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To mark the 55th anniversary of the Carrera, TAG Heuer has launched a new range of heritage-style Calibre 16 models with a sporting bent. Available in both black and blue, both models use the a stainless steel 41mm case. Both models have matching dials and bezels, with contrasting white sub-dials and bright red highlights on the hands and inner flange.
The watches are a welcome return to the heritage style Carrera case after many recent models have focused on the modular and avant garde style of the Carrera Heuer-01 and Heuer-02. Indeed, it is because of the sales success of the Carrera Heuer-01 that the popular Carrera 1887 range was replaced with Calibre 16 equivalents, to ensure there was sufficient supply of TAG Heuer’s in-house Calibre for its best-selling models.
We’d hope to see these Calibre 16 models as the first renaissance of the 41mm heritage style Carrera case, offering a contrast to the larger 43 and 45mm modular models.
Design
Both watches have opaline dials with matching ceramic bezels with a tachymetre scale. While traditionalists will blanche at the though of any Carrera with an external bezel, the reality is that this has been a feature of the TAG Heuer-era Carrera since the mid- 2000s. Indeed, you can see several similarities with the popular CV2015 Carrera from 2005-6, as shown below- note the orange segment on the 12 o’clock sub-dial, the matching dial and tachy bezel and of course, the same 41mm stainless steel case and Calibre 16 movement.
TAG Heuer Carrera CV2015 Calibre 16 from 2005
But what does set the new models apart is the contrasting white sub-dials and inner flange with 60-second scale- we’re a fan of the new look, which give this modern Carrera a sporty/ heritage style consistent with the style used in the 1970s with the second generation Carrera.
Also contributing to the heritage feel is the use of “aged” beige Super Luminova on the hands and hour-markers
The New Carrera Range
Let’s take a look at the new 2018 Carrera Chronographs
Carrera Calibre 16 Black Dial- Ref. CV201AP
The black dial model is available with the nicely detailed black leather strap with red stitching shown above.
Carrera Calibre 16 Blue Dial- Ref. CV201AR
The blue dial model- and this is the one that we’d choose- isn’t available on a strap- just the H-Link bracelet standard across the Carrera range.
Movement & Caseback
Inside the newest Carrera is the TAG Heuer Calibre 16 movement, which is either the ETA 7750, or the equivalent movement from Sellita, the SW-500.
The caseback is reminiscent of that offered on the Calibre 16 models from the last few years, which gave up their former sapphire casebacks which became the preserve of the in-house Calibre 1887 models.
Live Shots
Price and Availability
The good news is that the sporty new Calibre 16 Carrera will go on sale in the next couple of months, with prices as follows for the black dial model (with a premium of around US$150 for the blue dial due to the stainless steel bracelet):
- Switzerland: CHF 4,200
- Europe: €3,950
- Great Britain: £3,500
- North America: $4,350
- Hong Kong: HKD$34,600
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