TAG Heuer introduced the Carrera Chronograph Sport in 2020 as a new core collection dedicated to the essentials of a chronograph. It prioritised legibility, practicality and as the name suggests, sportiness. However, in 2023 for the Carrera’s 60th anniversary TAG Heuer launched the Glassbox and in the three years since, the Glassbox has become the de facto poster boy for the range thanks to its retro charms. Now though, the Carrera Chronograph Sport is back with a new collection with upgraded case and redesigned dial.
Starting with the case, it has been significantly improved. The diameter has been reduced from a mammoth 44mm to a much more manageable 42mm and it’s the same story with the thickness: down from 15.48mm to 14.17mm. It’s still a big watch by anyone’s reckoning but much more in keeping with what’s considered reasonable by current standards. The overall shape of the steel case is the same but it’s just a bit sleeker and easier to wear now.
Although, there are a few aesthetic tweaks to be found on the case. The pushers and crown have been redesigned to remove the band that runs around their middles which gives them a more uniform, cleaner appearance. The tachymeter bezel has also been updated so that it now consists of a steel cradle with a ceramic insert rather than the wide, full ceramic construction it previously had. Visually, I think the impact is similar to the notion that wearing stripes is supposed to be slimming and so it emphasises the reduced dimensions of the case even more.
The visual updates continue with the dial. The 12 chunky bar indexes have been replaced with a 60-minute scale with Arabic numerals, putting the focus on the chronograph’s use as a timing device. The layout of the chronograph subdials is unchanged with a 12-hour counter, 30-minute counter and then running seconds at 6 o’clock superimposed with the date window. Powering those functions is the calibre TH20-00 automatic with 80-hour power reserve, the modern version of the HEUER 02 movement in the original Carrera Chronograph Sport.
For colours, there are four options: black with red accents, blue with silver accents, green with silver accents and silver with black accents. The blue edition is the only version that’s available with an alternative strap option to the standard steel bracelet. It’s also presented on a light brown, perforated racing leather strap. The bracelet versions are priced at £5,500 and the strap is £5,300 – making them roughly the same price as the bi-metal edition of the originals but an increase from the full steel models.
The main story here is the reduced size of the case, and here less really is more. It opens up the collection to a vastly wider audience and makes it a more realistic prospect for collectors to actually wear. I’m not 100% sold on the swapping the hour markers for a 60-minute scale but it does make the collection stand out compared to the Glassbox and give it a reason for existing alongside that other range.
Price and Specs:
More details at TAG Heuer.
