Introducing the TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph Special Edition
This is in fact an atypical year marked by the events that we already know and whose resolution remains unknown. But it is also a year marked by trends in the world of watches, I have already spoken here several times about the revival of integrated bracelets and today of limited and commemorative editions that also seem to be a 2020 movement and if there are events that are difficult to explain fashion is one of them. Thus TAG Heuer has just launched a commemorative edition of the 160 years of the Heuer brand, through a special edition of the Carrera Sport Chronograph.
This commemorative edition is based on the old model from the 60s Heuer Carrera “Dato 45” and this model had some “interesting” peculiarities, starting with a 45-minute register at 3 o’clock instead of the current and usual 30-minute register, another of the peculiarities was to have a date window at 12 o’clock and although it is not very common, it is not difficult today to find some models of watches with that same window at 12 o’clock, what is no longer common is to see a chronograph with a central second’s hand and with the date window at 12 o’clock, because when the function is not working, it will have to be immobilized also at 12 o’clock, so the reading of the date window becomes at least complicated or at least requires some gymnastics on the part of those who read it. At the time, Heuer chose to paint the numbers of the date disc in red on the white background to make it easier to read and at the same time to place the black second hand in a very thin thickness so as not to disturb the reading of the date.
About to this new edition of the Carrera Sport Chronograph, in reality, it is not one but two editions, one with the white dial and black bezel and the other with blue brushed dial and bezel in the same colour.
Both editions come in a 44mm steel case that alternates between polished and brushed surfaces, with a ceramic bezel with a tachymeter scale, on the dial we can find two registers of 30 minutes and 12 hours in the positions of 3 and 9 o’clock, black in the version with white dial and white in the version with blue dial, it should also be noted that the 30-minute register shows in both versions some notes in red, on the dial it is still possible to find a sub-dial of seconds at the 6 o’clock position in the same colour as the respective dial. Inside the dial there is an inner ring with the minute’s scale and hour markers with inner luminescence, as well as the hour and minute hands, the central second hand comes in red and matching with the notes of the 30 minute counter and with the disk numbers in the date window at 12 o’clock. The watch has on the dial a sapphire glass with anti-reflective properties with the crown signed at 3 o’clock and two pushers to shoulder it. The caseback also comes with sapphire glass through which we can observe its internal mechanical movement, in addition, it is engraved “one of 1860” referring to the number of pieces produced and we can also observe a mention of 160 years of the brand with a race flag in the background engraved on column wheel.
The watch is equipped with the internal movement Caliber 02, which hits 28,800 vph and with 80 hours of power reserve. Both versions came with a steel bracelet with traditional H-shaped links alluding to the brand and alternate between polished and brushed surfaces.
As already mentioned, these are limited commemorative editions, for both versions, 1860 units were produced and prices are € 5,600.
Final thoughts are two interesting pieces that revive the past and that will please all those who saw so far in the Tag Heuer Carrera collection some boredom. It should also be noted that despite being a watch with a large presence on the wrist due to its 44 mm diameter, thanks to the relatively small lugs it allows it to be worn making it appear in a smaller size.
General Specifications:
Brand: TAG Heuer
Model: Carrera Sport Chronograph 160 Years Anniversary
Reference: CBN2A1D.BA0643 (White dial), CBN2A1E.BA0643 (Blue dial)
Dial: White, Brushed blue
Case Material: Stainless steel
Case Dimensions: 44 mm diameter
Crystal: Sapphire Glass
Case Back: Sapphire Glass
Caliber: Heuer 02
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Winding: Automatic
Jewels: 33
Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 Vph)
Power Reserve: 80 Hours
Water Resistance: 100 Meters
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet
Price: € 5,600
Limited Edition: 1,860 pieces of each variant
Availability: November