The year 2020 was exceptionally eventful for TAG Heuer. In a year when almost all the brand's key models received substantial updates, the most significant changes undoubtedly occurred in the Carrera sports watch series. During two major releases, both the sports and more refined Carrera chronographs were completely revamped, acquiring a bolder, angular appearance and new in-house movement options.
In 2021, the brand returns to the Carrera line to align the three-hand segment with the new Carrera aesthetic, creating a sharp contemporary new collection. The new TAG Heuer Carrera Three Hand Collection, including the TAG Heuer Carrera Day-Date 41mm, TAG Heuer Carrera Date 39mm, and TAG Heuer Carrera Twin-Time, presents a modern, faceted look for the Carrera family with unique stylistic and textural touches that set it apart from competitors.
All members of the TAG Heuer Carrera Three-Hand Collection share the same basic stainless steel case design, heavily influenced by the 42mm Carrera Chronograph Heuer 02 line introduced in 2020. Both the 39mm Carrera Date case and the 41mm Carrera Day Date and Carrera Twin-Time cases feature the signature angular faceted Carrera design: a sharp inward lug bevel pairs with a wide polished chamfer running the length of the case sides. These elements work harmoniously to break up the side profile of the case in images and should visually thicken these cases on the wrist. Horizontal brushing across the flat case sides adds visual depth to this relatively simple form, accentuating the sharp chamfer transition and providing a much-needed mix of finishes in the overall package.
While both case variants use a narrow sloped polished bezel, it is here that the differing proportions of the two models most clearly manifest. In the smaller 39mm case, this bezel occupies noticeably more visual area, creating a more compact, balanced, and vintage feel in initial images. In the 41mm case variant, this same bezel stretches over a wider dial opening, giving the 41mm models a bolder, more modern appearance when viewed from above.
Both case variants are equipped with sapphire casebacks and maintain the sporty character of the Carrera line with 100 meters of water resistance.
The dials of the TAG Heuer Carrera Three Hand Collection, like the cases, largely follow the design of the Carrera Chronograph Heuer 02 but add unexpected stylistic twists. Each model traces elements of the original 1960s Carrera design, with features such as striped pointed baton hands and faceted applied indices lending a slightly vintage flair to the modern design. Even the Carrera emblem printed at 12 o'clock offers a vintage feel, using the same serif font as the original 1963 Carrera model. With such a minimal layout, every fine detail plays a key role in the success of the design, and TAG Heuer does not disappoint in this regard: nuances such as the slightly rounded index profiles and newly reduced day-date window frames deserve close attention in initial images.
The TAG Heuer Carrera Date 39mm model is the simplest of the new group, with a beautifully symmetrical date window at 6 o'clock and a quartet of dial options. The two black dial variants are perhaps the most intriguing in this group, eschewing traditional matte or sunburst finishes in favor of a fully matte finish that adds visual depth to the design and evokes images of vinyl records. Additional rose gold 5N coated hands and indices further enhance the visual drama in photos, giving the design a warm luxurious tone that immediately sets it apart from the rest of the models.
The silver sunburst dial option lends the Carrera Date a more dressy, vintage character thanks to the fine-grained sunburst pattern and matching date wheel. For the blue dial model, TAG Heuer has opted for a classic cobalt blue sunburst finish, although the use of a white date wheel here potentially disrupts the overall visual harmony of the dial.
In the TAG Heuer Carrera Day Date 41mm model, the brand uses the same four dial options, but the larger dial diameter gives the design a more open appearance. Additionally, the date/day window at 3 o'clock will likely provoke debate among enthusiasts: it is executed in such a way that it retains part of the applied '3 o'clock' index, with the window itself centered on the dial. The most original design in the series is undoubtedly the TAG Heuer Carrera Twin-Time, which complements the Carrera dial with a fine GMT hand featuring a red tip.
The Carrera Twin-Time model, available only in blue, also replaces the outer seconds scale on the rehaut with a clean, open 24-hour scale, executed in two tones - blue and pale silver. This elegant minimal 24-hour ring retains the clean look of the three-hand Carrera while adding a new dynamic visual accent and useful information in images.
TAG Heuer equips the Carrera Date 39mm and Carrera Day Date 41mm models with the automatic Sellita SW200-1 based Caliber 5. Caliber 5 has been a staple in the TAG Heuer lineup for many years, and while the pieces in the Carrera Three-Hand Collection are beautifully decorated with perlage on the bridges and a signed rotor with Côtes de Genève, this movement is starting to show its age. The power reserve falls short of modern standards at 38 hours at a frequency of 28,800 beats per second. The Carrera Twin-Time model uses the closely related automatic Caliber 7 GMT, based on the Sellita SW300. The finish of these two movements is largely identical, and although some purists may decry the 'chirpy' GMT hand in place of a more desirable hour hand, the Caliber 7 is a reliable performer with a 50-hour power reserve and a frequency of 28,800 beats per second.
All models in the TAG Heuer Carrera Three-Hand Collection come with an H-link stainless steel bracelet, except for the Carrera Day Date 41mm with a silver dial. Like many other elements of this series, the H-link bracelet is carried over from the 42mm Carrera Chronograph Heuer 02 model. It is executed in a modern and sporty angular style with a brushed finish complemented by polished central links. Instead of the silver dial Carrera Day Date, the brand has placed the watch on a warm cognac brown alligator leather strap. It's unclear why TAG Heuer offers this option only in one specific color scheme, but it gives the design a more sophisticated, classic look.
The new TAG Heuer Carrera Three Hand Collection, with its intriguing new finishes, sharp looks, and wide variety of execution options, aligns the non-chronograph part of the Carrera with the brand's modern aesthetics and creates truly beautiful models.
The watches from the TAG Heuer Carrera Three-Hand Collection are already available at authorized dealers: the starting price for the TAG Heuer Carrera Date 39mm is USD 2,700, the TAG Heuer Carrera Day-Date 41mm is USD 2,900, and the TAG Heuer Carrera Twin-Time is USD 3,200. For more information, visit the brand's website.