Tyler Frederick

Motorsport giant

Whenever I hear watches and motorsport, I always think of TAG Heuer and their extensive and ever-growing history in all things that go fast. Over the last year, we’ve seen TAG/LVMH take over as the primary sponsor of Formula One, and while I do appreciate Rolex as a brand, as well as their history in motorsport, TAG will always be the definitive brand, as they’ve been prominent in racing across multiple series for generations, as well as providing some innovation to motorsport. I recently met up with a friend over dinner to talk about watches, and he brought some motorsport-themed watches for me to check out. I was completely unprepared for the last watch he had to show me: the TAG Heuer x Watches of Switzerland Carrera Exclusive—a dream come true.

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Key Features of the TAG Heuer x WOS Carrera Exclusive

Icon

The Carrera is an icon in watches, and while many think it’s named after the Porsche Carrera, that’s untrue; in fact, the name is inspired by the Carrera Panamericana, a Mexican race from the 1950s. A conversation regarding said race caught the attention of Jack Heuer in 1962 while attending the 12 Hours of Sebring. The elegance of the name led to the registration of the name: Heuer Carrera.

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Made for drivers

The first Carrera, ref. 2447, was unveiled at the Basel Fair in 1963—an entirely new style of chronograph designed by Jack Heuer himself specifically for professional drivers and racing enthusiasts. Fast forward 60 years, and the Carrera continues to be a staple for TAG Heuer, producing some of the most beautiful chronographs to date, and a great example is this stunning panda dial on my wrist.

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A dream come true

TAG Heuer has been in my universe since I was a kid; being a massive Formula One fan and growing up playing Gran Turismo, the TAG Heuer name was everywhere. As I dove deeper into my collecting journey, they would cycle through my atmosphere every now and again, almost like a subtle, “Hey, we’re here when you’re ready.” Fast forward to the last month or so: having the Carrera on my wrist is a dream come true.

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Dimensions

While I’m not the biggest fan of chronographs—and ironically, that’s what keeps showing up for me to review—the Carrera holds a nostalgic place in my heart, even though I’ve never experienced one until now. While it’s on the larger side at 42mm and a tad thick 14.4mm with the Heuer O2 movement, it’s a watch I’ve enjoyed my time with. This isn’t going to be as much of a review as it is me gushing about something I’ve literally loved for over two decades.

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The Panda

There’s nothing more iconic than a “panda” dial, and for those unaware of that term, it’s a dial that’s primarily white and has black sub-dials (the two smaller dials at 3 and 9 o’clock). Watches of Switzerland pulled inspiration from Heuer of the ’70s with the black applied markers, black chapter ring, and sub-dials; if you want more specifics, they drew inspiration from the likes of the Carrera 2447SN. The aesthetic is classic, the finishing is phenomenal, and it’s a great execution of an already great watch; I’m always pleased to see more “pandas” in the chronograph world. The contrast of white, black, and silver creates what I call “sporty elegance,” and the TAG Heuer x WOS Carrera Exclusive is the epitome.

Quibbles

As previously stated, this isn’t a traditional review, but there are a couple of things I’d like to address. I love this watch on leather, but there was also a release on a stainless steel bracelet, with each release having only 125 pieces. I would love to experience the watch on the bracelet, as I prefer steel against my wrist, but the leather is just as sweet. The second point is the case thickness, but that’s to be expected with the implementation of the Heuer 02, so no real surprises there.

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Final Thoughts

They say you should never meet your heroes, and after spending time with the TAG Heuer x Watches of Switzerland Carrera Exclusive, it’s safe to say this is a watch I’ve enjoyed meeting and spending time with. As I said, this was a limited release of only 250 pieces, so they’re not exactly readily available, and they don’t come up on used markets. But I will say, if you have the chance to check out a modern Carrera at any point, go for it. There’s so much history encapsulated in all variations of the Carrera, and if that’s your thing, you’ll enjoy this.

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Pricing & Availability

Sorry folks. The TAG Heuer x WOS Carrera Exclusive–limited to just 125 pieces of each–originally retailed for $6350 USD on leather, or $6450 USD on stainless steel. But you’ll have to hunt this one down in the secondary market now.

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About the author

Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.

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Take Two articles are full-length, hands-on reviews of vintage and preowned watches and represent the opinion of the author only. All photos are original, unless specified otherwise.

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