Jewellery & Watch News
The new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Panda watch, released this year at the Watches & Wonders 2024 event, looks relatively understated but tips its hat in many ways to a revered timepiece of the late 1960s – the 7753 SN.
In 2020, Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer celebrated its 160th anniversary and launched some incredibly striking Carrera watches to mark the occasion. Then, just last year, the Carrera Chronograph enjoyed its own celebration. Upon its 60th anniversary, a slew of Carrera models were released – each one elegant, classic and sporty. The Carrera, after all, has huge historical significance. As the brainchild of the then-chairman, Jack Heuer, the first model released in 1963 bore a design deeply rooted in racing history. It not only took its name from the 1950s Mexican road race, but its dial was inspired by a racing car too.
The History of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph
Due to fatalities on the track, the sporting event from which the Carrera takes its inspiration was short-lived, yet the Carrera watch lived on with its crisp and legible chronograph dial, not to mention its simple time and date model. The Carrera’s stylish profile has now been refined even further with a design that pays homage to its roots, telling a story of its beginnings where Jack Heuer attended the 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida – an event that was timed by Heuer. Here, he met with two individuals who told him about the Carrera Panamericana race in Mexico. Intrigued by the allure of the rally and the speed, adrenaline and emotions associated with it - Jack Heuer decided he would create a chronograph wristwatch in its honour. Translated as “path”, “career” and “race” – the Carrera name has firmly anchored itself in the brand’s catalogue of stylish wristwatches and continues to soar in popularity with its ageless, sporty look.
The TAG Heuer Carrera, with its strong racing spirit, was aimed at the young and adventurous and was leveraged further in its design by Jack Heuer’s electrical engineering knowledge and his own passion for the racetrack. The modernity, beauty and functional elegance of this new watch became a cultural icon and a symbol of endurance, adrenaline and speed. That first generation was powered by a hand-wound Valjoux movement and came in different variations, including a silver or black dial. When the second generation arrived during the late 1960s, it came in one of two versions. A silver dial with black sub-dials (the panda design) or the reverse, featuring a black dial with sub-counters filled with silver (the reverse panda). The ref 7753 SN with a silver panda dial is what inspires this new Carrera Chronograph of 2024. The very same vintage model was even worn on the wrist of Matt Damon as he played Carol Shelby in the 2019 film, Ford V Ferrari. It featured enhanced stripes running down the centre of its hands and hour markers to improve legibility. Double stops at 12 o’clock were also added to make it clear when the chronograph hand was zeroed. The white hands and markings on the black counters also enhanced clarity. The SN in its name represented “silver” and “noir”, constituting the silver and black dial design. This expression of the perfect motorsport watch, designed by Jack Heuer, is celebrated today in the latest release - the new 2024 TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Panda Watch, complete with a Glassbox construction.
The New TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Panda Watch
Delivering the same level of precision and readability as the original 7753 SN watch of the late 1960s, this new Carrera Chronograph Panda watch knows how to demand all the right attention. Its silver sunray brushed dial acts as a shimmering backdrop to a set of black azurage chronograph sub-counters located at 3 and 9 o’clock. These features bear a striking red lacquered hand that really pops against their rich black-filled backgrounds. The small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock, however, is colour-matched with the rest of the silver dial, enabling it to meld effortlessly into the display. As a result, the new 2024 Carrera Chronograph watch reads as a two-register layout and is enhanced by a black tachymeter scale. But here’s where the design gets interesting…
Around that edge of the dial, where the tachymeter scale lies, the periphery of the display meets with a thin curved edge that gives the timepiece a coherent look. Not only that, but that slim almost bezel-less design is topped with a Glassbox construction that enables for a clear view of the display from any angle of the watch. This Glassbox design nods to the style employed by TAG Heuer during the 1970s. The sapphire crystal glass has been treated with anti-reflective technology and promises unparalleled scratch resistance too. Aside from the familiar 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and the 12-hour totaliser at 9 o’clock, this new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Panda dial also features a date window at 6 o’clock and is powered by an in-house movement.
The beautifully crafted TH20-00 movement is equipped with a bi-directional winding construction and a shield-shaped rotor. The exhibition window on the back of the case gives way to the movement as it performs meticulously and effortlessly, delivering a performance of 28,800 vibrations per hour and a power reserve of 80 hours once fully wound. The autonomy and authenticity of the movement are further enhanced by a manufacturer guarantee of 5 years. This strong, robust heart sits inside a 100-meter water-resistant stainless steel case that measures 39mm and sits at a height of 13.86mm. Its three-link bracelet is also crafted from stainless steel and boasts a mix of brushed and polished finishes. The bracelet secures firmly and comfortably to the wrist with a folding clasp and push-button release mechanism.
Buy the New 2024 TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Panda Watch at C W Sellors
If you’d like more information on the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Panda watch, you can call and speak to a member of our CW Sellors sales team today on 01335 216004 or email us a question at sales@cwsellors.com. Alternatively, you can explore the full range of TAG Heuer's new releases online with us.
