When the legendary Jack Heuer designed and created the first 36-mm Heuer Carrera, he did so to make it a stylish, modern, and highly engineered wristwatch that can be enjoyed by many. The design philosophy behind the Carrera was taken from racing car dashboard instruments, leading to the easy readability of the dials. The latest unveiling by TAG Heuer, the Carrera Date, embodies this philosophy while being presented in stylish new colours.
The updated TAG Heuer Carrera Date comes vibrant new colours for the dial. When launched in April this year, the will initially be three colour options available: one in deep TAG Heuer Carrera signature blue, second in pastel green and the third in warm silver. All three of these timepieces come with a sunray-brushed finish.
The fourth variation of the TAG Heuer Carrera Date will be released in May and will have arguably one of the more vibrant dial colours. This edition will have a vibrant pink dial with a snailed finish. A bold colour choice, but one that is needed to break away from the traditional dial colour palette of Black, white or blue.
All four variations will have the same 36-mm stainless steel case with polished steel fixed bezel. This case has been redesigned from past Carrea Date models. The TAG Heuer engineers are said to have rethought the proportions of the TAG Heuer Carrera Date while maintaining the 36mm case diameter. The measurement of the top and bottom lugs have been reduced from 43.55mm to 41.6mm while the overall case size is also 2mm thinner at 10mm. Although marginal measurements, the comfort and wearability of the watch are nicer and well-balanced.
The signature blue, pastel green and warm silver dials come with 18K 5N rose-gold-plated facetted hour and minute hands with white Super-LumiNova for low light visibility. Personally, all the dials for this new Carrera Date are tastefully done, but the ones that stand out the most are the blue and pastel green. The 18K 5N rose gold stands out beautifully against the blue and contrasts well, while the shade of pastel green is a unique dial colour in its own right. The vibrant pink snailed dial is a visually stunning piece as well, and it demands attention. For contrast and visual aesthetics, the facetted hour indices and hands are rhodium-plated. All four models also come with a angular raised minute track, running along the outer edge of the dial.
TAG Heuer has given this latest Carrera Date a mechanical upgrade to match the latest aesthetic upgrades. Previous models of the Carrera Date came with TAG Heuer’s Calibre 5 automatic movement, which gave out 38 hours of power reserve. Now, however, TAG Heuer has used their updated Calibre 7 movement, which operates at a frequency of 28, 800 VpH (4hz) and gives out an improved power reserve of 56 hours. This is not the only improvement from the Calibre 5 movement, as the new movement also allows for a date window located at the 6 ‘clock position.
With a new sculpted and refined design, vibrant new dial colours and an improved movement, the new TAG Heuer Carrera date collection is a fine example of the brand’s pursuit of refinement, whilst still keeping the original design intact.
References: Silver (WBN2310.BA0001) / Blue (WBN2311.BA0001) / Green (WBN2312.BA0001) / Pink (WBN2313.BA0001)
Specification:
- Case: 36mm
- Case Material: Steel
- Dial: Silver, blue or pastel green sunray-brushed or vibrant pink snailed dial.
- Crystal: Domed and beveled sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment
- Water resistance: 100 m
- Movement: Automatic Calibre 7 Automatic
- Power reserve: 56
- Bracelet/Strap: Steel H-shape bracelet with Steel folding clasp with double safety pushbuttons.
