TAG Heuer Carrera: A Race Inspired Iconic Watch That Has Not Allowed Time To Pass It By

After more than fifty years since the introduction of this legendary luxury watch , we can see TAG Heuer Carreras on the wrists of celebrities and sport stars like quarterback Tom Brady, who is an ambassador for the brand. Let's explore some of the history of this iconic watch.

TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 8 GMT And Grande Date Automatic

Carrera, which as you might know, means race in Spanish, is the name given to one of the most renowned watches from TAG Heuer. This Swiss watch was inspired by the Carrera Panamericana, a famous car race held in Mexico. The race was first run in 1950 on the Pan-American highway and covered Mexico from north to south. The original Carrera Panamericana was a grueling and dangerous race that ran annually but was cancelled after the 1954 edition.
In 1963, Jack Heuer, the great grandson of TAG Heuer founder Edouard Heuer, held the reigns of the company when he introduced the Heuer Carrera watch. Given his passion for motor racing, Jack designed this high end watch for professional auto racers. This first Carrera had a mechanical anti-magnetic movement that included 17 jewels. It featured a waterproof and shock resistant 36 mm stainless steel case, a large knurled winding crown, a chronograph (stopwatch) with large push buttons that could be activated while wearing gloves (essential for race drivers), a dial designed for easy legibility, which integrated the 1/5th second tick markers in the outer crystal ring, and a black leather strap.
Today, the line of Carrera watches comprises a vast array of models, including the Carrera Calibre 8 GMT And Grande Date Automatic. Highlights of this Swiss made watch include a high precision automatic movement that is chronometer certified by C.O.S.C. (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute), a power reserve of approximately 42 hours, a large date display (Grande Date), and a second time zone (GMT). It comes in a 41 mm polished stainless steel case, which is water resistant to 100 meters. The black dial is enclosed by a scratch resistant curved sapphire crystal (only a diamond can scratch it) and the fined brushed polished stainless steel bracelet includes a safety push button on the clasp. Current Carrera watches incorporate enhanced technology that has evolved through the decades, but they still maintain the heritage of the original race inspired version from 1963.

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