Jewellery & Watch News
One of the most talked about releases by TAG Heuer from last week’s Watches and Wonders 2023 event was the duo of TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph “Glassbox” watches. The designs celebrate the legendary motorsport-inspired chronograph’s 60th birthday with retro displays (one a beautiful panda chronograph), an updated automatic winding movement and new “glassbox” crystal inspired by the original domed hesalite glass used on the original Carrera watches from the 1960’s.
The TAG Heuer Carrera watch was originally launched in 1963 by Jack Heuer, the great-grandson of the brand’s founder and former TAG Heuer CEO. His own passions for motorsport were bore into a range of sporty chronographs with clear, legible dials and curved plastic crystals. The new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph “Glassbox” watches take their new nickname from these historic designs, copying the geometry with smooth sapphire crystal glass the flows over the top of the dial and into the case’s edge. Since there’s little to no bezel, the tachymeter scale is also uniquely printed on the dial’s edge. This unusual layout allows the tachymeter scale to be viewable from many angles, as the shape of the crystal covers it from the very side.
There are two TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph “Glassbox” watches to choose from, both neatly sized at 39mm in diameter and engineered from brushed and polished stainless steel. Much of the case is familiar to previous editions but a few changes have been made to the chronograph push-pieces at 2 and 4 o’clock to allow for easier manipulation. The knurled screw in crown at 3 o’clock stays the same and there’s still sapphire crystal glass on the case back and a 100 metre water resistant rating.
The difference between the two new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph “Glassbox” watches comes from their displays. The blue-dialled model under reference CBS2212.FC6535 boasts a tri-compax layout with snailed counters for the 12 hours and 30 minutes totalisers at 9 and 3 o’clock and a printed small seconds counter at 6 o’clock integrated with a box-shaped date window. The entirety of the dial, counters included, is blue in colour with rhodium-plated indexes, a double index at noon, and sword-shaped Superluminova hands offering the only notable contrast. This model is offered on a blue calfskin leather strap.
Meanwhile, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph “Glassbox” watch under reference CBS2210.FC6534 offers the popular “panda” chronograph aesthetic with a brushed black backdrop and silver counters for the small seconds, 12 hours and 30 minutes. You’ll notice here even the small seconds counter is silver and snailed, not printed like the blue dial model. The date display is also moved from the 6 o’clock position to a unique location up at 12 o’clock. The rest of the dial follows suit with rhodium-plated hands for the hours, minutes and chronograph seconds and faceted markers. This model is completed by a perforated black calfskin leather strap.
As part of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph “Glassbox” watches release, TAG Heuer have also announced the launch of an updated Heuer 02 movement. The Calibre TH20-00 offers a bi-directional winding system for improved accuracy and an increased 80 hour power reserve. The movement also has a column wheel and vertical clutch mechanism for the chronograph, a total of 33 jewels and runs at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. As aforementioned, you can admire the movement through the case back of each TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph “Glassbox” watch.
If you’d like to learn more about the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph “Glassbox” watches and shop the collection for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 39mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Domed “Glassbox” sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: Calibre TH20-00, in-house automatic winding with integrated column wheel and vertical clutch chronograph
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, central chronograph seconds, 12 hours, 30 minutes, date
- Power Reserve: 80 hours
- Jewels: 33
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Blue with blue snailed counters or black with silver snailed counters. Both with Superluminova hour and minute hands
- Strap: Blue or black calfskin leather
- Buckle: Folding with double safety push buttons
- RRP: £5,000
- Limited: No
- Reference: FC6534, CBS2212.FC6535
