TAG Heuer Carrera Tourbillon H02T Dubai Skyline Watch Review
To coincide with Dubai Watch Week 2023, the Swiss avant-garde watch brand has just unveiled the TAG Heuer Carrera Tourbillon H02T Dubai Skyline Limited Edition. US-based journalist, Meehna Goldsmith provides an overview of this latest expression of Carrera ownership.
TAG Heuer watch review
Since its unveiling in 1963, the Carrera has been one of the stars in TAG Heuer’s product portfolio. As the lore goes, the model came about from a conversation overheard by company founder Jack Heuer while he was attending the ‘12 Hours Race’ at Sebring in Florida in 1962. At the event, he heard someone mention the Carrera Panamericana, a perilous race held in Mexico, established in 1954 but discontinued five years later after claiming 27 lives.
The word ‘carrera’, which translates to ‘race’ or ‘career’ in Spanish, stuck in Heuer’s head, inspiring him to create an entirely new model. In Spanish, 2 r’s positioned together are pronounced with a rolling trill of the tongue, creating a sexy and strong sound. Even without the Spanish pronunciation, the word commands attention.
TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-02T (released in 2016)
Born from the track, the Carrera debuted with a chronograph function. Over the years, the Carrera line expanded with a host of additional references, including time only and jewellery models. Back in 2016, TAG Heuer added a tourbillon to the team with the Heuer 02T Tourbillon – a flying tourbillon, no less. It was notable not only for being the first time a Carrera housed a tourbillon, but also for the incredible price of about $15,000. Yes, you read that correctly. An intricate and exclusive mechanism combined with a chronograph that historically cost multiples of the amount, was now more within reach.
The tourbillon historically was a delicate complication, one that demanded care and a stable environment. Imagine incorporating this mechanism into the wristwatch affixed to the arm of a driver, whipping around the track or bumping along on rough terrain. It needed a more refined and stable environment to avoid the risk of costly repairs. Not so with the Carrera Heuer-02T Tourbillon. It’s a workhorse that welcomes a challenge.
Heuer says the Carrera Heuer-02T Tourbillon is based on the CH-80 chronograph, an in-house, automatic integrated chronograph equipped with a column wheel. It never made it to market; however, the technology proved the perfect platform for TAG Heuer’s first Carrera tourbillon. This year, the Swiss marque presents another member of this family, a special limited edition of the model in honour of Dubai Watch Week 2023, the TAG Heuer Carrera Tourbillon H02T Dubai Skyline.
TAG Heuer Carrera Tourbillon H02T Dubai Skyline Limited Edition – 12 pieces
For those familiar with Dubai, the skyline lights up in a captivating shade of blue. The indexes and subdials of the H02T Dubai Skyline take inspiration from this colourway. The skeletonised, anthracite dial features a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and a 12-hour chronograph register positioned opposite at 9 o’clock. The flying tourbillon resides at the base of the dial. White Super-LumiNova coats the indexes and hands, aiding readability in dim-lit conditions. The initials ‘U.A.E’ (United Arab Emirates) are printed on the bezel, further distinguishing this as a limited edition.
To the rear of the watch, the ‘DUBAI’ logo and expansive skyline are etched on a pane of blue sapphire, providing sight of the movement’s inner workings. In addition, there’s the inscription ‘DUBAI LIMITED EDITION’ along with the edition number out of 12: XX/12. The Calibre Heuer 02T is a COSC-certified chronometer and features the aforementioned flying tourbillon, constructed from carbon and titanium.
Housed in a 45 mm black PVD titanium Grade 2 case with a fixed carbon bezel, marked with a tachymetre scale, the watch is water resistant to 100 metres. The lugs are forged from carbon and the pushers at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock offer a thoughtful addition of lacquer, complementing the other blue hues on the watch. The Carrera H02T Dubai Skyline Limited Edition is presented on an alligator strap with black stitching, padded with rubber, for a sporty and comfortable fit.
TAG Heuer Carrera Tourbillon H02T Dubai Skyline Limited Edition – closing thoughts
Although other brands have developed sports watches with tourbillons, the Carrera H02T Dubai Skyline Carrera stands out for its pedigree coupled with its accessible price point. This exclusive edition of 12 timepieces is remarkable not only for its technical aplomb but also for its sharp aesthetics that celebrate the beauty of Dubai.
Further reading
Technical specifications
- Model: TAG Heuer Carrera Tourbillon H02T Dubai Skyline Limited Edition
- Reference: CAR5A8AJ.FC6415
- Case: Black PVD titanium Grade 2, diameter 45 mm, water resistance 10 ATM (100 metres), sapphire crystal to front, blue sapphire case back printed with Dubai skyline and Dubai logo.
- Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, flying tourbillon
- Movement: Calibre Heuer 02T Tourbillon, automatic, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
- Strap: black alligator leather strap with black PVD Carbon, titanium grade 2 folding clasp with double safety push-buttons and TAG Heuer Shield
- Price: Approximately €22,000 (RRP as of 24.11.2023)
- Limited Edition: 12 pieces