In short, it’s a pleasure to wear.Īt the start of this review I said that sometimes all you want from a watch is something that tells the time and looks good. Sure, the dial is a welcome burst of colour but, more than that, TAG Heuer have nailed the mood of this Carrera: it’s fun, funky, sporty, retro and modern all at once. But, by the same token, I wasn’t constantly conscious of wearing it, which is a win for me. Every time I wore it and looked down at my wrist, I smiled. On the wristįor me, this is where the Carrera Calibre 16 shines. What this movement lacks in flash or sass, it more than makes up for with a proven track record as a solid performer, and I think it’s the right choice for this core performer in the TAG Heuer line-up, especially given the price point and the fact that the fancier Heuer 01 and 02 movements seem to be reserved (for now) for the more modern-styled modular Carreras and Autavias respectively. Those familiar with TAG Heuer nomenclature will know that Calibre 16 translates to the ETA 7750 or its Sellita equivalent. I do think the combination of blue dial and bracelet means this watch is a bit of an attention-seeker, so if you’re hoping to slip under the radar, perhaps the black is a better option. There’s no microadjustment, which is a bit of a let-down, but that does mean the clasp is quite streamlined on the wrist. I quite like this bracelet from TAG it’s utilitarian and versatile, with its mix of finishing ensuring it can go from work to weekend without too much stress. There’s a lot of polish at play too, which adds some flash on the wrist, especially when you factor in the bracelet … The strapĪt the moment, the blue-dialled option is only offered on the h-link bracelet, whereas the black comes on leather. It sits tall, but not taller than you’d expect from any watch with this movement. The long lugs are still very much in evidence though, which combined with the bezel, gives that instant modern Carrera look. And while this Cal 16 version isn’t a straight-up heritage piece, the 41mm case size does give it more of an old world feel compared to the larger 43 and 45mm incarnations. The Carrera, as you might expect from a model that celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, has seen some significant fluctuations over the decades. While the dial of this beauty receives (deservedly so) the lion’s share of the attention, the case plays its own significant role too. Even the text/logo/date combo at three is nicely balanced. But while that might be my dream scenario, the fact is that the dial, as is, looks pretty awesome. And while I think the red works really well on the black-dialled option, for me this watch is all about the blue, white and orange - I’d happily see that super ’70s shade take over from the red, especially with that creamy beige lume at play too. All the key chronograph features - central chrono hands, elapsed minutes and hours, as well as the outer flange minute track - are highlighted in red, while there’s vivid orange alternating highlights on the running seconds register. I particularly like the break afforded by the white inner flange, which is something you don’t see too often on the Carrera. The contrasting white is great, and adds an instant retro flavour. The matt mid-blue matches perfectly with the fixed ceramic tachy bezel (love the choice to use ceramic BTW), and is freshened up even more thanks to the white, red and orange at play. I made that decision in the thick of the fair, but you know what, after a few months reflection, I think it holds up. I think this particular model excels at this job, which is why I chose it as one of my 10 favourite Baselworld 2018 releases. And that job is telling the time and looking good. But while all that stuff is cool and sometimes really matters, at the end of the day it’s a watch on your wrist with a job to do. You can very quickly get caught up in the hullabaloo of new this, in-house that, and proprietary the other. If you spend more than a few minutes in the sometimes crazy world of watches, it’s easy to lose perspective. I/trending 13302 A dash of sporty fun with the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 16 Chronograph Time+TideĮditor’s note: Some watches you can’t get out of your head, and the fun and friendly TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 16 Chronograph from 2018 is one such watch.
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