Shortly after the excellent Carrera Seafarer x Hodinkee‘s release, TAG Heuer drove us back to its more avant-garde collections by unexpectedly introducing the cutting-edge Carrera Chronograph Extreme Sport.
Sportier and less conventional in appearance, it embodies the brand’s more contemporary DNA since the new in-house movements, which are a chronograph and a chronograph plus a Tourbillon, hit the market.
More recently, the introduction of the calibre Heuer TH20-00, a consistent improvement of the Heuer 02, and the 39 mm Carrera paved the way for extensive classic or ultra-modern product iterations, the pinnacle of which was the exclusive partnership signed with Porsche.
Porsche DNA for the Chronograph Extreme Sport
While a fully skeletonized Carrera is no breaking news—it appeared with Heuer 01, followed by the 02 along the way—the newly uncovered Extreme collections stand as the most refined evolution. They take inspiration from the stunning, race-inspired TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963 in form and function.
Forget the squared lugs and flat case side of the past. Instead, consider an intricate and curvy silhouette sporting edgy profiles, concave surfaces, curved lugs, and an integrated rubber strap.
Therefore, TAG Heuer has kept the multi-material sports chronograph on an integrated strap. The integrated strap houses a NACA-inspired mid-section design to strengthen its deep, historical relationship with motorsport.
Four chronographs and two chrono-tourbillons
Carrera is synonymous with chronographs, but the brand stepped up by pairing chronographs and Tourbillons to market the most accessible chrono-sports tourbillon ever. A shield logo with a bracket into an intricately skeletonized dial has become the TAG Heuer Chronograph Tourbillon’s hallmark.
Across the collections, as exemplified by the funny, collectors-ready Mario Kart Tourbillon based on a Formula 1 case. The layout is quite a looker in two of four chronograph options despite not being the most readable chronograph ever. The orange model is the most attractive Extreme on offer so far.
Extreme Sport Chronograph
The Chronograph Extreme Sport’s four variations adopt a grade 2 titanium case and a ceramicbezel, showcasing a detailed brushed-to-satin finish and a grained black PVD one across the concave section. The crown and chrono buttons come in Grade 5 titanium instead.
A third option features a DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) treatment, and last but not least, the most luxurious one has a DLC and a rose gold-treated case. However, Orange and Blue stand out. The latest-gen TH20-00 movement is powering the watch, a 4 Hertz chronograph with 80 hours of power reserve and a bidirectional rotor, a massive evolution of the previous Heuer 02 (and an extended five-year warranty).
Extreme Sport Tourbillon Chronograph
TAG Heuer believes in such a high-end complication whose commercial success is known. Thanks to the mechanical movement’s modular design, each Extreme edition case measures 44.0 mm across and 15.1 mm in thickness.
The chrono-tourbillon comes in two options: a grade 2 titanium case with a CFRP bezelpowered by the TH20-09 calibre, with the tourbillon’s cage placed at six, and an entire rose gold case and bezel, too.
Final thoughts
If you love motorsport and bold, no-compromise sports chronographs, try a TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Extreme Sport. Here, it is not an all-rounder into a one-piece collection; it plays as an ultra-sports chronograph whose key features are a refined design and lightweight materials.
Please consider that it is not the easiest-to-read chronograph money can buy, but one of the most attractive. Our choice is orange or blue, each costing €8,050. The tourbillon’s execution is even more attractive, but I am surprised TAG Heuer will not market an equally colourful Extreme tourbillon. Prices begin at an affordable 25,700 Euros and go up to 32,250 Euros for the gold variation.
(Photo credit: TAG Heuer)
Giovanni Maria Di Biase @Horbiter®
In this article:
Chronograph
Complication that helps the wearer to measure time intervals without affecting the watch's standard time-telling function.
Calibre
A calibre is the type of watch movement encased in an assigned timepiece. Its name is usually associated with the manufacturer's name and a standard code, e.g., ETA 2824.
Strap
A leather, rubber or other material band that secures the watch to the wearer's wrist.
Case
It encases the mechanical movement and is crafted in one or more parts. It can also be a single piece, as with some professional diving watches, or made of unconventional…
Crown
Placed on the case side, it winds the mainspring. When pulled out, it also sets the time and the date. A screw-down crown increases water resistance and protects the movement…
Ceramic
Widely used for crafting a watch case and, in recent years, also for the bezels of diving watches and dials. Obtained from zirconia powder (ZrO2), ceramic offers superior scratch resistance…
Bezel
The bezel is particularly useful on diving watches, allowing you to check dive times. In this case, it unidirectionally rotates and usually comes in two parts: a metal (or ceramic,…
Rotor
Part of an automatic watch that winds the mainspring by constantly rotating. Depending on the watch's winding capability, movement design, and value, it comes in various geometries, sizes, and materials.…
Power Reserve
A mechanical watch feature displays, on the dial or the case back, the remaining power in a watch movement, showing the length of time until the timepiece must be rewound.
Complication
The addition of any mechanical complication to a movement that usually displays the time.
