TAG Heuer continues it’s vintage inspired releases this year with a vintage classic reborn for 2023 – the new Carrera Skipper is a modern day yacht timer with some strong links to regattas of the past.
TAG Heuer continues it run of form with its latest piece, with the newly released Carrera Skipper, adding to it’s already impressive 60 years of Carrera collection. The Skipper may be a surprise release for some, as TAG Heuer’s links to sailing aren’t as well known as other brands out there. So for those that are thinking this, here’s a quick bit of history for you.
Back in the 1940s, high-end sporting goods supplier Abercrombie and Fitch began commissioning Heuer to produce A & F-branded watches to sell in its New York stores. The first was the Solunar that displayed tide times and which, in the 1950s, led to the creation of the more sophisticated Seafarer and Mareographe chronographs.
Fast forward to the late 1960s, and it was Jack Heuer’s close friendship with the Abercrombie and Fitch’s president Walter Haynes that led to Heuer becoming the official timing partner of the America’s Cup boat ‘Intrepid’ – the 12-metre U.S. yacht that was to defend the trophy for the New York Yacht Club against challenger Dame Pattie, from the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.
Intrepid went on to win the event by a decisive four races to nil, and in celebration Jack Heuer produced the Skipper chronograph in 1968 with a 30-minute subdial that was adapted to count-down the 15-minute regatta ‘pre-start in three, five-minute segments.
Each of these segments was a different colour, with vivid orange being used to alert the crew to the fact that there was just five minutes to go; green to represent the colour of the boat’s rigging and light teal to replicate the colour of Intrepid’s deck. The original design of this was based on the Carrera case and only about 300 watches were ever made, and today, if you can find one of these, they are worth in excess of $100,000.
The Skipper was discontinued in 1983, and today, 40 years later, TAG Heuer have bought it back, using the same Carrera Glassbox design as the 39mm Carrera Chronograph released at Watches and Wonders this year, which is fitting given how the original 1968 version came about.
When you compare the original vintage piece to the new 2023 model, you can see how TAG have stayed true to the classic, but designed this for a modern day customer. The look and feel is the same, with the deep blue dial and 2 subdials to display the 12 hour counter and 15 minute regatta countdown timer.
We had the chance to get hands on with the new Skipper last week ahead of it’s launch, and also had the privilege of handling one of the 300 originals thanks to TAG Heuer’s Global Heritage Director, Nicholas Beibuyck, whom we got to spend an evening with alongside of a group of TAG Heuer collectors and fans in Melbourne, and discussing all things TAG Heuer and the Carrera Skipper over coffee the next morning. More on that talk in an article very shortly!
The new TAG Heuer Skipper pays tribute to the original by keeping the colour tones true to the OG, with the teal on the 12 hour register matching the deck of the Intrepid and the15-minute regatta counter having segments in Intrepid teal, Lagoon Green (the colour of the boat’s rigging and Regatta Orange to alert the crew to the fact the races is about the start.
The blue dial is finished in a brushed sunray circular pattern, similar to the Blue Carrera Glassbox (which we reviewed here), representing the colour of the ocean. The new version however deviates from the original by adding the small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock inset with the date window.
Other features drawn from the historic watch include the prominent, triangle shaped markers positioned at five- minute intervals around the outer curved flange, the bright orange central seconds hand and the inclusion of the ‘Skipper’ name at the base of the 12-hour counter.
To give the Skipper the ability to use the regatta countdown timer, TAG Heuer has modified it’s Calibre TH20-00 movement and created the TH20-06. The movement is still equipped with a bi-direction rotor that powers movement and gives it an 80 hour power reserve, but the the ability to accurately time and countdown.
Final Thoughts
Just like our assessment of the Glassbox, TAG have made the new Skipper easily legible and sporty. The 100m Water Resistance may not be needed for an racing timer, unless that race is a regatta and your vehicle is a racing yacht, so this will come in handy if used in the sport it’s meant to. If not, the blue fabric strap means it’s super versatile on land and ready for when you want to head to the beach, pool, or jump into the blue waters of The Med from the deck of your boat should you be that lucky!
It’s no secret that TAG Heuer are pushing forward with their designs that are vintage inspired and as the 60th anniversary of the Carrera continues, we can expect to see more – or at least our fingers are crossed! The new Carrera Skipper takes all the great elements of the current 39mm Carrera Glassbox and adapted it, like they did in 1968, to create a good looking, great wearing colourful regatta timing chronograph.
Reference: CBS2213.FN6002
Specification:
- Case: 39mm / 46mm lug to lug
- Thickness: 13.9mm thick (including crystal)
- Case Material: Steel brushed and polished case
- Case back: Steel screw-down sapphire case back
- Dial: Circular brushed blue dial. Rhodium plated hands, applied indices with Super-LumiNova®
- Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment
- Water resistance:100m / 10bar
- Movement: In-house Calibre TH20-06 Automatic. 28,800 vph (4hz) pivoting on 33 Jewels
- Power reserve: 80 Hours
- Strap: Blue material strap with fine brushed and polished steel folding clasp with double safety push-buttons
Australian Recommended Retail Price: AUD $9,800
Availability: Available now through all TAG Heuer boutiques and online at tagheuer.com
