Hands-on review of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox 39 mm CBS2210 and CBS2212, the new 2023 chronograph from the Swiss brand. Price: €6,500
Back in the spring of 1963, during the traditional Basel fair, Heuer unveiled the iconic Carrera chronograph, which garnered worldwide acclaim and secured its position as the brand's most renowned wristwatch. Inspired by the legendary "Carrera Panamericana" road race that spanned a week in Mexico, the Heuer Carrera was purposefully crafted with a driver's needs in mind, placing utmost emphasis on ergonomics and legibility
Last March, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the model, TAG Heuer launched the Carrera Chronograph Glassbox 39 mm, a brand new interpretation presented in two variations: one with a signature blue dial and the other with a racier, black and silver ‘reverse panda’ dial, the nickname given to black watch dials with high-contrast white or silver subdials.
We recently had the opportunity to wear and test both models and we are now glad to share our impressions and more live pictures.
The new Carrera Chronograph Glassbox comes in a stainless steel case with a diameter of 39 mm and whose lines are highlighted by alternating polished and satin-brushed surfaces. The lugs bend downward to follow the profile of the wrist for excellent wearability.
The case is topped with a sapphire crystal shaped like the domed hesalite crystals found on Carrera models from the 1970s. But the key difference is that, for this model, the crystal has been redesigned to have a curve that flows seamlessly over the tachymeter scale that runs around the dial edge and into the case.
In the same way, the flange and indexes have been curved, too, for a seamless integration in the structure. This development is not merely aesthetic as it also makes the tachymeter readable from a wider range of angles. Both sides of the sapphire crystal have an anti-reflective treatment.
The total thickness of the watch is around 14 mm which might appear pretty high for a case with a diameter of 39 mm but this is typical of wristwatches featuring box-shaped glasses. In fact, the crystal alone is around 3 mm-thick. All in all, we like the resulting look and we believe that the domed crystal plays a key role in defining the vintage style of the model.
The case is equipped with pump pushers to activate the chronograph functions: start/stop at 2 o'clock, reset at 4 o'clock. The crown is not screwed-down but water resistance is nonetheless guaranteed up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 metres / 330 feet).
Colours apart, the dials of the two models featured in our review have other subtle differences.
For instance, the date aperture is positioned at 6 o’clock on the blue, and pushed up to 12 o’clock on the "reverse panda" to make the chronograph readout as clean as possible. Moreover, on the blue model the running seconds sub-dial at 6 o'clock has not been recessed into the dial and has no numerals.
The chronograph 12-hour and 30-minute snailed counters are positioned at 9 and 3 o'clock, respectively
The hours/minutes hands and the indexes are treated with Super-LumiNova that glows in green in the dark. The luminescent material is white on the blue dial and beige on the "reverse panda". Inspired to some models of the brand from the 1970s, the hour and minute hands feature groove down centre and tip filled in black.
Overall, the blue model is more elegant while the high-contrast black and silver version is sportier. Their characters are further enhanced by their wristbands: a smooth blue calfskin leather strap and a black perforated calfskin leather strap, respectively.
Both straps are secured to the wrist by a steel folding clasp with double safety push buttons.
The sapphire crystal case back showcases an evolved version of TAG Heuer’s in-house automatic chronograph calibre, the 4 Hz (28,800 vph) Heuer 02.
Named TH20-00, the new-generation movement now features an oscillating weight offering bi-directional winding, where previous versions only charged the movement’s mainspring if the rotor moved in an anti-clockwise direction.
In daily use, it delivers faster and more reliable winding, ensuring the watch is running closer to its maximum 80-hour power reserve and improving precision for more of the time it is in use. Its design has also changed, now reprising the shape of the shield in the TAG Heuer logo.
The TH20-0 calibre has three crown positions. In the home position, the watch can be eventually wound by hand; in the second position, the date can be set forwards; in the third position, you can set the time.
The new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox 39 mm, available in black (ref. CBS2210.FC6534) or in blue (ref. CBS2212.FC6535), is a remarkable addition to TAG Heuer's lineup, offering a striking aesthetic and outstanding technical features. Priced at CHF 6,300 / Euro 6,500 / US$ 6,450, they present an amazing value for a fully manufactured column-wheel chronograph with such fine attention to details. tagheuer.com
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Excellent product from TAG HEUER. I'm for the panda.
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