Tag Heuer has announced they are updating one of their core timepieces, the Tag Heuer Carrera Three Hands. While the brand might be best known for their sporty chronographs, dive watches and connected watches, the Three Hands is a far more refined design focussing on pure legibility. The update gives them a modern reinterpretation that is bolder and more contemporary. The announcement also happens to coincide with Ryan Gosling joining as an ambassador.
Let’s talk Gosling. Throughout his career, he has proven himself to be one of the most versatile leading men in Hollywood. He can jazz his way through a blockbuster musical like La La Land just as easily as he portrays a disquieting protagonist in the action flick Drive. Not to mention that he starred in the sequel to one of cinema’s greatest films in Bladerunner 2049.
His duality of action and style is echoed by the 13 new Carrera Three Hands. The watches maintain a sportiness thanks to their steel cases and new, bolder aesthetic, but are also more refined than the Carrera chronographs because the dials are less busy due to the absence of subdials.
The 13 watches are split into four sub-collections: Twin-Time Date 41mm, Day Date 41mm, Date 39mm and Date 29mm. The Twin-Time is the most unique version so we’ll save that for last. Instead, we’ll begin with the Day Date 41mm.
TAG Heuer Day-Date 41mm
As the name suggests, the Day Date model has a 41mm diameter case made from steel and it comes with four dial options: blue, silver and two black dials, one of which has unique rose-gold plating. Stylistically the main updates are the redesigned lugs, bolder hands and better index integration. The frame around the day date has also been thinned. All the watches in the Carrera Three Hands collection also come on new steel bracelets with H shaped links. Not ground-breaking, but a decent update nonetheless.
Price & Specs
Ref: WBN2010.BA0640 (black dial, rhodium-plated indexes), WBN2013.BA0640 (black dial, 5N rose-gold indexes), WBN2012.BA0640 (blue dial), WBN2011.FC6484 (silver dial) | Case/Dial: 41mm diameter, steel case with black, blue or silver sunray brushed dial | Water Resistance: 100m | Movement: TAG Heuer Calibre 5, automatic, 26 rubies | Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz) | Power Reserve: 38h | Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, day/date | Strap: Stainless steel bracelet or brown alligator leather (WBN2011.FC6484 only) | Price: £2,400 (black dial with rhodium-plated indexes, blue and silver dial), £2,600 (black dial with 5N rose-gold indexes)
TAG Heuer Carrera Date 39mm
The 39mm version has all the same basic updates as the larger version. However, it swaps the day date function at 3 o’clock for a simple date window at 6. In terms of power, both it and the 41mm use the Tag Heuer Calibre 5 automatic movement. The 38-hour power reserve is a little lacking compared to many calibres now, but that doesn’t stop it from being an immaculate movement.
Price & Specs
Ref: WBN2110.BA0639 (black dial, rhodium-plated indexes), WBN2113.BA0639 (black dial, 5N rose-gold indexes), WBN2112.BA0639 (blue dial), WBN2111.BA0639 (silver dial) | Case/Dial: 39mm diameter, stainless steel case with black, blue or silver sunray brushed dial | Water Resistance: 100m | Movement: TAG Heuer Calibre 5, automatic, 25 rubies | Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz) | Power Reserve: 38h | Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date | Strap: Stainless steel bracelet | Price: £2,250 (black dial with rhodium-plated indexes, blue and silver dial), £2,450 (black dial, 5N rose-gold indexes)
TAG Heuer Carrera Date 29mm
Jumping down substantially in size, we find the Date 29mm model, which has a more feminine audience in mind. It still rocks the bolder design aesthetic of the updated case and hands but features options for a mother-of-pearl dial and diamond hour markers as opposed to batons. Contrary to all sense, the Calibre 9 inside has a 40-hour power reserve despite being smaller in proportions to the 5.
Price & Specs
Ref: WBN2410.BA0621 (mother of pearl dial, rhodium-plated indexes), WBN2411.BA0621 (blue dial, rhodium-plated indexes), WBN2412.BA0621 (mother of pearl dial, diamond indexes), WBN2413.BA0621 (blue dial, diamond indexes) | Case/Dial: 29mm diameter, stainless steel case with mother of pearl or blue sunray brushed dial | Water Resistance: 100m | Movement: TAG Heuer Calibre 9, automatic, 18 rubies | Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz) | Power Reserve: 40h | Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date | Strap: Stainless steel bracelet | Price: £1,900 (mother of pearl and blue dial with rhodium-plated indexes), £2,700 (mother of pearl and blue dial with diamond indexes)
TAG Heuer Twin-Time Date 41mm
Last but by no means least is the Carrera Three Hands Twin-Time, although it actually has four hands. The flange has a day/night 24-hour scale that pairs with an addition dual time hand to display a second time zone. There is also only a blue dial version available, making it the most unique of the four designs. To accommodate for the additional function, it uses the Calibre 7, a dual time movement with a 50-hour power reserve.
Price & Specs
Ref: WBN201A.BA0640 | Case/Dial: 41mm diameter, stainless steel case with blue sunray brushed dial | Water Resistance: 100m | Movement: TAG Heuer Calibre 7, automatic, 25 rubies | Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz) | Power Reserve: 50h | Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT hand | Strap: Stainless steel bracelet | Price: £2,650
More details at TAG Heuer.
