Tag Heuer Go Retro with Carrera Glassbox for 60th Anniversary

2023 marks the 60^th anniversary of the Tag Heuer Carrera, one of the brand’s foremost chronograph watches. We’ve already seen the Anniversary Edition that was launched earlier this year, but now it’s being joined by a trio of Tag Heuer Carrera Glassbox chronographs with retro inspiration. Two of which are regular chronographs with the other a tourbillon edition.

Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glass Box

Kicking things off with the standard editions, they have 39mm diameter stainless steel cases with domed sapphire crystals. It’s these crystals that give this collection the Glassbox demarcation, inspired by the domed hesalite crystals used on Carreras in the 1970s.

However, unlike those original models, the crystal now envelops the entire upper portion of the watch including the bezel to integrate seamlessly with the case. It makes for an incredibly smooth appearance and allows the tachymeter bezel to be read with great clarity from multiple angles. Frankly, they look very cool.

Beneath the updated crystals is a relatively understated tricompax dial. The Ref. CBS2210.FC6534 has a quasi-panda appearance with a black dial and silver subdials while the Ref. CBS2212.FC6535 is monotone in blue. One of the major differences between the two, besides the colours, is the location of the date window. On the black model the date is at 12 o’clock while on the blue model the window intersects with the small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock. The rest of the display, with 12-hour timer and 30-minute timer, is the same on both.

Beneath the hood is the Calibre TH20-00, an evolved form of the Heuer 02 that introduces bi-directional winding to the oscillating weight. It won’t be a hugely noticeable difference on the wrist but it will wind faster so you can make use of its 80-hour power reserve more often.

Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Glassbox

Then we get to the tourbillon model. The overall design is largely the same as its brethren but it’s slightly bigger at a 42mm diameter. Additionally, instead of a small seconds subdial it has its titular tourbillon, which actually provides the same function albeit in a more dramatic fashion. The colourway of this model is blue and silver, punctuated by a vibrant reddish-orange chronograph hand.

The movement here is the TH20-09, a chronometer certified calibre with 65-hour power reserve. Naturally, the major difference to the standard models is the presence of the tourbillon, which adds a constant dynamic aspect to the display.