Page 129 - Sharp Winter 2023

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Heuer knew that he could do better. Five years later, in 1963, he did just that — with the launch of the original TAG Heuer Carrera. “You can see in the Carrera a focus on the typography and the desire to explore the purest form possible,” says Nicholas Biebuyck, heritage director at TAG Heuer. “Its design language is so clear and minimal that there are only three lines of text on the watch dial — Carrera, Heuer, Swiss Made — removing any risk of getting
confused or distracted by superfluous decorations.”
With its classic sports watch looks and reliable Swiss automatic movement, the Carrera’s combination of versatility and luxury has made it a perennial favourite over the last five decades, and earned it a place on countless wrists around the globe. In the fall of 2021, more than 50 years after its introduction, the Carrera was reborn for a new generation of motorsports enthusiasts — with a stylish assist from celebrity ambassador Ryan Gosling. While it retains its mid-century lines and infamously legible dial, a thoughtful redesign inside and out upholds the Carrera’s legacy both on and off the track. The current Carrera lineup now consists of some 60 models, from popular steel three-hand and “Twin-Time” GMT models to collectible versions like a Middle East limited-edition chronograph
with an Arabic script dial.
For 2022, the Carrera Plasma wasn’t the only game-changing release in store. Its launch was followed this fall by a pair of new limited editions dedicated to another beloved Carrera, the 1973 Porsche Carrera 911 RS 2.7. Part of an ongoing partnership between TAG Heuer and Porsche, the watches are inspired by the first Porsche to bear the Carrera name — a legend among car enthusiasts — and a celebration of the two brands’ shared motorsports history. Available in two distinct versions based on the 42 mm TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph, the watches feature the Carrera logo splashed boldly across the dial, and red and blue liveries inspired by the Porsche’s dynamic original paint, among other lovingly considered details. Available as a stainless-steel chronograph or a rose gold version with a luxurious red alligator leather strap, their design proved irresistible to car enthusiasts and watch collectors alike.
After nearly 60 years in production, the TAG Heuer Carrera’s continued success and relevance are no accident. From Jack Heuer’s original concept to the audacious Carrera Plasma, to modern re- interpretations inspired by Porsche, the Carrera hasn’t simply kept pace with changing technologies and tastes, it has blazed its own path. Now, more than half a century after it first hit the road, the Carrera’s finish line is still nowhere in sight.
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