Officially joining forces in 2021, TAG Heuer and Porsche seem like they were born to go together, becoming somewhat of a Platonic ideal in terms of brand partnerships. Following some half-dozen or so collaborative watch efforts, which have included a handful of stylish chronographs and even a smartwatch, they have now unveiled a new black-dial version of the Carrera Chronosprint collab from 2023, new for this year’s LVMH Watch Week.
Paying Tribute to One of the Oldest Rallies in the World
Available in both stainless steel and 18k yellow gold cases, the new versions of the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche are inspired by the Monte Carlo Rally, which has been around since 1911. However, in 1965, Porsche entered the rally for the first time with its new 911. They took home 2nd place that year with the 904 model, while the 911 took home 5th place.
“The Monte Carlo Rally is one of the oldest and most demanding rallies in the world. Unlike traditional racetracks, the rally unfolds on snow-covered mountain roads, with treacherous night stages testing drivers and their equipment to the limit,” says a press article in TAG Heuer’s The Edge Magazine.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye Basics
The 2023 version of the TAG Heuer x Porsche Carrera Chronosprint featured a pretty cool trick where the seconds hand mimicked the acceleration of the rev counters on classic automobiles. This means the hand moves swiftly from 0 to 10 seconds, after which it decelerates to 60, and then starts again. This trick is repeated with this black version of the watch, although there are some additions and changes as well.
Aside from the same dial layout, the watch swaps the silver-toned steel color for a glossy black one with either rhodium- or gold-plated hands, indices, and rings around the three subdials. The bottom register is a running seconds hand, moving the chronograph seconds hand to a central position. While the flange on the 2023 watch featured a red marking to denote the 9.1-second acceleration of the 1963 Porsche 901, this new version drops the shading down to just 8.4, which is the time it took the 1965 Porsche 911 to accelerate to 100km/h during the Monte Carlo Rally.
Repeated this time around is the highlighting from 50 to 55 on the running seconds subdial, paying homage to the dashboards on Porsches during the ‘70s, which informed you of the 50km/h speed limit. Meanwhile, a similar highlight is given to the right side hour subdial between 6.8 and 12 to emphasize the 6,800 RPM limit at the time as well.
Utilizing the relatively-new Glassbox case with a domed sapphire crystal over an inner bezel, the watch sports the same 42mm case size with a 48.6mm lug-to-lug and 14.9mm thickness. Through the exhibition caseback you can catch a glimpse of the in-house TH20-08 automatic chronograph caliber. This modulates the regular TH20 movement a bit by integrating a pair of snail-shaped wheels that handle the decelerating seconds hand. Meanwhile, the movement’s rotor has been designed to emulate the three-spoke steering wheel of Porsche automobiles. Lastly, the watches come in either a three-link bracelet or a perforated calfskin leather strap in either black (for the steel) or brown (for the gold).
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 42mm
Lug-to-Lug: 48.6mm
Case Thickness: 14.9mm
Case Material: Stainless steel or 18k yellow gold
Water Resistance: 100m
Movement: In-house TH20-08 automatic chronograph
Band: Stainless steel bracelet or perforated leather strap
Limited Edition?: Yes, 922 (911 of steel, 11 of gold)
Pricing & Availability
Limited in edition size to either 911 for the steel version or just 11 of the gold, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye will be priced at $10,250 or $24,600. Head over to TAG Heuer’s website to learn how you can purchase one yourself.
Recap
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Rallye
TAG Heuer and Porsche took their Carrera Chronosprint from 2023 and updated the dial design to pay homage to the 911’s success during the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally race.
