SpotlightHark Back To The Golden Age: Presenting The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Gold
The latest Carrera Chronograph Gold is TAG Heuer’s tribute to the Jack Heuer way of celebrating achievements through a golden gift that means much more than it looks
May We Recommend
To celebrate turning 60, TAG Heuer released some beautiful timepieces featuring their new ‘glassbox’ design over the course of the year. Of these, probably the most meaningful is their latest Carrera Chronograph Gold. With a case and dial made from 3N gold, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Gold is a tribute to their founder’s grandson, Jack Heuer’s way of celebrating a race car driver—with a gilded gift that encouraged them to stay on the track of excellence. With two chronograph counters in a contrasting black against a vertically-brushed gold-plated dial, and presented on a black perforated leather ‘racing’ strap, the Carrera Chronograph Gold is more than just a symbol of success.
Jack Heuer, who was among the brand’s best loved leaders, introduced the idea of gifting golden watches to race car drivers, including the likes of Niki Lauda and Ronnie Peterson. This gesture cemented Heuer’s position in the world of motorsports and proved their commitment to the drivers.
The Golden ‘Glassbox’ Carrera Chronograph Gold
This latest Carrera Chronograph Gold brings his legacy into the present with a comfortably-sized 39mm fine-brushed and polished case made from 3N gold. A curved sapphire crystal ‘glassbox’ covering the bezel-less dial of the timepiece. The crown at three o’clock and vintage-style pushers at two and four are also made from 3N gold, as is the screwed-down caseback with sapphire crystal offering a peek into the automatic TH20-00 movement housed within. The most prominent differences between the two watches are the crown position and the casebacks. The crown was at nine o’clock on the vintage Carrera, while its screwed-down gold caseback had space for a special engraving.
Around the outside of the dial on the golden flange ring is the tachymeter scale. The curved glass makes it easy to read this scale even at an angle. Against a vertically-brushed golden dial, two snailed chronograph recorders stand out in black with golden numerals and hands at three and nine o’clock, while a third small seconds counter sits quietly, almost invisible at six o’clock, with black markers and hands, and a date window housed within.
Gold-plated, faceted hour markers and hands are filled with Super-LumiNova, and a black lacquered central chronograph hand offers visual contrast from the gold of it all. At 12 o’clock is the updated TAG Heuer logo.
The perforated black leather ‘racing’ strap beautifully offsets the gold, also muting it just enough that it doesn’t look overly extravagant. A celebration of achievements, this TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Gold is a fitting end to a years’ worth of fantastic timepieces released by the brand.
