ReviewSprinting At 60: TAG Heuer Release The Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche Watches

As part of their ongoing 60th anniversary celebrations, TAG Heuer released the Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche, in collaboration with German automobile manufacturer Porsche. This latest racing-inspired timepiece is a tribute to the first Porsche 911 car, which, in 1963, was way ahead of its time in terms of both design and performance. TAG Heuer release two models of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche in rose gold and steel, with the curved ‘glass box’ design. The beautiful, but otherwise unassuming-looking chronograph watch holds many a secret reference to the 1963 Porsche 911, such as the central chronograph hand which ‘sprints’ around the ‘acceleration’ scale marked in red up to ‘9.1’ at four o’clock, and slowly decelerates over 60 minutes—a nod to the car’s ability to go from zero to 100 km/h in 9.1 seconds. With a new in-house calibre, the TH20-08, this TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche is a dream for both watch aficionados and sports car enthusiasts.

A Winning Partnership: TAG Heuer X Porsche

The car and the watch brands have much more in common than just a shared namesake. Named after the Carrera Panamericana race across Mexico, both the first TAG Heuer timepiece and the first Porsche 911 Carrera car went on to become massive icons. Their collaboration, however, began only in 2021, and since then, TAG Heuer have released multiple watches inspired by Porsche racing cars, including limited editions in black, yellow and orange, and the Carrera X Porsche RS 2.7 in blue and red, released to mark 50 years of the legendary Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7. While the release of the Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche comes as no surprise really, the watch itself is much like the first TAG Heuer Carrera or the Porsche 911 from 1963—an icon that exceeds expectations.

Racing Details Of The Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche

Sized at a considerable 42mm, the Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche features the domed ‘glass box’ that was introduced in the Carrera Chronograph in January this year. With faceted lugs and vintage-style chronograph pushers, the brushed and polished 18-karat 5N rose gold case houses a light, champagne-gold—or shimmery beige—dial, with red and silver highlights on the dial. The stainless steel version features the same brushed and polished facetted case and lugs but on the monochromatic shimmery silver dial, the red highlights stand out more sharply. Both variants offer water resistance up to 100m. The rose gold watch is mounted on a brown calfskin leather strap with an embossed ‘911’ logo, while the steel version features the 911 on a black calfskin strap.

Sized at a considerable 42mm, the Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche features the domed ‘glass box’ that was introduced in the Carrera Chronograph in January this year

The brushed and polished 18-karat 5N rose gold case features faceted lugs and vintage-style chronograph pushers

The rose gold case of the Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche watch houses a light, champagne-gold—or shimmery beige—dial, with red and silver highlights on the dial

On the monochromatic shimmery silver dial of the stainless steel version, the red highlights stand out more sharply

The rose gold watch is mounted on a brown calfskin leather strap (seen here), while the steel version comes on a black calfskin strap

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The flange ring on both versions, framed by the rounded sapphire crystal glass, features the words ‘Porsche’ between 10 and 12 o’clock, ‘Chronosprint’ between five and six, and a scale marked from zero to 60, with five red lines along the first 9.1 numerals (from 12 to four o’clock). After reaching this 9.1 mark, the central chronograph hand—which is, incidentally, designed like the indicator on the car’s dashboard—slows until it reaches the 60 mark at 12 o’clock, and then it takes off like the Porsche 911 starting up once again. This ‘sprinting’ of the chronograph hand is undoubtedly the most fascinating part of the timepiece.

There are other interesting elements too. The 12-hour recorder at nine o’clock is marked in red after 6.8 as a reference to the 6,800 revolutions per minute on the tachometer—or RPM gauge—beyond which critical engine damage may occur. And the permanent seconds sub-dial at six o’clock is red between 50 and 55, the recommended speed limit in urban areas in the 1970s.

The New Heart Of The Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche

The sapphire crystal caseback of the watch features another nod to the Porsche 911. This is the rotor on TAG Heuer’s automatic TH20-08 calibre, which is delightfully shaped like the three-spoked steering wheel of the Porsche 911. This new calibre developed by the brand features timekeeping and date, along with a chronograph function that speeds up, slows down and then accelerates again when one turn of the dial is completed.

The sapphire crystal caseback of the watch features another nod to the Porsche 911—the rotor is shaped like the three-spoked steering wheel of the Porsche 911

The new automatic TH20-08 movement features a chronograph function that speeds up, slows down and then accelerates again when one turn of the dial is completed

These references to the legendary sports car display just how much nuance TAG Heuer have included in the Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche—details that fans of both the car and the watch can appreciate. “We have seamlessly merged the heritage of the [Porsche] 911 and the TAG Heuer Carrera, leveraging cutting-edge technology and unique design,” says Frédéric Arnault, CEO of TAG Heuer. “It is a testament to our shared values of precision, innovation, and a deep appreciation for our respective histories.”