With all the talk of the medium sized divers hitting the market this summer, it?s easy enough to forget that this year, in many ways, is the year of the Carrera. This is the 160th anniversary year for the Heuer brand, and to celebrate they?ve relaunched the iconic racing chronograph in several distinct guises. With this latest announcement, TAG?s strategy has come into clear focus. The year began with an homage to a classic vintage Carrera in a limited edition targeted at enthusiasts, and that release was followed up a few months ago with a maximalist, modern, and sporty take on the watch, offering an assortment of colors in a size geared toward the more casual watch consumer. (And we can?t forget the somewhat oddball Montreal release, another playful nod to the enthusiast crowd). Now, with the simply named TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph, the brand has unveiled the happy medium in this year?s Carrera lineup, an update to the classic design that is set to be a permanent fixture in the collection for years to come. Let?s take a look. 
While there have always been a variety of watches under the Carrera banner, we can most easily understand the chronograph as an expression of sporty elegance that was so key to 60s style. It was never a tool watch, necessarily, though it could certainly be used as a tool. And it?s not dressy in a traditional sense either, even though the design team clearly took great pains to get the curves, bevels, and finishing just right. This is a...