a shared aesthetic and case design. Each the Chronograph Excessive Sport and the Chronograph Tourbillon Excessive Sport measure 44mm throughout, 15.1mm thick, and 49.7mm lug-to-lug. Actually not small, but additionally decidedly wearable for a chronograph meant to put on massive. The lug-to-lug measure, particularly, is deceptively compact and needs to be surprisingly wearable for a big diameter, modern chronograph (by the use of comparability, the much-loved 41mm Tudor Black Bay Chrono is available in just below 50mm).
The visible identification of those new Carrera chronographs comes within the type of skeletonization — not simply of the dial, however of the case as effectively. With carved-out case flanks and minimal dial, a variety of materials has been hewn out of those Carreras, and they’re all the higher for it. TAG Heuer has an extended historical past of accenting its watches with skeletonized particulars, and so they’ve clearly taken all they’ve discovered over the previous couple of many years and utilized it right here, and utilized it effectively; the watches are legible and handle to keep away from feeling cluttered or overwhelming. I’m not usually one who goes in for skeletonized watches, however I do recognize when the method is approached with consideration and a focus to element, which it’s clear these are.
Each the Carrera Chronograph Excessive Sport and the Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Excessive Sport are powered by in-house TAG Heuer actions, with the previous geared up with the TH20-00 chronograph motion (the identical discovered within the 39mm Glassbox chronographs) and the latter with the TH20-09 motion — an evolution of the TH20-00 motion that features a seen tourbillon at 6 o’clock. Every of those actions consists of each a vertical clutch and column wheel, and every is backed by a 5-year guarantee.
The Carrera Chronograph Excessive Sport is out there in Grade 2 Titanium or 18k 5N Rose Gold. Every of those choices comes with a matte black ceramic bezel, and a Black DLC possibility is out there if one opts for titanium, alongside bare titanium choices with pink or blue accents. Costs for the Carrera Chronograph Excessive Sport begin at 8,000 CHF and rise to 12,000 CHF.
The Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Excessive Sport, just like the Chronograph Excessive Sport, is out there in Grade 2 Titanium or 18k 5N Rose Gold. Right here, the Grade 2 Titanium possibility comes geared up with a solid carbon bezel whereas the Rose Gold is completed with a completely gold bezel. Costs right here vary from 25,500 CHF to 32,000 CHF. TAG Heuer
