TAG Heuer Carrera Date 36mm In Bold Colors & A Mechanical Upgrade
5 min read
TAG Heuer is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its classic, racing-inspired sports watch, the Carrera Date 36 mm, by releasing a brand-new model at Watches And Wonders 2023- The Carrera Date 36mm. TAG Heuer's designers and engineers have given the Carrera Date a more athletic, ergonomic profile while still maintaining the racing-inspired codes that make it one of the few true design icons in the watch industry. The rebirth of the core collection model includes new dial colours, a new tapered bracelet design, and improved movement.
Since the original Heuer Carrera from 1963 was also 36 mm in diameter, TAG Heuer Carrera fans know that the 36 mm models hold a special significance. Although preferences have changed and average case sizes have increased over the past 60 years, the 36 mm size is still very popular among women and many men. The TAG Heuer Carrera's unisex appeal stems from the watch's classic design which has stood the test of time.
The TAG Heuer Carrera, a timepiece of ingenuity
Jack Heuer, the last member of the founding family to lead the company, was brilliant in his conception of the first 36-mm Heuer Carrera chronograph.
Jack's training as an electrical engineer had taught him the importance of an easily readable instrument panel. As an avid motorsports fan, he recognised the necessity of a dashboard instrument that could be read in the blink of an eye. The Heuer Carrera, a timepiece he would describe decades later as one of his proudest designs, was heavily influenced by these ideas.
He drew inspiration for his watch's moniker from the Carrera Panamericana, a high-stakes, high-speed Mexican road race that took place in the 1950s. He chose the word "Carrera" because he thought the meanings of "race," "career," and "path" would be universally understood. He was correct, as time has proven.
The TAG Heuer Carrera has been an icon for the past six decades, known for being a fashionable, always-up-to-date, superbly engineered wristwatch for those who are always one step ahead of the curve. Jack's brilliance is still appreciated sixty years after his passing.
A dazzling array of colours for the dial
TAG Heuer has updated the Carrera Date with a new dial colour scheme. There will be three different dial colours available at the April release: the signature blue of TAG Heuer's Carrera line, a soft pastel green, and a warm silver. Each of the three has a soft, sunray-brushed surface. The fourth version, distinguished by its elegant snailed finish and vivid pink dial, will be released in May. This daring implementation captures the vogue for nontraditional dial colours that have emerged in recent years.
Super-LumiNova® is used extensively to ensure readability in low light conditions across all four models' 36 mm stainless steel cases and matching metal bracelets with traditional folding clasps. Both have a raised track around the outer edge of the dial, with quarter-second markings to represent speed, and a tone-on-tone finish that makes the watches look both casual and elegant.
The new TAG Heuer Carrera Date has a trimmer, more refined profile.
TAG Heuer's designers and engineers have rethought the Carrera Date's proportions in an effort to make it more wearable, while keeping the case diameter the same. The distance between the lugs at the top and bottom has been shortened from 43.55 mm to 41.6 mm, as seen from above. The case is also 2 mm thinner than the outgoing edition, now measuring 10 mm. These small adjustments may not seem like much, but they have a major impact on the watch's overall look and how it feels on the wrist thanks to the improved tautness and athleticism they impart.
TAG Heuer's Calibre 7 movement gives the Carrera Date extra oomph
The TAG Heuer Carrera Date has been upgraded mechanically, but this is not immediately apparent to the naked eye. TAG Heuer Calibre 5 Automatic was used in earlier versions, and it had a power reserve of 38 hours. However, the newer models come standard with the superior Calibre 7 Automatic and its 56-hour power reserve. The watch's upgraded mechanism allows for the addition of a date display at 6 o'clock.
Wish away: the new TAG Heuer Carrera Date is an instant classic
The TAG Heuer Carrera Date has been updated and modernised extensively, but it has not abandoned its racing heritage. The TAG Heuer Carrera has always been the pinnacle of innovative Swiss craftsmanship and Swiss precision. The slim, sculpted new look of the 36-mm model will ensure that it, like Jack's 1963 original, will be remembered for years to come.
