Watches and Wonders 2024: TAG Heuer Pushes the Boundaries with its Novelties

For Watches and Wonders 2024, Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer has chosen to pay homage to its rich heritage. While the latest TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph pushes the boundaries in terms of design, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Skipper in rose gold exudes a completely new level of sophistication. TAG Heuer has also unveiled the Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph, an addition to the brand’s prestigious lineup of precise timekeepers. GMT India takes a closer look at the novelties. 

TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph

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The first TAG Heuer Carrera watch made its debut in 1963 and has been a defining chronograph wristwatch for over six decades. The brand celebrated its 60th anniversary last year with many new editions. The latest version takes inspiration from the Heuer Ref. 7753 SN from the late 1960s. The 7753 SN featured a silvered dial with black subdials – a panda – as noted in its nomenclature (‘SN’ meant ‘silver’ and ‘noir’ or silver and black). This famous Jack Heuer-style high-contrast dial design was celebrated for legibility. 

The latest TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph (Ref. CBS2216.BA0041) offers a contemporary take on the 1963 vision, breathing new life into the design, wherein the panda dial is paired with the Glassbox construction. Legibility is at the heart of the design as well, with black azuré subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock, which offer contrast with the silver sunray-brushed dial, creating the signature bi-compax panda look. The red-lacquered subdial hands are captivating and further amplify the contrast. The watch incorporates TAG Heuer’s iconic Glassbox design, which seems to have become a staple of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph line. The 39 mm steel case is topped with a sapphire crystal, redolent of the 1970s’ Heuer Carrera models, that flows seamlessly over the tachymeter scale that runs around the dial edge and into the case. Turning over the watch reveals the in-house chronograph movement Heuer 02 (Ref. TH20-00), which features a bi-directional winding, a new shield-shaped rotor, and an impressive 80-hour power reserve.

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TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Skipper 

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Like the steel model released last year, this year’s rose gold Skipper incorporates the popular Glassbox design, launched in early 2023

to mark the 60th anniversary of the celebrated Carrera chronograph. It is also powered by the Heuer 02 (Ref. TH20-06) in-house calibre – a version of the Heuer 02 movement, especially adapted for regatta timing. The 39 mm case is crafted in 18 ct 5N rose gold, combining fine brushed and polished finishes, which lend it an elevated look. The gold Skipper features an ingenious ‘curved flange’ dial beneath its crystal, which offers exceptional legibility in all conditions, especially when the watch is being used in a regatta setting for timing the vital 15-minute period before the starting gun is fired. 

The colour scheme also harks back to the historic Skipper Reference 7754 of 1968 by pairing a sea-blue main dial with two sharply contrasting subdials – a 12-hour counter in ‘Intrepid Teal’ and a 15-minute regatta counter divided into three five–minute segments of different colours. The 18 ct 5N rose gold Skipper is presented on a blue textile strap and secured by a pin buckle, also made from 18 ct 5N rose gold to match the case.

TAG Heuer Carrera Date

The brand has also released three 36 mm TAG Heuer Carrera Date timepieces using precious materials like 18 ct 5N rose gold, mother-of-pearl, and diamonds. This compact size stands out as the perfect fit for all wrists; it seamlessly integrates into the Carrera lineup, bridging the gap between masculine and feminine designs. The first model features a charming copper dial with a snailed brushed finish in nude tones, from light brown to beige. The second model echoes the ethereal elegance of a white mother-of-pearl dial and its gradient track in nude tones. The signature diamond flange is adorned with 76 diamonds totalling 0.288 carats.

The third timepiece also has a mother-of-pearl dial housed in a steel case with alternate finishing. Each model is equipped with the latest Caliber 7 automatic movement offering a 56-hour power reserve.

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TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph

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The brand has also introduced the TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph in both red and blue editions. The TAG Heuer Monaco has been emblematic of contrarian design since its inception in 1969. Its distinctive square shape, left crown, brushed and polished case, and blue dial pushed the envelope in the watchmaking world. As the brand celebrates 55 years of the Monaco collection, the new TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph is crafted from grade 5 titanium, further redefining the watch design. 

Weighing a mere 85 grams, the timepiece achieves a singular appearance, where sapphire crystal and transparency play a central role. Fusing titanium and sapphire together, the watch impresses with its case crafted from a combination of half of each, enhancing its uniqueness. The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph is powered by the newly launched TH81-00 mechanical split-seconds chronograph calibre. It is one of the lightest automatic chronograph movements ever created by the brand in partnership with the esteemed manufacturer Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. The split-seconds function or rattrapante in French is a sophisticated and intricate mechanism that measures two separate time intervals concurrently, providing a level of functionality that exceeds that of a regular chronograph. The red version’s dial arches are executed with fine brushing and black DLC-coating while the blue variant showcases gradient blue dial arches.

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