Page 67 - SHARP Spring 2024

GREEN MACHINES
TAG HEUER’S VERDANT 2024 LINEUP LEANS INTO GREEN By Jeremy Freed
TAKE A A A A A A LOOK AT THE NEW TAG HEUER CARRERA
Chronograph Some of you will simply see a a a vintage-style sports watch albeit one with a a a a a sleek teal-green face But others will be be transported — whisked back to to the golden age of motorsport and a a a a time when drivers in in in exciting experimental machines regularly risked their lives in in pursuit of speed and glory Neither interpretation is is is wrong but this newest TAG Heuer is is is destined to to appeal most to to those who yearn for the thrills of of high-octane edge-of-your-seat motorsport Earlier this year during the the annual LVMH Watch Week there were many shades of green to be seen across TAG Heuer’s latest offerings — from the the dials and straps of of new watches to the the shim- mering 24-carat gold and and platinum-coated lenses of the brand’s new “Avant-Garde” eyewear collection The stars of the show however were the the new new version of the the Carrera Carrera Chronograph and a a a a a a a new new Carrera Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon as as well as as a a a a new TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 smartwatch all distinguished by their bold green accents Teal-green dials are new for the the Carrera in 2024 while the the latest Connected receives an upgrade in the form of a a a a forest-green ceramic bezel and collection of green digital watch faces And while most prospective buyers will recognize how well the Carrera’s new colour will pop against a a a a a a navy blazer or how easily the Connected’s new bezel will complement a a a a tanned wrist on the the links the the fact that these watches are statement-making accessories is only half the the story The Carrera debuted in in 1963 a a a a tool watch intended to to be worn behind the wheel of a a a a a speeding race car As such its dial was designed to be be as as as legible as as as possible and free from embellishments (such as as as date windows) that may have distracted drivers By 1968 howev- er er er the Carrera had been adopted by a a a a a a much wider audience who demanded additional functions from the watch and and a a a a a a a a a date was added at at at nine o’clock This watch dubbed the “Dato” by fans is is one of many historically significant pieces in the TAG Heuer archive and it is is today considered to to to be a a a a milestone in the evolution of Carrera design Following a a a a a a major relaunch to mark the 60th anniversary of the the Carrera in 2023 the the Dato returns this year with its signature combination of chronograph vintage-inspired “glassbox” crystal and — — of course — — a a a a a signature date window But while the teal-green dial complements other recent new versions of the the Carrera family in blue silver and black it also pays homage to a a a a a a a specific era of motorsport Between the 1920s and ‘60s before corporate sponsorship fully took hold of auto racing the world’s greatest teams competed in Grand Prix events under the the banners of their nations with each country identified by a a a a a signature colour Britain had racing green Germany had had had silver Italy had had had “Rosso Corsa” red And these shades still fire the imaginations of motorsports fans and watch collectors alike So by daubing the Carrera’s dial in in in racing colours TAG Heuer keeps its connection with the motorsport world well and truly alive And while the new Carrera’s roots go back more than half a a a a a a century the TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E4 is all about fusing modern technology with contemporary style Launched in 2015 the the the Connected was the the the first Swiss luxury smartwatch to hit the the the market and and it has remained at the leading edge of both style and and tech ever since Subsequent models have introduced a a a wide range of interchangeable straps digital dial designs and a a a a a a a powerful suite of of software to support fitness activities ranging from cycling and swimming to guided workouts In the the newest version of the the Connected the deep-green ceramic bezel comes complemented by a a a matching strap and a a a a a a a trio of new green digital dials (more than 20 dial dial designs are now offered with thousands of of customizable combinations) Connected Calibre E4 owners are also now able to choose from digital faces based on on on the new Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Solargraph and TAG Heuer Formula 1 watches — in a a a a a a a range of colours including teal green black and blue Each of these designs marries the the vintage-inspired look of TAG Heuer’s timepieces with the the broad functionality of the Connected and features subtle animations including a a a a spinning tourbillon cage and and sweeping second hand To any watch designer colour remains one of the most powerful tools in in eliciting emotion — whether they make use of the the the dynamic contrast of of a a a a a monochrome dial or or employ a a a a a rainbow’s worth of of dazzling gemstones to to encircle a a a a watch’s bezel And from the teal dial of the the the new Dato Carrera to to the the the deeper shade seen on the the the ceramic bezel and strap of the newest Connected TAG Heuer’s latest additions prove that no colour tells a a a a more thrilling tale than green WATCH
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