For their Watches & Wonders 2023 collection, TAG Heuer have focused entirely on their sporty Carrera watch as the design celebrates its 60th anniversary. The event saw them launch breathtaking new designs like the Carrera Chronograph “Glassbox” watches, some smaller 36mm unisex models and duo of larger 42mm Carrera Chronographs. Of them all however, one particularly design stood out as a rare example of haute horlogerie: the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon.
The tourbillon complication is not a common feature to find in a watch, but it arguably one of the most coveted by collectors. The hypnotic mechanism is the regulating organ of the mechanical movement, counteracting the drag effect that gravity can play on smaller components of a timepiece’s escapement. As well as raising the reliability of the watch, the tourbillon is a display of watchmaking virtuosity, and it is this that ultimately tempts the wrists of collectors. TAG Heuer are certainly no strangers to the tourbillon complication, having added the mechanism to several Carrera Chronograph watches of the past. These previous designs, however, have often been paired with full skeletonized dials that arguably take away some of the limelight deserving of the tourbillon feature. Yet this is not the case for the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon 2023 watch which elects a more traditional timeless blue dial with the only skeletonized aperture being the tourbillon at 6 o’clock.
The rare one-minute tourbillon of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon watch is positioned on the bottom half of the dial, handsomely surrounded by a circular brushed nautical blue hue. Allowing for perfect symmetry, the display reveals two chronograph counters at 3 and 9 o’clock, both circled with a silver bordered and snailed at the centre for a subtle contrast. The dial is slightly sloped at its edges where the printed white and red-accented minutes track lies and nearby, faceted hour markers allow for easy legibility with their own Superluminova markings. Glow in the dark Superluminova is also used on the sword-shaped hands for the hours and minutes while the central chronograph seconds hand is done in bright red-orange.
Powering the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon watch is TAG Heuer’s in-house automatic chronograph movement with a tourbillon escapement. The Calibre TH20-09 is wound by a skeletonized central rotor which can be viewed through the exhibition case back. The movement delivers a total of 33 jewels, a frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 65 hours.
The rest of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon watch follows suit to the Carrera Chronograph “Glassbox” watches similarly launched as part of TAG Heuer’s Watches & Wonders 2023 collection. These designs hark back to some of the original Carrera’s of the 1960’s that had unique domed acrylic crystal. In the same way, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon watch has unique, deeply domed sapphire crystal glass which falls over onto the sides of the case. There is no bezel is sight and instead, the glass overflows so the dial can be read of a 90 degree angle. The stainless steel case measures to 42mm wide and offers the Carrera’s familiar angled lugs, sleek brushed case sides and piston-shaped chronograph pushers. We’re also promised a 100 metre water resistance and a blue calfskin leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching and a steel folding buckle.
If you’d like to learn more about the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon 2023 watch and shop the design for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Glass: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: TH20-09 in-house, automatic winding chronograph tourbillon
- Functions: Hours, minutes, chronograph seconds, 12 hours, 30 minutes, one-minute tourbillon
- Power Reserve: 65 hours
- Jewels: 33
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Blue circular brushed with Superluminova hands and indexes
- Strap: Blue calfskin leather
- Buckle: Folding
- RRP: £19,950
- Limited: No
- Reference: CBS5010.FC6543
