Two stunning new timepieces from TAG Heuer celebrate the 60th anniversaries of the Porsche 911 and the TAG Heuer Carrera.
“This watch perfectly encapsulates the essence of the motorsport universe and our partnership with Porsche. We have seamlessly merged the heritage of the 911 and the TAG Heuer Carrera, leveraging cutting-edge technology and unique design. It is testament to our shared values of precision, innovation, and a deep appreciation for our respective histories.” It was with these words that Frederic Arnault, CEO of TAG Heuer launched the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche.
Porsche’s ground-breaking and enduring sports car arrived in 1963 as the 901, which was quickly changed to the iconic 911 name after a trademark dispute with Peugeot. From this early 2.0-litre powered 911 that boasted a 0-100km/h time of 9.1 seconds, to modern-day monsters such as the 991.2 GT2 RS and 992 GT3 RS, the Porsche 911 has captivated car enthusiasts for 60 years.
So too has TAG Heuer’s Carrera timepiece captivated the world of horology for 60 years. As a clear expression of Jack Heuer’s design and technical philosophy, the Carrera also arrived in 1963 and, like the Porsche 911, has spawned many technical and aesthetic updates over the decades, all while remaining true to the ethos of the original.
And now, TAG Heuer pays tribute to both the famous sports car from Stuttgart and its own iconic timepiece from Switzerland with the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche. Available in either steel or gold editions, the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche captures the pioneering spirit of performance of the Porsche 911 and reflects TAG Heuer’s own enduring pursuit of watchmaking excellence.
Regardless of case material, the new Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche is powered by the brand’s TH20-08 movement which is the latest interpretation of the TH20 movement that TAG Heuer revealed at the Watches & Wonders exhibition held in Geneva earlier this year. The 33-jewel movement is visible through the sapphire crystal that is set into the screw-down case back.
Both watches use a 42mm diameter case and are topped by the stunning ‘Glassbox’ domed sapphire crystal flowing seamlessly over the flange that is embossed with Porsche font between 10 and 12 o’clock, and ‘chronosprint’ between 5 and 6 o’clock. The sapphire crystal features double anti-reflective treatment to ensure legibility in strong light conditions.
Numerous additional references to Porsche and its pioneering 1963 911 feature on the dial, including a 9.1 second marker in red to reference the 0-100km/h sprint of the very first Porsche 911 model.
The Steel Edition boasts a fine-brushed and polished stainless-steel case with matching pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock, and screw-down crown at 3 o’clock. The silver dial is punctuated by the chronograph counters – a minute chronograph counter in silver azure with a red lacquered hand at 3 o’clock; permanent second indicator with red lacquered hand at 6 o’clock; and the chronograph hour counter in silver azure with red lacquered hand at 9 o’clock. Hour and minute hands are Rhodium-plated facetted and polished, and finished with white Super LumiNova, while the central seconds hand is Rhodium-plated and polished.
The Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Steel Edition is presented on a black calfskin leather strap with an embossed 911 logo. It is secured with a stainless folding clasp (with double safety push buttons) with a fine-brushed and polished finish.
The Gold Edition of the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche features a case in 18K 5N rose gold with a fine-brushed and polished finish. The same precious metal is used for the screw-down crown, pushers and screw-down case back. As with the Steel Edition, the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Gold Edition is water resistant to 100 metres.
Complimenting the rose gold of the case, the beige dial features a subtle shimmer. The minute and hour chronograph sub dials at 3 and 9 o’clock respectively feature a beige azure finish and 18K 5N rose gold-plated hands. The permanent second indicator at 6 o’clock features a shimmery sub dial and red lacquered hand. Rose gold is also used for the facetted indices and central seconds hand. The hour and minute hands are Rhodium-plated and finished with white Super LumiNova for excellent visibility in low-light conditions.
Both variants of the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche are available now in TAG Heuer boutiques and online via tagheuer.com. The Steel Edition has a recommended retail price of $13,350, while the Gold Edition has an RRP of $34,100.