The revamping of TAG Heuer’s Carrera watch range continues with a squadron of new Calibre 5 models. In the last couple of weeks we’ve shown you the boutique-only Carrera Drive Timer and Carrera Twin-Time, and today we have the Carrera Calibre 5 and Carrera Calibre 5 Day-Date.
These new models complete the revamp of the 3-hand Carrera watch range, joining other non-chronograph Carreras launched over the last couple of years, such as the Carrera Heritage Carrera 6 and the Carrera Calibre 8 GMT.
Goodbye to the old…
The new Carrera Calibre 5 replaces two existing Carrera watch models- shown above and below.
The Calibre 5 model below was an interesting design, both with its patterned dial and the exposed date-wheel at 3 o’clock, which gave this model a distinct look in the ever-broadening Carrera range. Both watches will drop out of the catalogue when the new Carrera arrives.
Hello to the New…
The changes with the new Calibre 5 Carrera are very similar to those on the Twin-Time Calibre 7 Carrera we looked at last week:
- Applied TAG Heuer logo (rather than printed dial)
- Applied date window surround
- Newly designed hour markers that have a tapered end, rather than being rectangular
- New crown design
- Minuterie inner-flange
- Thinner external bezel
The finishing on the new watch does seem a step-up on the older models, and helps give a very smart, albeit conservative, look.
Carrera Calibre 5 Steel- 39mm
Kicking off the new range is the stainless steel Carrera, available in three dial colours: Silver (White), Anthracite and Black. Each of the watches comes with either a leather alligator strap, or the “H-pattern” steel bracelet that we first saw on the Grand Carrera.
The Silver-dial model with the tan strap (below- Ref. WAR211B) looks particularly sharp.
Carrera Calibre 5 Steel & Yellow Gold- 39mm
Next we have three bi-metal models, which combine Yellow Gold and stainless steel. The bezel is solid Gold (18K 3N), while the bracelet links are Gold-capped, a finish which uses considerably more gold than Gold plating, but is not as expensive as solid Gold.
Again, there are three choices of dial: Gold, Silver and Anthracite.
Regular readers will know that bi-metal is not a combination that we’re fans of, but there is no doubting that there is a market for the steel & gold look.
Carrera Calibre 5 Steel & Rose Gold- 39mm
For those that like Gold, but prefer the warmer Rose Gold, there are two models, that again have a solid Rose Gold bezel and gold-capped links in the bracelet. The watch below is reference WAR215D.
Carrera Calibre 5 Day-Date Steel- 41mm
The second family of watches in the Calibre 5 range is the Carrera Day-Date Calibre 5, which offers the expanded Day-Date function in a larger 41mm case
There are two dial choices- Silver or Black- and again the choice of a leather strap or stainless steel H-shaped bracelet. The watch below with the Black dial is Ref. WAR201A.
Carrera WAR201E
In 2015 TAG Heuer added a blue dial model to the Calibre 5 range.
Carrera Calibre 5 Day-Date Steel & Rose Gold- 41mm
And rounding out the range are two Day-Date Carreras that are offered with Rose Gold (plated) brightwork on the dial- the hour-markers, hands, date-window and TAG Heuer logo each get the Rose Gold treatment.
This is the most successful of the Gold-themed models- the watch below (Ref. WAR201D) with a Silver dial and Rose Gold detailing looks fantastic.
Movement- Calibre 5
Each of the new Carreras is powered by what TAG Heuer call the Calibre 5 movement (shown above). The Calibre 5 used to be supplied by ETA (the 2824-2), but these days is more likely to be the Sellita SW200, which is essentially the same movement.
The Calibre 5 can be seen through the sapphire caseback, which is offered on each of the new models.
Price & Availability
The 2014 TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 range starts at around CHF2,650 (Swiss Francs) for the stainless steel watch and goes up to CHF4,500 for the Steel & Gold models on a bracelet- with exact pricing varying by market.
The Day-Date range starts at CHF3,000 for the stainless steel, with the Rose Gold model costing around CHF3,200.
The Calibre 5 Carrera is already available at Authorised Dealers and we’ll be bringing you live photos from Basel in the next few weeks.
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