The TAG Heuer Carrera collection pursues its impeccable route. Two years ago, the chronograph that has become a fixture in its category made a masterly neo-vintage comeback. Two iterations (39mm and 42mm) caused a sensation – notably thanks to the perfect proportions of a glassbox-type sapphire crystal topping a black or blue dial – and many others have appeared since. Subsequently, TAG Heuer positioned its 21st-century alter ego – the ultramodern 44mm titanium-armor-clad skeleton TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Extreme Sport – on the other side of the style spectrum. And between the two?
In between, there's this historical combo of models designed, keen to enjoy the Carrera legend... without necessarily showing up to the office in a Porsche 911 wearing a full-body racing suit. The TAG Heuer Carrera Day-Date, along with the TAG Heuer Carrera Date Twin-Time featuring a second central hours hand indicating a second time zone, were two more conventional lines with a strong personality. The two have now been subtly revamped to take their place at the top of the podium.
Same legend, new engine
The common denominator is their engine. After models previously powered by Calibre 5, these new timepieces will now beat to the rhythm of Caliber TH31 in two versions: TH31-02 for the TAG Heuer Carrera Day-Date and TH31-03 for the TAG Heuer Carrera Date Twin-Time.
They both bring considerable added value to the table, since the original power reserve that initially ranged from 38 to 50 hours has been increased to 80 – meaning almost three and a half days. This gain means you can slip off your watch on Friday evening and pick it up on Monday morning running perfectly on time.
Aesthetically, the oscillating weight has been redesigned in the spirit of the chronographs, yet with sharper edges. The Côtes de Genève are now deployed throughout the movement, in place of the circular graining previously adorning its upper mainplate. Appreciable effort has been devoted to the finishing as well as the geometry of the rotor and balance. In a nutshell – and at a price that should remain virtually unchanged – the 2025 vintage of the TAG Heuer Carrera Day-Date and TAG Heuer Carrera Date Twin-Time offers major technical enhancements while undeniably reinforming the horological dimension of each timepiece.
Raising the glass
On the dial side, the new models feature the now famous glassbox-shaped sapphire crystal. The case profile features a gentler drop, while the dial is wider and more legible. This element offers undeniable advantages, as this glass profile with its fairly steep external slope towards the bezel was one of the key elements contributing to the appeal of the original Carrera Chronographs that returned to the spotlight in 2023.
Their use on simpler models (three hands, day, date and GMT) lends renewed vitality to dials now offered in black, blue or smoky-red versions for the TAG Heuer Carrera Day-Date and green for the new TAG Heuer Carrera Date Twin-Time – which swaps out its hour-markers for Arabic numerals to enhance aesthetic coherence with its 24-hour flange. Finally, it is worth noting that these new models are standard-fitted with a steel bracelet secured by a double folding clasp, apart from the black-dial version also paired with a perforated calfskin leather strap – further confirming that the TAG Heuer Carrera is a timepiece that never really departs from its racing DNA...
