TAG Heuer marks 60 years of the Carrera

Regular readers of this page will know that TAG Heuer releases limited editions of its celebrated Carrera chronograph on a frequent basis, but the one here is worthy of mention because it celebrates the 60th anniversary of the launch of the original.

In case the oft-told story of the Carrera’s genesis has passed you by, it began life in 1963 after Jack Heuer (great-grandson of Heuer founder Edouard) had attended the previous year’s Sebring 12 Hours.

Mexico’s Rodriguez brothers, Ricardo and Pedro, were driving for Ferrari and their parents had gone along to cheer them on. After Heuer struck up a conversation with Mr and Mrs Rodriguez in the pits, talk turned to their country’s famous Carrera Panamericana race, which had been scrapped eight years earlier.

Enthralled by the idea of both the event and the evocative ‘Carrera’ name, Heuer was determined to use it for his next chronograph design and registered exclusive rights for watch use (Porsche had already bagged it for cars).

By December 1963 the new Heuer Carrera driver’s chronograph was ready for launch. It featured a 36mm steel case, a Valjoux 72 manual wind movement and the reference number 2447D. Known as the Carrera-12 due to its 12-hour totaliser at six o’clock, the watch became the default choice of professional drivers and enthusiastic amateurs.

As the years passed the Carrera name appeared on numerous different designs of Heuer watches ranging from simple time-only models to automatic chronographs with dual time zone and date functions. In every case, the Carrera remained a rugged and functional tool watch aimed specifically at drivers.

Over two decades of continuous production, Carreras of one sort or another were seen on the wrists of the world’s leading racers, including Bruce McLaren, Jo Siffert, Ayrton Senna, Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni.

The Carrera line was dropped in the early 1980s, but global demand for its return resulted in its revival in 1998 with a Classics series based on the originals. The reborn Carrera proved a success and the name has gone on to be applied to a wide range of TAG Heuer watches.

Few, however, have captured the spirit of the early models like this new edition, which features the silver and black ‘panda’ dial design that first appeared in the late 1960s.

Authenticity is also preserved in the use of only the Heuer name while other old-school touches can be seen in the beige ‘lume’ and vintage-style chronograph push-pieces.

It’s a more contemporary story around the back, however, which gets a sapphire crystal centre held in place by a screw-down collar engraved with the relevant edition number of each watch – just 600 of which will be made.

Heuer Carrera 60th Anniversary Edition, £6100. tagheuer.com

Moroccan-American car designer Frank Stephenson – the man behind everything from Maserati’s MC12 supercar to the modern-day Fiat 500 – has turned his hand to watches in a collaboration with Californian e-tailer Szanto. The first of a proposed trilogy intended to evoke “air, sea and land”, the Frank Stephenson Cosmos is said to have been “inspired by the starry panoramic of deep space”. The hands appear to float around a central black hole and are driven by a trusty quartz movement. Curved cases and integrated straps make the watch exceptionally comfortable to wear.

Szanto FS Cosmos, £200. szantotime.com

Panzera was founded in Australia in 2009, since when it claims to have shifted more than 200,000 watches. Its first model was based on a wartime pilot design, but the range now includes the motor sport-inspired Time Master models, and this 45mm chronograph tops the range. Powered by a quartz movement, it can record elapsed times down to 1/20th sec. Panzera sponsors athlete John Steffensen, who is now a driver for Porsche Centre Melbourne in the Carrera Cup Australia.

Panzera Time Master 45 Chronograph, £405. panzera.shop

Precision is written by renowned luxury goods specialist Simon de Burton