Question Time: Should You Buy The New TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche?

At A Glance

• Packed with refinement, marking 60 years of Jack Heuer’s Carrera and the introduction of the Porsche 911 from 1963, the Swiss brand introduces the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche…with a small party trick. And yes, you should consider buying it.
• Two icons from the watch and car industry join forces to push ahead with the epic Glassbox design that saw everyone go goo goo for the Carrera models from Watches and Wonders 2023.
• Available in steel or rose gold, these new chronograph watches incorporate sleek Porsche aesthetics, a mechanically marvellous movement, sapphire caseback and 100 metres of water resistance.
• With a plot twist to rival the Usual Suspects, (Spoiler Kevin Spacey was Keyser Soze!), the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche has a super speedy chronograph function thanks to the TH20-08 movement.
• With a nod to the first Porsche 911 which reached 0-100 km/h in only 9.1 seconds, it flits around a third of the dial in you guessed it, the same time while the chrono hand slows down gradually until ascending the top.
• Partnering since 2021, both brands have brought plenty to the horological table with brushed flanks, faceted lugs, Porsche dashboard looks from the 70s and the instantly recognisable domed sapphire crystal.

A Stitch In Time

The Carrera is embedded in the horological annals of TAG Heuer and its back catalogue. Plus it has shot to fame recently by none other than brand ambassador Ryan Gosling, who flexed not one but three vintage gold Carrera watches in the 2023 hit movie Barbie.  

Credit: Mathew Tsang/Getty Images

We might say it is the Submariner of the marque. The stuff of legends, it is one of the go to must-have watches in the community which has been speeding along like a Formula 1 racing car since 1963. And who do we have to give our gratitude to? None other than Jack Heuer of course who first dreamt up the Carerra name. 

And you know we love a back story at Chrono Hunter. When Coca Cola launched TAB and President Kennedy was assassinated, TAG Heuer was concocting their own special timepiece in history. 

Panamericana race c. 1960s. Source: Supercarnostalgia

Named after the crazy energetic time period of the Panamericana track races heading across Mexican terrain between 1950-1954. It truly is a fable that remains part of the watchmaking myth today. The Porsche 911 had a similar iconic route to fame with an achievement of their own for achieving speeds of 0-100 km/h in just 9.1 seconds. 

Perfect timing you might say, but this spawned a number of cars from this top luxury brand and car manufacturer. Mind you, the original version was actually called 901 but due to a trademark conflict of interest with Peugeot, had to revert to the now notorious 911 model.

Now both brands have been immersing in a little back slapping this year with their array of new watch releases. But we do have a penchant for vintage and nothing is as on point as the melange of Glassbox with the retro Porsche 911 gauges that can be seen on the imposing dial.

Gentlemen, it’s time to start your engines!

Personality Of The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche

Measuring 42mm x 14.9mm, there’s lots to shout about on the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche. As we have already mentioned, enthusiasts can enjoy the typical Carrera distinctive features found on these watches in both steel and 18k rose gold. Piston pushers? Check. Faceted lugs? Absolutely. Brushed flanks and domed sapphire crystal? You bet.

Source: Brand site

So how does this measure up? We are under starters orders and as the green light flickers, we can already see there’s no real bezel. The sapphire crystal speaks for itself. On to the red lines that can be seen right across the flange. What to make of it? Perfectly sandblasted, this reenacts the speedometer of Porsche 911 cars zipping its way round the subdial from 0-100 km/h in a little over 9 seconds.

Meanwhile, the double Glassbox domed crystal case visuals are there for all to see which has been popular in the brand's other watch releases this year. With a shimmering beige or silver dial, you will find the Porsche name etched between 35 and 60 on the face while Chronosprint is inscribed at 15. Yet there’s lots of nice Porsche dashboard touches that captures the true racing spirit of both brands. 

For example, the double sided chapter ring is one of the finest odes to the dashboard design spanning from the 1960s onwards. This is most notably on the running seconds subdial located at 6 o’clock situated between 50 to 54 seconds. More complicated than a Vacheron Constantin retrograde model, (almost), what is this purpose I hear you ask? Well the red needle hand and wavy lines symbolises classic speedometers in vintage Porsche models with the 50-60 km representing the standard speed limit found in urban areas.

