TAG Heuer has released an Australian Limited Edition Carrera Chronograph, which is a tribute to the collector scene here, not to mention racing enthusiasts alike.
Let’s face it, Australia is not the biggest market in the world when it comes to watches, but there is a vibrant collector scene here, and it is a country that does love TAG Heuer as a brand. Globally, Australia ranks in the top five markets for TAG Heuer, which is a surprise, as for a country of only around 27 million people, versus other countries like the UK, the United States, or anywhere in Europe, that matter, we punch well above our weight when it comes to the La Chaux-de-Fonds brand.
So it is not a surprise that the powers that be at TAG Heuer have decided to release an Australian limited edition of the famous Carrera chronograph. It’s limited to just 75 pieces, all individually numbered. This watch represents the collaboration between the brand and some of Australia’s most dedicated watch collectors, led by Paxton Wong (one of Australia’s largest watch collectors) in Sydney.
“The dedication and expertise of our Australian TAG Heuer community have been instrumental in the creation of this exceptional timepiece. Australia is a key market for TAG Heuer, and this design – born from a true collaboration – pays tribute to our rich heritage while continuing to push the boundaries of modern watchmaking.”
Van Mulryan, TAG Heuer General Manager – Australian & New Zealand
This collaboration goes back around two years, to 2023, when Nicholas Biebuyck, TAG Heuer Global Heritage Director, met with a group of passionate TAG Heuer collectors in Sydney and got their thoughts and feelings about the brand as well as its watches. The results: a 39 mm Carrera Chronograph Glassbox that takes inspiration from vintage Heuer Carrera pieces, such as the Autavia 1163 and the Heuer 1158CHN “Success Watch.”
“Celebrating the 60th anniversary (in 2023) in Australia among such passionate collectors was an incredible experience. I am particularly pleased to be welcoming some of them to the TAG Heuer Global Collectors Summit, which we recently held this year. This remarkable project, which originated from discussions held in Australia, was driven by the collector’s enthusiasm. Their motivation sparked a flow of ideas that allowed us to create an exceptional timepiece. I am genuinely excited to witness the launch of this project and see it come to life!”
At first glance, the new TAG Heuer Carrera Australian Edition does show vintage Heuer Autavia cues, especially the Silver dial with the brushed Côtes de Genève look, with a centre racing stripe essentially down the middle. This gives the watch a part vintage vibe, but also the colour way has something modern about it as well.
RELATED READING: HANDS ON WITH THE TAG HEUER CARRERA GLASSBOX
The watch itself retains all of the key elements of the 39 mm Glassbox Carrera launched in 2023. The dial shows the date window down at 6 o’clock and the small seconds ticking around it. The chronograph counters for the minutes at 3 o’clock, and the hour counter at 9 o’clock are done in black circular grained dials, and the contrasting Azure blue hands, which match the central seconds chronograph hand, provide a nice pop of colour against the silver and black.
Inside is the TH20-00 Chronograph movement, developed and manufactured in their facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds, which we were lucky enough to visit this year, just ahead of the Carbon Spring releases for Geneva Watch Days 2025. It comes equiped with a column wheel vertical clutch system, alleviating both excess wear and tear, as well as skipping on the starting of the chronograph, and provides the wearer with 80 hours of power reserve when not wearing it.
Initial Thoughts
Getting hands-on with the Carrera Australian Limited Edition, I can honestly say that it is a nice watch. It retains all of the great aspects of the 39 mm Glassbox Carrera from 2023, including the angled flange and the domed glassbox crystal that allows you to view the dial as well as the Tachymeter scale from any angle.
The use of the silver dial with the central stripe down the middle is a nice touch, as are the retro vibes from the Autavia 1163, released back in 1969. The combination of the lacquer blue hands, the silver dial, and the black circular green subdials gives this watch a fresh and clean look, which does stand out when on the wrist.
Does this watch scream Australian Limited edition, however? On the surface, I would say no. However, this watch was designed with the collectors in mind and what they would like to see in a Carrera that they would wear. So, on the surface, the watch doesn’t say “I’m Australian”, but underneath, with the backstory and the input the collectors have had with both Nicholas Beibuyck and Van Mulryan from TAG Heuer, both in Switzerland and here in Australia, it seems that this watch has been designed for the Australian collector market. With only 75 pieces available, and the popularity of TAG Heuer in Australia, these will most probably be sold out before you know it.
Reference: CBS221E.FC6613
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 39mm / 46mm lug-to-lug / 13mm thick
- Case Material: Steel, brushed and polished
- Case back: Steel screw-down with sapphire case back. Individually numbered out of 75 pieces
- Dial: Silver, geometrically brushed in a Côtes de Genève look, circular grained subdials and hands filled with Super-LumiNova®
- Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment
- Water resistance:100m / 10bar
- Movement: In-house Calibre TH20-00 Automatic
- Power reserve: 80 Hours
- Strap: Perforated black calfskin strap with polished steel folding clasp with double safety push buttons