Few watch brands are as synonymous with auto racing as TAG Heuer. Back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, during the heyday of the sport, the Swiss brand’s Carrera model was a favorite among fans and racers alike for how it blended the class of a dress watch with the energy and utility of a chronograph. The company had been around for just about 100 years before debuting its most renowned timepiece in 1963. Jack Heuer, great-grandson of founder Edouard Heuer, had just taken over as CEO. An engineer with a passion for designers like Oscar Niemeyer and the Eames brothers, Jack fell in love with tales he had heard of the old Carrera Panamericana race in Mexico and wanted his new watch to emblemize the spirit of the event.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Carrera watch, and TAG Heuer is going to make sure to make the most out of every release. And we’re not mad about it. If you recall, the brand introduced a 60th-anniversary Carrera watch back in January for LVMH Watch Week. It had a panda dial based on a model from ‘68. However, this new 60th Anniversary edition, debuting at Watched & Wonders in Geneva, is decidedly more special. For one, it introduces a new design aesthetic and structure compared to past iterations, as well as an evolution of the brand’s in-house automatic Heuer 02 movement, now with bidirectional winding. Similar to ‘70s-era Carreras, this new “glassbox” version features a domed sapphire crystal. But for the first time, the tachymeter scale on the outer ring remains underneath the glass and curves outwards toward the 39mm stainless steel case edge.
In the course of the Carrera’s history, the tachymeter and its placement serve greater significance than they do for other racing chronographs. Designed by Jack Heuer himself, the original Carrera was the first to put the tachymeter onto the tension ring to help protect the watch from outside elements. This new glassbox Carrera also comes in a 42mm tourbillon version as well — making it the first glassbox to do so.
The new 60th Anniversary “glassbox” Carrera Chronograph comes in blue or black reverse panda, with slight differences in dial configuration. No word yet on pricing, but the watches will be available from TAG Heuer in April, with the tourbillon available in May.
