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With all their vintage reissues, smartwatches, and flashy skeletonized sport watches, you might be surprised when TAG Heuer releases some relatively conservative but modern chronographs like those that largely characterized the brand over the last couple of decades. The new TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 16 Chronograph models introduce some notable design updates to the famous motorsport-themed watches. According to the brand, the changes are driven by legibility and wearability — and these are arguably some of the most important factors toward the longterm usefulness of a watch.
The 41mm-wide case (100m water-resistant) still features the angular lugs that connect the modern version to the Carrera’s historical roots. Now, however, these are shorter, and this should help the watch wear more easily and comfortably on a wider range of wrist sizes. The brand says these lugs help the case “appear slimmer,” but the ETA/Valjoux 7750 (“Calibre 16”) automatic movement inside with a 42-hour power reserve is known to necessitate somewhat chunky cases.
The dials have also been tweaked, while retaining familiar traits. More luminescent material will now make help low-light legibility as the indices themselves are filled with the glowing material (as opposed to just the pips above them, as on previous models). The subdials’ counters have also been enlarged. The new models are offered in a black-dial version with red highlights or blue with orange. On a steel bracelet, the new TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 16 Chronograph will have a price of $4,450 in either color, or $4,300 on a perforated leather strap.
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