As it celebrates its 160th anniversary this year, Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer has issued special editions of its signature TAG Heuer Carrera chronographs to commemorate 2020. Following the launches of two TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years watches – the Silver Dial and the Montreal Limited Editions – the luxury watchmaker is introducing the third and final watch in the series, the TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph 160 Years Special Edition.
Two versions have been created: one with a blue dial and another with a white dial. Each version is powered by the Heuer 02 manufacture movement, which delivers an impressive 80-hour power reserve, and both are limited to 1,860 pieces each – a nod to the year Edouard Heuer founded his watchmaking workshop in Switzerland’s Jura
The TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph 160 Years Special Edition was inspired by the classic Heuer “Dato 45”, which in 1965 was notably the first Heuer wrist chronograph ever to feature a turning date disc. Like its famous ancestor, this special TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph has its date window positioned at 12 o’clock on the dial.
According to Catherine Eberlé-Devaux, TAG Heuer’s Heritage Director: “It was fascinating – truly a privilege – to have a chance to look at all of the outstanding Carrera models when we were creating our anniversary selection. The choice of the 3147N – the in-house reference for the Carrera “Dato 45” – was a bold one because it challenged our design team to create a clean, legible chronograph dial with a date window in an unusual position. They updated and upgraded a true icon, rising to the occasion brilliantly.”
The TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph with the blue dial has a 44mm polished and fine-brushed stainless-steel case and features a blue ceramic bezel with a tachymeter scale. The blue circular brushed dial has contrasting white “azurage” chronograph sub-dials at 3 and 9 o’clock, marking the elapsed minutes and hours, respectively. A blue opaline permanent seconds counter is positioned at 6 o’clock.
The white dial reference shares the same case and size, but its black ceramic bezel with a tachymeter scale offers a particularly bold contrast to the silver opaline dial. Black “azurage” minute and hour chronograph counters, at 3 and 9 o’clock, respectively, add to the striking look. A white opaline permanent seconds indicator is positioned at 6 o’clock.
Both versions feature applied rhodium-plated indices, while the rhodium-plated hour and minute hands are coated with white Super-LumiNova, which offers outstanding legibility in all lighting conditions. The dial features a rhodium-plated TAG Heuer logo and is printed with the words “CARRERA HEUER 02 80 HOURS”.
The highlight of this model is the aperture at 12 o’clock displaying the red date on a white background – a nod to the original Heuer 3147N “Dato 45”, the watch that inspired the new timepieces. The red date is complemented by a red lacquered central chronograph seconds hand and red motion lines in the 3 o’clock counter. The dial is protected by a domed and bevelled sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides.
The TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph has a stainless-steel screw-down caseback engraved with the words “ONE OF 1860”, indicating its limited-edition status. Through the sapphire crystal on the case back, the Calibre Heuer 02 manufacture movement is on display with its specially dedicated 160th anniversary oscillating mass. This chronograph model is water-resistant to 100m, and is presented on a stainless-steel H-shaped bracelet with a folding clasp secured by double safety push buttons. These outstanding limited-edition chronographs are delivered in a special box designed to celebrate TAG Heuer’s 160th anniversary.
