TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche Watch Review
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche is the latest love child to emerge from the sophisticated couple. Imbued with a high quotient of Swabian passion, this new chronograph is effortless to read, highly practical and über stylish. Angus Davies, a self-confessed Porschephile provides an overview of this sporty horological creation.
Cars and Watches – a marriage made in heaven
View the Formula One cars assembled on a starting grid and you will notice an array of sponsors’ logos including those of several familiar watch brands. This should come as no surprise. Cars marques and watch brands have collaborated for many years. Whether it’s sponsoring a race team or supplying dashboard instruments, car marques often have watch brands on speed dial and vice-versa.
The marketing types working in both of the aforementioned industries have ascertained, no doubt from commissioning countless focus groups, that your typical petrolhead loves watches and, conversely, horophiles are prone to go weak at the knees on hearing a throaty exhaust note.
Porsche and TAG Heuer – a productive partnership
In 2021, Porsche and TAG Heuer hooked up and began producing babies shortly after the confetti fell to the ground. And what beautiful offspring they’ve produced. Both marques, known for their love of the name ‘Carrera’, have sired the Carrera Porsche Chronograph Special Edition 44 mm, Carrera x Porsche Limited Edition (with yellow accents), the Carrera x Porsche RS 2.7 and, earlier this year, the TAG Heuer Carrera x Porsche Orange Racing.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche – celebrating 60 years
Now the loving couple have been busy again! Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of Heuer Carrera and, coincidentally, the 60th anniversary of the Porsche 901, the precursor to the iconic 911, TAG Heuer has just unveiled a new dual-branded timepiece, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche – a chronograph
The new timepiece is offered in steel or 18-carat rose gold. As you might expect, the new model is endowed with a chronograph, a Heuer speciality since 1887. It was in this year that Edouard Heuer ‘introduced a patent to improve the oscillating pinion’ (a component found in many chronograph movements). Over the subsequent years, Heuer (subsequently renamed TAG Heuer) has released numerous chronographs and stopwatches.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche – glassbox
Housed in a 42 mm case, the new Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche features a double glassbox sapphire crystal, a detail found on some of the recent Carrera models unveiled a few months ago at Watches and Wonders 2023. Reminiscent of the domed hesalite crystals of the 70s, the period-inspired glazing efficiently coaxes light to flood the dial plane, aiding readability.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche – dial detail
The dial features three counters, namely a 30-minute chronograph register at 3 o’clock, a small seconds display at 6 o’clock, incorporating a date function and, lastly, a 12-hour chronograph register at 9 o’clock. The facetted hour and minute hands are lined with SLN, and, along with the slender central chrono seconds hand and the dozen luminescent indexes encircling the dial, subscribe to the same design language employed on the Carrera 39 mm Glassbox model released at Watches & Wonders.
So far, so similar? Not at all. The new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche incorporates a plethora of Porsche-themed design elements. For example, the tachymeter scale of the ‘regular’ Carrera has been set aside in favour of a Porsche-branded Chronosprint track, positioned on the flange. A fine series of red arcing lines pay tribute to the time it took the inaugural Porsche 901 to reach 0-100 Km/h, a swift 9.1 seconds. Marked with a hatched motif around 50 km/h, the small seconds display resembles the 901’s speedo and serves as a reminder to the car’s pilot to drive responsibly in built-up areas.
The 12-hour counter also receives a splash of Mars Red (fellow Porsche files will appreciate the reference). The markings refer to the red line gracing the 901’s rev counter, a limit of 6800 rpm.
The numerous Porsche-themed elements and playful use of colour are combined with some very un-Swabian design elements, yet everything coalesces wonderfully. Moreover, this watch doesn’t sacrifice practicality on the altar of style. In fact, the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche remains true to Jack Heuer’s near-obsessive fixation with peerless readability.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche – Calibre TH20-08
Porsche devotees are further indulged with the movement, the Calibre TH20-08, visible to the rear of the watch. The oscillating weight is openworked and presented in a 3-spoke design emulating the appearance of a 3-spoke steering wheel. In addition, the rotor is adorned with the names of both luxury marques.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche – 911 strap
TAG Heuer has burnt the midnight oil, refining the composition of this watch to the nth degree. For example, on some watches, the strap appears to be somewhat of an afterthought, but that’s certainly not the case with this watch. The Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche is presented on a colour-coordinating calfskin leather strap, embossed with those three evocative numbers ‘911’.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche – LIGA technology
Returning to the movement, the Calibre TH20-08, the team at TAG Heuer’s HQ in La Chaux-de-Fonds has chosen to fit this watch with a powerplant worthy of both illustrious marques. The movement is fully integrated and features a column wheel and vertical coupling, conferring a smooth pushpiece action and slick non-hesitant starts of the chrono second hand. The operation of the chronograph has been refined with the adoption of cutting-edge LIGA technology.
LIGA is a German acronym for Lithographie, Galvanoformung and Abformung (lithography, electroforming and moulding). This technique, often using X-rays, allows companies to effectively grow parts with incredible precision. While TAG Heuer has a rich history, it is clearly forward-thinking in its use of state-of-the-art technology.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche – consistent design
There is an obvious family likeness when contrasting the Porsche 901 with today’s 911 (code name 992). The swooping lines are now iconic and confer a distinctive profile that stands out from the crowd. Clearly, while the Swabian firm has revisited the 911 over the years, it has retained the essence of the original.
Similarly, despite the diameter of the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche measuring 3 mm more than the aforementioned Carrera 39 mm Glassbox model, the shape of the case remains the same. In my opinion, this is a good thing. The familiar lugs that swoop inwards towards the strap, the smoothly arcing caseband and the capstan-style pushers are all synonymous with the Carrera and continue to look glorious. Moreover, Porschephiles will be reminded of the 911’s prominent rear haunches, positioned above the rear wheels.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche – closing thoughts
The new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche is rich in detail, but this doesn’t impair readability or in any way mar functionality, instead it imbues the watch with an abundance of character.
Whether you love your 911 with air cooling or subscribe to modernity with a water-cooled flat-six, I suspect the Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche is likely to appeal to you, courtesy of its sinuous lines and impressive powerplant. This partnership has undoubtedly produced another future classic.
Further reading
Technical specifications
- Model: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche – Steel Edition
- Reference: CBS2011.FC6529
- Case: fine brushed and polished steel, diameter 42 mm, height 14.9 mm, water resistance 10 ATM (100 metres), sapphire crystal to front, exhibition caseback.
- Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
- Movement: Calibre TH20-08 automatic, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz), 33 jewels, power reserve 80 hours
- Strap: black calfskin leather strap. Fine brushed and polished steel folding clasp with double safety push buttons
- Price: £8,050 (RRP as of 7.9.2023)
- Model: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche – Gold Edition
- Reference: CBS2040.FC8318
- Case: 18K 5N rose gold fine brushed and polished steel, diameter 42 mm, height 14.9 mm, water resistance 10 ATM (100 metres), sapphire crystal to front, exhibition caseback.
- Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
- Movement: Calibre TH20-08 automatic, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz), 33 jewels, power reserve 80 hours
- Strap: brown calfskin leather strap. Fine brushed and polished 18K 5N rose gold plate pin buckle
- Price: £20,550 (RRP as of 7.9.2023)