BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
The Carerra collection from TAG Heuer is an expression of the brand’s endless love for the automotive world. Last year Tag focused extensively on its Carerra lineup and released quite a few new variations, all powered by the brand’s modern in-house column-wheel-based Heuer 02 chronograph movement. For 2021 TAG Heuer has introduced a new Iteration of the Carerra Heuer 02T Tourbillon watch, supposedly one of the cheapest Swiss-made Tourbillon chronographs in the world. The new TAG Heuer Carerra (Reference: – CAR5A8C.BF0707) is still powered by the Tourbillon-based Calibre Heuer 02T but features a full titanium body, including the bracelet, and still looks like a value proposition for what it offers.
The Tourbillon was invented by the great Abraham Louis Breguet to make a mechanical movement more accurate by mounting its escapement and balance wheel in a rotating cage. That said, the complexity of the mechanism and the huge cost of implementation make it an uncommon and rare sight. But TAG Heuer changed things and caused a stir when it launched the Carerra Heuer 02T Tourbillon watch during Baselworld 2016 priced below 15000 CHF. The new 3021 Heuer 02T Tourbillon offers the same performance and more design refinement at a slightly higher price point of USD 21,500.
Presented in a deep shade of blue, the dial on this new watch features a nice sunburst finish, lending the watch a more premium feel. The indices are applied to offer some added depth and, along with the hands, have been filled generously with luminous paint to offer better low light visibility. Visible at the 6 o’clock position is the flying Tourbillon which is the highlight of this watch. At the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock position are two nicely sunken sub-registers that can track the chronograph minutes and hours.
The case on this watch measures a large 45mm in diameter. However, the Titanium construction means that watch will not feel heavy on the wrist even when worn for a prolonged period. The case has a masculine and angular geometry that goes very well with the sporty theme of the watch. The top of the case features a fixed blue ceramic bezel that has been deeply engraved with a tachymeter scale in white. The case is water-resistant to a healthy 100 meters.
Flipping the watch over reveals the Heuer 02T movement. It is COSC certified, is equipped with a flying Tourbillon and a column wheel with a vertical clutch for smooth chronograph operation. The movement operates at 4 Hz and offers a power reserve of around 65 hours. As far as decoration is concerned you get black bridges, Geneva striping, and a skeletonized rotor.
The new TAG Heuer Carerra (Reference: – CAR5A8C.BF0707) comes mated to a titanium bracelet. The watch is limited to 250 pieces and as mentioned above the retail price has been set at USD 21,500.
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