Our hands-on review of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox "Panda" CBS2216 presented at Watches and Wonders 2024. price CHF 6,500
Launched with great success last year, the Carrera Chronograph Glassbox line by TAG Heuer keeps expanding. At the recent Watches and Wonders 2024 exhibition held in Geneva (April 9-15), the Swiss brand presented a new version of the chronograph inspired to a Carrera from the late 1960s, the reference 7753 SN, featuring a silvered dial with black subdials, a layout known as "panda".
The new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox "Panda", ref. CBS2216.BA0041, refreshes the charm of this distinctive look in the new Glassbox construction.
The 39 mm x 13.86 mm stainless steel case is topped with a sapphire crystal - antireflective on both sides - shaped like the domed hesalite crystals found on Carrera models from the 1970s.
However, the key difference with this model is that the crystal has been redesigned to have a curve that flows seamlessly over the tachymeter scale around the dial's edge and into the case.
This 3 mm-thick crystal plays a key role in defining the model's vintage style.
Two pump pushers 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).
The silver sunray-brushed background of the dial offers a perfect contrast for the black azuré subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock, creating the signature bi-compax panda look.
The curved flange, in contrasting black, and curved rhodium-plated indexes, ensure legibility from a wider range of angles. Each 5-second interval is also marked in red.
The rhodium-plated central hand features a red-lacquered tip, creating an instant association to the red-lacquered hands of the black counters. This way, all chronograph indications can be recognised at first glance. At 6 o'clock we find the small seconds hand in black, and the date aperture.
The hours/minutes hands and the indexes are treated with white Super-LumiNova which glows green in the dark. Inspired by some models from the brand's collection of the 1970s, the hour and minute hands feature a groove down the center, with the tips filled in black.
The sapphire crystal case back showcases TAG Heuer’s in-house automatic chronograph calibre, the 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) Heuer 02.
Named TH20-00, this new-generation movement 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 echoing 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 eventually be wound by hand; in the second position, the date can be set forward; and in the third position, you can set the time.
Equipped with a folding clasp with double safety push-buttons, the satin-brushed and polished bracelet with H-shaped links contributes to the watch's comfort on the wrist (the one in our pictures measures 18 cm / 7 inches).
A remarkable addition to TAG Heuer's Carrera line, offering a striking aesthetic and excellent technical features, the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox "Panda" (ref. CBS2216.BA0041) comes with a 5-year extended warranty and is priced at CHF 6,500. tagheuer.com
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