In 2018, TAG Heuer is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Heuer Carrera. As one of the tentpole models for the brand, the Carrera has always existed as a clear representation of the brand’s motorsport heritage. We recently covered the tale of Jack Heuer releasing the Carrera ? his first motorsport chronograph ? in 1963, and, when compared to the Carrera Heuer-01 Chronograph released at Baselworld 2015, you can really see how much the identity of the brand has developed over the decades.
The original 1963 Heuer Carrera
When Jack Heuer was designing the original Carrera, he relied on a minimalist approach on the basis of keeping the dial highly legible. He even had the seconds scale printed on the newly-developed tension ring, which helped make the dial look less crowded compared to the faces of other chronographs of the era. All of these subtleties disappeared with the Heuer-01. The soft metallic sheen of the dial was stripped away in favor of a skeletonized approach. The masculinity was amped up with colorful red accents and a plus-sized case coming in at 45 mm compared to the original 36 mm. No more steel; a case made of titanium now ensured that the Carrera Heuer-01 would survive any shock. And, at release, it was billed as the only brand with a manufacture chronograph movement under $5,000.
“When it came to designing the new TAG Heuer Carrera, we were faced with a choice between a vintage-inspired piece and a modern reworking,” said LVMH Head...