Overview
In the early 1960s the Heuer watch company began work on the development of a clean and legible chronograph that would be used for timing car races. The idea stemmed from an interaction CEO Jack Heuer had with Pedro and Ricardo Rodríguez de la Vega in 1962. The two brothers, who drove for Ferrari at the time, spoke of the dangerous Carrera Panamericana road race in Mexico that ran the previous decade. Jack was so captivated by the name that he registered it for Heuer and within one year developed the racing chronograph he’d been dreaming of—the Heuer Carrera.
For the next two decades the Carrera saw various developments, including the introduction of an automatic movement in 1969 and the usage of barrel-shaped cases in the 1970s. However, by 1982 the Quartz Crisis had taken its toll on the company and Jack was forced to step down as CEO. Just 2 years later the Carrera ceased production and the company was bought by TAG ("Techniques d'Avant Garde”) in 1985. The once legendary Carrera was now just a historical footnote of the TAG Heuer brand.
That all changed in 1996 when, for the first time, TAG Heuer looked to its heritage catalog to design a re-edition of the 1963 Carrera. The new watch was nearly identical to the original, featuring the same 36mm polished case, pump chronograph pushers, acrylic crystal, and three-register dial design. In the spirit of the original release, the new Carrera Re-Edition came in multiple configurations including steel-encased black, silver, or salmon dials, or an 18k gold-encased silver dial. Each of these utilized a decimeter scale, and the silver dial went so far as to include the same light blue text used in the originals.
The move to faithfully reissue a historical model did not go unnoticed. Following the success of the Carrera Re-Edition, TAG Heuer went on to produce re-editions of its other storied models including the Monaco, Monza, and Autavia. Nearly 30 years after its launch, the Carrera Re-Edition remains a popular watch on the secondary market and, despite rising prices, continues to provide collectors an affordable alternative to the scarce and expensive originals.
Specifications
Brand:
TAG Heuer
Model:
Carrera 1964 Re-Edition
Reference:
CS3140
Year:
1990s
Case Number:
No. 0721
Case Material:
Yellow gold
Diameter:
36 mm
Lug Width:
18 mm
Thickness:
13.0 mm
Lug-to-Lug:
43.8 mm
Dial:
Silver
Lume:
Tritium
Crystal:
Acrylic
Movement:
Hand-wound
Caliber:
Lemania 1873
Bracelet/Strap:
TAG Heuer black perforated leather strap with tang buckle
Max Wrist Size:
Hand model has a wrist size of 6.2 in
Condition
Case: The case shows normal signs of wear for a 25-year-old watch. There are several hairlines, shallow scratches, and small nicks present, the most prominent of which are on the case sides. The lugs remain thick with minimal softening at the edges. The brushed finish of the case back is well-preserved and shows some minor scratching consistent with the rest of the case. The hallmark and reference engravings remain clearly visible. The back of the lugs show small signs of strap changing.
Dial, Hands, & Crystal: The silver dial and gold polished hands are in perfect condition. The acrylic crystal has no major scratching with plenty of life left to give. The tritium on the dial and hands shows no degradation or cracking and is aging into a lovely shade of yellow. When exposed to UV light, the tritium briefly glows and then fades away within 1 minute.
Bracelet/Strap: The Tag Heuer perforated leather strap is brand new and in unworn condition. The original gold Heuer buckle shows small signs of wear consistent with the rest of the watch.
Performance
Functions: All functions including the crown-winding, time-setting, and chronograph start/stop/reset are working as expected.
Service History: Unknown.
