Introducing: The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Extreme Sport And Tourbillon Chronograph Extreme Sport
What We Know
Earlier this year, my colleague Jonathan McWhorter introduced TAG Heuer’s latest collaboration with Porsche, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche 963. The styling of that watch was certainly aggressive, in the purposeful sense of the term, and incorporated many elements from the Porsche 963 as an homage to the race car. It was produced in a limited edition of 963 pieces, and while quite a large number, the watch is sold out on TAG Heuer’s website and seemingly at most other retailers online. Undoubtedly, a large chunk of these have gone on the wrists of Porsche owners and fans of autosport.
The four new dial variations of the Extreme Sport.
It appears that the Porsche collaboration was released merely as an aperitif to a fuller, fleshed-out lineup, and today TAG Heuer announces a total of six watches in the “Extreme Sport” collection – four variations of the Chronograph Extreme Sport and two variants of the Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport. Compared to the previous generation of TAG’s “integrated” rubber strap chronographs, the case of the new line is significantly more sculpted, which Jonathan mentions in his article as an important technique in slimming down a large profile; in this example a case with 44mm diameter and 15.1mm thickness. The case is finished with brushing and polishing, and the sunken-in side of the case is done in a contrasting sandblast. The tachymeter markings sit on the matte black ceramic bezel. On all four of the Extreme Sport chronographs, the caseback, pushers, and crown are all DLC-coated titanium – the interactive elements in grade-5 and the caseback in grade-2.
The dial is the biggest defining aspect of this “Extreme” series, and the brand says that this new generation of skeleton dial was redesigned for legibility, with increased contrast on many of the bridges. Unlike its Porsche cousin, the chronograph counters on the new dial are also hollowed out, with markings printed on the inner ring of each subdial. Sitting behind the open-worked date disc is a square of white Super-LumiNova, a clever touch to allow for the date to be visible even in the dark. On each respective colorway, the chronograph seconds hand, subdials, seconds track, and date disc serve as the accents – my favorite one being the blazing orange.
Beating inside the Extreme Sport chronographs is the modern Caliber TH20-00, the same current chronograph movement seen in the Glassbox chronographs.
The other two watches in this announcement are the Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport models – one in all-black and one in rose gold. Both are also 44mm in diameter, and a tourbillon cut-out sits at 6 o’clock instead of the date wheel. We’ve already seen this chronograph tourbillon setup with Calibre TH20-09 in the Glassbox version, but to be honest, I think the aggressive styling makes much more sense for a TAG Heuer tourbillon. The monochromatic titanium chronograph features a bezel made out of black forged carbon, and the rose gold model features a matching polished rose gold bezel with black markings.
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Extreme Sport models are priced starting at 8,000 CHF. The Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport models start at 25,500 CHF, and all models will be available this month.
What We Think
Look, I’ll start by saying that my heart has been won over by the new design language of the recent Glassbox Carreras. As a result, I’m not the target demographic for these extreme watches. This is for the customer who wants a fully modern, almost futuristic, skeletonized racing chronograph. It is, as the brand says in the product title, extreme. If we look at the current skeletonized chronographs from TAG Heuer, I think that the commitment to just a little more in every aspect of the watch does sell it a little better.
If we track the changes from the older Carrera chronographs to the new Glassbox, many of the same changes are also present in this Extreme line – lugs seem a little slimmed out, and things are overall a bit smoother in silhouette. The only thing I wish wasn’t present was the extra central link between the lugs on the strap; I think it has the potential to exaggerate the lug-to-lug of the case, though the brand says that it was a factor specifically considered in this redesign. It is, however, a clear visual differentiation from the versions that came before it, and I’ll say it again – extreme.
In regards to the tourbillon, I think it takes a very specific customer to resonate with this overall package, but at the price point, there isn’t anything like it with this complication. I always associate TAG Heuer as one of, if not the, first large conglomerate brands to have pushed tourbillons in their assortment at this sub-$30k price range, and if this means that we’ll see more large manufacturers come out with tourbillons at the price point, let this serve as market R&D. I’m genuinely curious to know how their other chronograph tourbillons have sold, but the fact that TAG Heuer continues to release variations on this caliber TH20-09 means that it’s working.
The Basics
Brand: TAG Heuer
Model: Carrera Chronograph Extreme Sport; Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport
Reference Number: CBU2081.FT6274 (blue); CBU2082.FT6275 (orange); CBU2080.FT6272 (black); CBU2050.FT6273 (rose gold); CBU5080.FT6272 (tourbillon in black); CBU5050.FT6273 (tourbillon in rose gold)
Diameter: 44mm; 49.7mm lug-to-lug
Thickness: 15.1mm
Case Material: Titanium or 18K 5N rose gold
Dial Color: Various
Indexes: Applied
Lume: Yes
Water Resistance: 100m
Strap/Bracelet: Integrated rubber strap with central titanium link and titanium folding clasp
The Movement
Caliber: TH20-00 (Chronograph); TH20-09 (Tourbillon Chronograph)
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph, tourbillon (tourbillon only)
Power Reserve: 80 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 4Hz
Jewels: 33
Chronometer Certified: No
Pricing & Availability
Price: Chronograph starting at 8,000 CHF; Chronograph Tourbillon starting at 25,500 CHF
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: No
For more, click here.
Hodinkee
