Time+Tide Watch Discovery Studio showcases the TAG Heuer Carrera

Kieran Robson

As we celebrate the opening of our Melbourne Watch Discovery Studio, what better time to help TAG Heuer celebrate the 60th anniversary of their iconic Carrera? Whether it’s Ryan Gosling’s charming mug speeding away in a vintage Porsche or TAG Heuer’s latest and greatest Carrera Glassbox and Skipper pieces, the Time+Tide retail team will help tell the story of the Carrera over the coming weeks. We have some great pieces from their collection on display, but before we tell you what’s in store, a short view back to the past…

The Carrera line was built on racing, its name inspired by the legendary Carrera Panamericana. Thousands of miles across dirt roads and public highways, coast-to-coast through the stunning Mexican landscape, the road-rally represented the ultimate endurance test of the time. Hosted between 1950 and 1954, entries included motorsport royalty the likes of Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Fangio, and Alberto Ascari. Backed by factory entries from the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes, these legends and their brave, and admittedly slightly mad co-drivers, set out to prove that they were the best. Due to a high number of fatalities and the timing of the 1955 Le Mans disaster, the race was deemed too unsafe, and the Carrera Panamericana was shown the black flag.

Its legacy, however, lives on through the TAG Heuer Carrera line-up which has taken the next step in its journey by introducing the Glassbox. Announced at the 2023 edition of Watches & Wonders, TAG Heuer unveiled two new Carrera models, highlighted by the impressively domed sapphire crystal enveloping the dial, all in a new 39mm case.

Just as you thought TAG Heuer had pulled out the big guns for their 2023 releases, they reached deep into their back catalogue and revived the Skipper. Featuring the same 39mm case, domed sapphire crystal and in-house TH20-06 movement, it brought new splashes of colour on the sub-dials used to assist with the start of a sailing race. The dial is split into three sections, allowing the sailors to track their starting procedure accurately.

Also joining the Skipper and Glassbox Carreras are the three-handed, 36mm Carrera Date models, as well as the 42mm Carrera models using the well-established case. Equipped with the Calibre 7, the 36mm pieces have been a stand-out success from the brand, benefitting from a slimmer, more accurate movement and impressive case finishing considering the price.

Like every new brand in our Studio, our mission is to tell their story and help watch enthusiasts get hands-on with the watch world’s newest releases. TAG Heuer’s Carrera showcase is on until the end of September, so make sure you swing by our Collins St Studio to check it out for yourself, and chat all things watches.