Basel was an absolute feast this year for watch fans with new releases from most of the brands exhibiting. TAG Heuer was no exception with a new concept watch, the new Tag Heuer Aquaracer collection for both ladies and gents, and most importantly the 50th Anniversary of the TAG Heuer Carrera collection.ÂÂ
Inspired by the Carrera Panamericana Mexico Race the Carrera collection was first launched 50 years ago designed especially for sports car enthusiasts and their professional drivers. The collection landed in 1963 with the Carrera 1887. Named 1887 to honour the year of great change – the first automobiles appeared on the market, the first bicycle world tour and the year the foundations were laid for the Eiffel Tower – and marking the beginning of the modern world the TAG Heuer Carrera 1887 embodied the new sense of speed, innovation and precision.
In 1963, Jack Heuer turned his attention to the needs of professional motor racing drivers and their need for exceptional precision and time keeping. Designing a watch with an easy to read dial, shock-resistant and waterproof case and classic aesthetics ensure TAG Heuer’s position as the leading brand of choice for the sport. Now the Carrera has been re-worked and engineered for a new generation.
“Carrera Panamericana Mexico Road Race”, the world’s most grueling open-road endurance competition “Just the sound of the name itself – elegant, dynamic, easily pronounced in all languages and charged with emotion. I knew then that my new chronograph was the perfect tribute to this legend.”
Jack Heuer speaking in 1963
This year, in celebration, TAG Heuer has launched a collection of new models at BaselWorld. Probably the most iconic of these new models, and sure to be a big hit, is the Jack Heuer Carrera Calibre 1887 Limited Edition. (CAR2C11-FC6327)
Designed by the legend himself Jack Heuer has stated that this will be the last watch that he will be directly involved with in regards to design. In homage to the great family this watch bears the Jack Heuer family crest and his signature on the back. Probably the most distinctive aspect of this new timepiece is that it is inspired by a stop watch and so rather interestingly features the crown and pushers on the top of the case, rather than at 3 o’clock. This beautiful timepiece also contains the iconic in-house TAG Heuer 1887 movement.
The second new release is the Carrera GMT Calibre 1887 (WAR5012.BA0723) with a black dial and steel bracelet. Revamped to include the in-house movement this watch is very similar to the Carrera Day-Date but does not include the date function. This new model sports the new Ceramic bezel that gives the watch a ‘glassy’ look – this watch will look great for any occasion.
Completely re-worked for BaselWorld 2013 is the Carrera Calibre 8 GMT (WAR5010.BA0723). With a brand new design, bracelet and movement the Calibre 8 has a brushed and polished 38mm case in the traditional Carrera style. The ‘Grand Date’, or ‘Double-Date’ feature at 12 0’clock is reminiscent of the Grande Carrera GMT but unlike the Grande Carrera the watch uses a conventional GMT dial rather than a rotating disc.
Finally the Carrera Calibre 36 Flyback (CAR2B80.FC6325). This is the first time the Carrera has featured the Calibre 36 movement – TAG Heuer’s modified version of the famous Zenith El Primero. This watch is styled on the 2011 Heuer Mikrograph watch and featured the Ceramic bezel of the Carrera 1887.
The watch features a classic Carrera 43mm case, slightly larger than the norm for this collection and to compensate for the strict positioning of the dials with using the E Primero movement TAG Heuer have created a new two-part dial. Essentially to make up for the fact that the El Primero movement would have looked awkward on a larger dial because the complicated movement does not allow for the dials to be re-positioned; having said that the outer dial gives the watch a contemporary feel and works well. The inner dial, with its shorter hands is primarily to read the time whereas the outer ring is to read the elapsed time of the Chronograph.
