The race continues this year for TAG Heuer with the release of the latest 39mm “Glassbox” Carrera – this time with a silver panda dial and steel bracelet!
Last year saw the 60th anniversary of the iconic TAG Heuer Carrera, which let’s face it, was a GIANT year for the brand celebrating with numerous Carrera drops across the year. From the newly developed Glassbox Carrera Chronograph in both a blue and reverse panda dial, to the re-invention of the Skipper and the solid 18k yellow gold Carrera Chronograph to round it out. It was a big year for the brand.
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Then let’s not forget the release of the teal green dial Carrera Dato and Tourbillon Chronograph at LVMH Watch Week 2024! This year, TAG Heuer continues this with the launch of their addition to the famous Carrera lineup, with the vintage-inspired Carrera Chronograph complete with a silver panda dial.
This piece is another throwback to the TAG Heuer archives and takes inspiration from the 7753 SN model from the late 1960s, with the ‘S’ and the ‘N’ standing for silver and Noir. Yes, English mixed with French – how very Heuer!
The 2024 model has all the hallmarks of the original 7753 SN, however, much more modernised for the 2024 consumer. Taking the main design elements we saw last year of the Glassbox Blue Dial with a date window at 6 o’clock, the new Silver Panda is in the 39mm brushed and polished steel case, with that, classic domed sapphire crystal curving over the edges of the dial, blending into the case. Under the glassbox crystal, a black tachymeter scale sits to track speed over distance. This design with Jack Heuer was adamant about perfecting means that the wearer can see and read the scale clearly when viewed from any angle.
On the dial, TAG Heuer has given the new Silver Panda curved rhodium-plated indexes, contributing to the watch’s cohesive aesthetic, not to mention the rhodium-plated hands with the seconds hand having a red-coated tip, further creating contrast on the dial and legibility. Adding to this, each 5-second interval is marked in red, again enhancing visibility. Plus, red goes faster, right?
Completing the Panda look are the chronograph sub-dials at 3 and 9 o’clock, done in a deep black and set into the dial with concentric circles to give the dial added depth. Just like the Blue Glassbox, TAG Heuer have set the date window at the 6 o’clock position, tucking nicely into the small seconds sub-dial register.
Where this piece differs from the previous Carrera’s from last year, the 2024 Panda comes complete with a steel bracelet, which keeps the vintage reference accurate to the 7753 SN. The bracelet has been modernised, however, and TAG Heuer has put the new Carrera on a sporty 3-link brushed steel bracelet, which does give the new Carerra a very different look from the last 12 months’ releases.
Inside the Panda, TAG Heuer has equipped the watch with the Calibre TH20-00 Automatic movement, the same that can be found in the existing models. The TH20-00 is an evolution of the Heuer 02, and the movement is visible through the Carrera’s sapphire crystal case back. With an 80 hour power reserve, it’s got plenty in the tank and won’t leave you out of gas.
Final Thoughts
As the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, or maybe, “if you’re on to a good thing, stick with it” rings true for the new Glassbox Panda. It continues on the well-received and successful theme of 2023 and early 2024, and hammers home the vintage Heuer design cues that TAG Heuer is now doubling down on. And why not, it’s working!
While the previous references had leather straps to give the pieces a more classic look, this piece goes down the sportier road, and the brushed 3-link bracelet gives this TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph a new look. The black sub-dials on the silver dial aren’t your standard white and black, which again gives the watch another point of difference but without losing too much of the look the Carrera is now more known for.
Reference: CBS2216.BA0041
Specification:
- Case Size: 39mm / 46mm lug to lug
- Thickness: 13.86mm thick
- Case Material: Steel brushed and polished case
- Case back: Steel screw-down sapphire case back
- Dial: Silver sunray brushed dial. Black flange with 60 second / minute scale, tachymeter, and black chronograph subdials
- Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment
- Water resistance:100m / 10bar
- Movement: In-house Calibre TH20-00 Automatic
- Power reserve: 80 Hours
- Bracelet: Steel 3 rows bracelet, fine-brushed, polished steel folding clasp with double safety push-buttons
