TAG Heuer Unveils Timeless Ode To Elegance With Brand-New Carrera Date 36mm

by Sameera Gamage

The luxury Swiss Watch Manufacturer presents three new elegant additions to the famed Carrera collection!

Starting off TAG Heuer’s Watches & Wonders releases are the brand new Carrera watches, epitomizing the essence of feminine sophistication. Three new 36mm watches are being presented, with the models crafted in precious materials to add a flair of sophistication and elegance.

During last year’s Watches & Wonders event, TAG Heuer unveiled four new colourways for the Carrera Date 36mm collection, with the release being quite successful, especially with the bright pink dial being one of the stand-out pieces (read more about it here!). Now, for this year’s release, the brand is going a more direct route to embrace femininity, but giving the new timepieces precious materials like 18K 5N rose gold, Mother-of-Pearl, and diamonds, making these watches a delicate dance between luxury and refinement.

While they might not be as prominent as TAG Heuer’s other Carrera models, the 36mm collection holds a special place in the brand’s history. The 36mm case size of the modern-day Carrera Date pays homage to the Carrera model’s original dimensions, released in 1963.

Jack Heuer, a luminary in the watchmaking realm, envisioned a timepiece that seamlessly melded form and function. Inspired by the clear instrument dials of his engineering background and the swift dashboards of motorsports, he birthed the Heuer Carrera. Its name, borrowed from the Carrera Panamericana, evoked not only the thrill of racing but also a journey, a career, and a path — a sentiment that resonated across cultures and generations.”

The Birth of the Heuer Carrera.
Carrera Date 36mm – Two-tone bracelet design

Over the years, the versatility of the 36mm model has proven that it’s simply more than a timepiece designed for the track. It transitions from racing to a luxury timepiece gracing elegant and sophisticated evenings. These latest models are the perfect example of this, with the timepieces exuding feminine luxury fit for any occasion and lifestyle.

Carrera Date 36mm – Copper Elegance Ref. (WBN2350.BD0000)

This first timepiece in this latest update to the Carrera Date 36mm features a copper dial with a snailed brushed finish. The dial’s outer flange is also copper-finished, giving it a gradient-like finish that transitions from light brown to beige.

The timepiece comes in a steel case with a fine brushed and polished finish. The bezel, however, is 18k 5N solid rose gold with a polished finish. The rose gold material blends in with the copper dial smoothly, giving a more uniform look throughout the watch. The dial’s elements, such as the hour indices and hands, are 18k 5N rose gold plated as well. The H-shape steel bracelet completes this look, with the central links also being capped in 18k 5N solid rose gold.

Carrera Date 36mm – Mother-of-Pearl Radiance Ref. (WBN231C.BA0001)

The second timepiece embraces feminine beauty with a white Mother-of-Pearl dial and a minute track in nude tones that transition from light brown to beige. Unlike the other two Carrera Date 36mm releases, this Mother-of-Pearl model is the more subtle variant. With a steel case and bezel and steel H-shape bracelet, the timepiece’s main focus is the dial.

Like the first model, the dial features 18k 5N rose gold plated hands and hour indices, which looks great against the Mother-of-Pearl dial background. Adding an extra touch of luxury to the timepiece, TAG Heuer has set the flange (minute track) with 76 diamonds, which, nestled next to the steel bezel, offer a more subtle appearance.

Carrera Date 36mm – Precious Harmony Ref. (WBN2351.BD0000)

The final addition to the Carrera Date 36mm collection is a mix of the previous two editions. The dial is a precious Mother-of-Pearl with a gradient track in nude tones that range from light brown to beige. The steel case has the same design and finishes as the Copper Elegance timepiece, where the fixed bezel is 18K 5N solid rose gold with a polished finish. The H-shape bracelet is the same, with 18k 5N solid rose gold middle links.

Where this timepiece comes into its own, however, is the diamond-set hour indices. The 11 indices are set with VS diamonds totaling ~0.22 carats. The flange/minute track is set with 76 diamonds. Unlike the standard steel model, the diamonds on the flange stand out much more proudly, contrasting against the 18k 5N rose gold bezel.

Carrera Date 36mm – Mother-of-Pearl Radiance Ref. (WBN231C.BA0001) – Open case back showing Calibre 7 movement

All three models come with TAG Heuer’s latest Calibre 7 movement. This movement is a simple three-hander with an angled date feature at 6 o’clock. It operates at a high frequency of 4Hz (28,800 VpH), giving a high level of accuracy. The movement’s power reserve is approximately 56 hours.

Final Thoughts

TAG Heuer’s latest Carrera Date 36mm models redefine the portfolio with precious materials. All three models complement each other and offer the buyer a variety of choices. I do like how, instead of making three completely different models, the timepieces are variations of each other. For example, the third timepiece in the collection, while being more expensive, offers the best of the other two models. I personally like the plain steel model. It’s an understated piece that offers luxury and elegance.

Reference: WBN231C.BA0001 (Mother-of-Pearl Radiance), WBN2350.BD0000 (Copper Elegance), WBN2351.BD0000 (Precious Harmony)

Specification

  • Case: 36mm x 10.6mm thickness
  • Case Material: Steel or Steel with 18K 5N solid rose gold polished fixed bezel, and 18K 5N solid rose gold crown at 3 o’clock.
  • Dial: White Mother-of-Pearl dial with gradient track Flange set with 76 diamonds (0,288 cts) (ref. WBN2351.BD0000 / WBN231C.BA0001). Copper snailed brushed dial with gradient track with copper flange with 60 second/minute scale (ref. WBN2350.BD0000)
  • Crystal: Beveled, domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment
  • Water resistance: 50m (5 Bar)
  • Movement: Calibre 7 automatic movement
  • Movement Frequency: 4Hz (28,800 VpH)
  • Power reserve: 56 hours
  • Bracelet: Fine brushed, polished steel H-shape bracelet with fine brushed, polished steel double-folding clasp with double safety push-buttons; TAG Heuer shield (ref. WBN231C.BA0001) or fine brushed, polished steel and capped in 18K 5N solid rose gold H-shape bracelet with fine brushed, polished steel double-folding clasp with double safety push-buttons; TAG Heuer shield (ref. WBN2350.BD0000 & WBN2351.BD0000)

Australian Recommended Retail Price: $6,950 AUD (WBN231C.BA0001—Mother-of-Pearl Radiance), $7,200 AUD (WBN2351.BD0000—Copper Elegance), and $10,000 AUD (WBN2350.BD0000—Precious Harmony).

Availability: June 2024. Head over to Tagheuer.com.au for more information.

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