| Quick specs TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 Automatic Chronograph 100M 43mm Price: Leather or steel: $ 5,350 | € 4.800 | £ 4,100 Rubber: $ 5,200 | € 4.650 | approx. £ 3,800 Size: 43 mm Reference: see below  |
With this new TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 Automatic Chronograph 100M 43mm TAG Heuer solves some issues. (Even some they are not aware of, probably.) And although it doesn’t look new, we have seen this design on a 45-millimeter model, the model looks great.
Let’s talk about the issues: the Swiss watch industry was quite disastrous last year. Turnover and profits were the lowest in years. Was it the smartwatch? Development in 3D printing of parts? Web shops? Or the sometimes ridiculous prices? Posh sponsorships? Boring marketing stories to sell a collection? Nobody knows exactly but the price-issue was heart everywhere.
TAG Heuer did okay in 2016, thanks to their connected watch. But a lot of their new models are just too expensive for what you get. This TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 Automatic Chronograph 100M 43mm has a fairer price for a reliable automatic movement, fine finishing and skeletonized dial. One issue ‘solved’.
The TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 Automatic Chronograph 100M 43mm comes in navy blue, cognac brown and intense black
Not everyone has the arms of a gorilla so every watch with a diameter larger than 44 millimeters is too big for the average wrist. Sure, size is mostly connected to fashion: the over-sized trend. But most people would like to spend a serious amount on something that lasts longer. And trends don’t last long. So TAG Heuer just shrunk the 45-millimeter model to a decent 43 millimeters. Issue two ‘solved’.
A lot of brands, including TAG Heuer, use nice stories about heroic divers, pilots, racing drivers, or sponsor football leagues, Formula One teams, boat racing, balloon racing or whatever to promote a new collection. Some of these stories work, but when you hear the same blah every time it won’t work anymore. This model has no other story than the watch itself, from a brand with a great history. That’s enough, when it looks this good. Too much sponsoring, too much marketing, it does not always work. Issue three ‘solved’.
For around 5,000 US dollar / euro you will get a proper chronograph with a proper movement (caliber Heuer 01) with several colors to choose from. What more do you want?
technical data TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 Automatic Chronograph 100M 43mm |
| Reference: CAR201T.BA0766 (blue dial and steel bracelet) CAR201T.FC6404 (blue dial and blue leather strap) CAR201U.BA0766 (brown dial and steel bracelet) CAR201U.FC6405 (brown dial and brown leather strap) CAR201V.BA0766 (black dial and steel bracelet) CAR201V.FT6087 (black dial and black rubber strap) CAR2090.BH0729 (black full ceramic) |
| Movement: TAG Heuer caliber Heuer 01 (TAG Heuer caliber 1887 base) | Automatic | Diameter: 29.3 mm / 13 lignes | Frequency: 28,800 (4 Hz) | Jewels: 39 | Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, column-wheel chronograph | Power-reserve: 50 hours |
| Case & dial: 43 mm | Brushed steel or matt ceramic | Fixed bezel in blue, brown or black ceramic with tachymeter scale | Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides | Crown in rubber and polished steel, or covered in black PVD | Steel or black PVD-covered steel chronograph push-buttons | Steel or black PVD-covered steel sapphire case back | Blue, brown or black skeleton dial | Rhodium-plated hour and minute hands and indices with white Superluminova | Red small seconds hand | Water-resistance: 100 meters |
| Strap: Brown or blue alligator leather, rubber or steel bracelet | Steel or Grade 2 titanium folding buckle covered in black PVD with safety push-buttons |
| Price TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 01 Automatic Chronograph 100M 43mm: Leather or steel: $ 5,350 | € 4.800 | £ 4,100 Rubber: $ 5,200 | € 4.650 | approx. £ 3,800 |
| Website: www.tagheuer.com |