It’s been a busy twelve months for the likes of TAG Heuer as a slew of special edition and limited edition novelties have been launched in celebration of their 160th anniversary. It’s not gone unnoticed that the majority of these new releases have joined the TAG Heuer Carrera collection with the Carrera Sport Chronograph arriving middle of last year housing their in-house Heuer 02 movement and the TAG Heuer Carrera Porsche marking the luxury brand’s fresh relationship with the renowned car manufacturer. Now, in continuation of the festivities, a TAG Heuer Carrera 160th Anniversary Limited Edition series has been launched featuring four distinctive chronograph models in an array of styles, colours and sizes.
TAG Heuer’s history began in 1860 and in the space of 160 years, the brand has remained committed to revolutionising the luxury watch industry. From their first patented keyless winding system in 1869 to the world’s first Swiss made smartwatch in 2015, the TAG Heuer Connected, their mission for innovation has remained a constant. More recently, the brand have concentrated on polishing their current collections with the Carrera line becoming a focal point with cleaner dial designs resurfacing, new colourways and more focus on their in-house manufacture movements. The same can be said for the new TAG Heuer Carrera 160th Anniversary Limited Edition collection which features four models each boasting refined aesthetics and bold combinations of dial colours and straps.
The first two TAG Heuer Carrera 160th Anniversary Limited Editions follow in the footsteps of the recently released Carrera Sport Chronograph watches and take inspiration from the classic Heuer “Dato 45” which in 1965 was the first wrist chronograph ever to feature a turning date disc. Measuring to 44mm in diameter, they come dressed in fine-brushed and polished stainless steel with a choice of a blue ceramic tachymeter bezel or a black ceramic bezel. Reference CBN2A1E.BA0643 with the blue bezel matches beautifully with a blue circular brushed dial punctuated by silver counters for chronograph counters, a matching blue small seconds dial, red motion lines on the counter 30 minutes counter at 3 o’clock and red on the central chronograph second’s hand. Reference CBN2A1D.BA0643 on the other hand revives a panda-style tri-compax layout with a sleek silver dial disrupted by black chronograph counters and similar red accents.
Both variants of the TAG Heuer Carrera Sport 160th Anniversary watches under references CBN2A1E.BA0643 and CBN2A1D.BA0643 house the Calibre Heuer 02 automatic winding movement which alongside chronograph complication and date at 12 o’clock delivers a power reserve of 80 hours and a frequency of 28,800vph. Domed bevelled sapphire crystal protects the dial and the exhibition case back where the in-house movement is put on display. Through the glass you can see a specially engraved black oscillating rotor detailed with the words “160 Years of Avante-Garde” and the TAG Heuer logo. Each model mutually agrees to a 100 metre water resistant rating, is delivered on the iconic Carrera H-link stainless steel bracelet and is a limited edition of 1,860 pieces to mark the year of the brand’s founding.
The third piece in the line-up is a much more refined chronograph with a monochrome silver dial. Its appearance takes inspiration from a similar looking model from TAG Heuer’s archives known as the “2447S” highly regarded as an unfussy tool watch prized for its sophisticated look and legibility. The new TAG Heuer Carrera 160th Anniversary “Silver Edition” watch is not an exact recreation of its predecessor but is extremely close. It now houses the modern Heuer 02 movement and has been slightly increased in size from 36mm to 39mm. Other than that, the sleek stainless steel profile is almost exact with similarly shaped pushers, a knurled crown, black leather strap and a crisp silver dial. Like the TAG Heuer Carrera Sport 160th Anniversary watches above, the Silver Edition under reference CBK221B.FC6479 is limited to 1,860 pieces and features a stunning exhibition case back centred around a bespoke decorated rotor.
Last but not least in the TAG Heuer Carrera 160th Anniversary line up is the “Montreal Edition” under reference CBK221C.FC6488. This might just be our favourite piece out of the collection for its distinctive use of colour on the dial and strap. Limited to only 1,000 pieces, the design takes inspiration from a series of automatic chronographs launched by TAG Heuer back in 1972. The case and movement of the TAG Heuer Carrera 160th Anniversary Montreal watch is exactly the same as the Silver Edition, so all of our comments on that watch also apply here. What makes it stand out however is its dial which brings together an unorthodox combination of red, blue, yellow and white. The main base of the dial is pure white with subtle touches of blue and red on the scale flange, a red central chronograph seconds hand, yellow Superluminova hour and minute hands and a bright blue counters. While the Silver Edition is completed on a black alligator leather strap, the Montreal Limited Edition is complemented by a blue alligator leather band.
You can learn more about the the entire TAG Heuer Carrera 160th Anniversary Limited Edition watch collection on the Jura Watches website here and place an order by getting in touch with the team on 01335 453453 or at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
