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.
The inaugural Carreras were equipped with matte black, eggshell white, and silver dials with either two or three registers and the option of tachymeter or decimeter scales at the outer edge. Additionally, various case materials were available, including regular steel, gold-plated steel, and an exclusive 18k solid gold case paired with the three-register silver dial. These initial Carrera designs, characterized by their iconic faceted lugs, were produced for only a short period before transitioning to chunkier, barrel-shaped automatic models in the 1970s.
To celebrate the Carrera's 60th anniversary in January 2023, TAG Heuer introduced a 600-piece limited edition that paid tribute to the highly coveted 2447SN model. The contemporary is a faithful reinterpretation of the original, featuring a cleanly executed silver sunburst panda dial, free from any unnecessary markings or date windows. TAG even used its old Heuer logo and employed a tasteful golden shade of Super-Luminova to replicate the aged tritium found on the vintage model.
Where the anniversary edition differs from the 2447SN is the case, which has been up-sized from 36mm to 39mm. In addition, the new watch foregoes the hand-wound Valjoux 72 and instead uses one of TAG's modern automatic calibers, the Heuer 02, which it proudly showcases behind an exhibition caseback. Despite these modernizations, the watch manages to retain Jack Heuer's understated design principles, capturing the simplicity and nostalgic charm of the original within a robust and contemporary package, all while remaining relatively affordable.
Specifications
Brand:
TAG Heuer
Model:
Carrera 60th Anniversary LE
Reference:
CBK221H.FC8317
Year:
2023
Case Number:
428/600
Case Material:
Stainless steel
Diameter:
39 mm
Lug Width:
19 mm
Thickness:
14.4 mm
Lug-to-Lug:
47.2 mm
Dial:
Silver
Lume:
Super-LumiNova
Crystal:
Sapphire
Movement:
Automatic
Caliber:
Heuer 02
Bracelet/Strap:
TAG Heuer black perforated calfskin strap with tang buckle
Max Wrist Size:
Hand model has a wrist size of 6.2 in
Condition
Case: The stainless steel case is in pristine condition with virtually no signs of wear outside of a couple micro imperfections visible only upon close inspection. The lugs are thick, sharp, and beautifully faceted. There is a faint nick on the case side opposite the crown and a micro scratch to the bottom edge of the lug at 11 o'clock. The caseback is in superb condition with no notable imperfections. The backs of the lugs are super clean with only the lug at 11 o'clock showing a couple faint scratches at the tip. The model and serial number engravings are crisp and deep.
Dial, Hands, & Crystal: The silver sunburst dial and black painted hands are in perfect condition with fully functioning Super-LumiNova. Both front and rear sapphire crystals are squeaky clean and scratch-free.
Bracelet/Strap: The TAG Heuer black calfskin strap is in fantastic condition with no notable imperfections. The condition of the Heuer-signed buckle is consistent with the rest of the case.
Performance
Functions: All functions including the crown winding, time setting, and chronograph start/stop/reset are working as expected.
Service History: None.