Source: Brand site

There is another sub dial positioned at 9 o’clock. This is not only an ode to the engine limit where the red line begins at 6.8 hours but refers to the maximum revolutions of the TH20-08 movement…6,800 RPM. So the moment you have been waiting for watch fans…the swanky new trick of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche and it comes in the form of the central chronograph hand.

As soon as the chronograph function is started, the main seconds hand gallops like wild horses around the dial in one minute. Firstly, the initial 9.1 seconds watch pays homage to the original Porsche 901, launched in 1963 that could do speeds of 0-62mph in, you guessed it…9.1 seconds. 

We don’t need Jeremy Clarkson for a demo here time peeps. This runs from 12 to a little past 4 until the second hand goes into a sweep as slow as a snail. Then, take into account the next run goes to 30 seconds which sweeps across 4 and just before 9. Following?

The final thirty seconds is squashed like that early morning juice between 9 and 12 that steadily slows down before the second hand increases speed after turning past 12. As dramatic as the ending of Apollo 13 with Tom Hanks sporting the iconic Omega Speedmaster, there’s a somewhat enchanting feel to this timepiece. After all, many love to buy a TAG Heuer for its energetic spirit, first precision and deep racing connections 

Like the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare, it’s slow and steady that wins the race. Nevertheless, this highly convoluted 60 second Phileas Fogg trip round the dial and ability to time intervals below 10 seconds may push some aficionados buttons. This really is a case of complimenting both brands in a horological explosion serving both enthusiasts and petrolheads.

On the dial itself, there’s more to get excited about than the latest Swatch Blancpain release. Despite the Sistem 51 movement, you do realise once it stops time is up on your new timepiece and it has to go in the bin?

Source: Brand site

Back to the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche and watch fiends can benefit from a number of features including plated hour and minute hands made of rhodium, silver accents surrounding the subdials and a date aperture located at 6.

Classic Carerra characteristics can be seen on the dial itself with the subdials responsible for a 12 hour and 30 minute chronograph counter not to mention running seconds. This is rounded off with striped baton hand markers and applied indices, which are given a generous coating of white Super-Luminova and take on a rectangular form. Look out for the classic Porsche 911 logo that is embossed and situated at 6 o’clock. But now is not the time to be a square!

Locked down with the top down on their Porsche 911 while flying down the highway like Steppenwolf. This is an experience that many will want to strap themselves on for with an ode to the 0-60mph race to the finish. Think Fast and The Furious ramped up to the max. Hypnotising it might be but it is one of the ultimate luxury sports watches of the moment.

Specs: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche

TH20-08 Movement

Powering the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche is the TH20-08 movement that runs like clockwork. Seen in the Glassbox watches, the chronograph hand replicates the actions of a speedometer on a car’s dashboard. Ingenious but how is this actually done?

Source: Brand site

This is largely in part down to not one but two chronograph wheels produced by the cutting edge LiGA technique that bear resemblance to a snail's shell. The so-called LIGA procedure is a groundbreaking procedure involving many elements such as lithography, electroplating and moulding for components found in MEMS devices.

This is the novel steadily slowing motion you will find that is performed for the central hand. Developed from the brand’s Heuer 02 movement, the new TH20-08 movement comes complete with a column wheel and vertical clutch while the rotor takes on an appearance of steering wheel you might find in a Porsche. 

Beating away at 28,800vph it delivers a meaty 80 hour power reserve that is more than weekend-proof material. Finishing is not spared either on these luxury watches with engraving on the rotor and sleek Côtes de Genève demonstrated on the bridges. 

Where Can You Buy A New TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche?

Featuring two special editions and kitted out on a black calfskin strap (steel model) and brown strap (rose gold model) with embossed Porsche 911 emblem, buy a TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche for £8,050 and £20,550 respectively - as of September 2023.

What’s Our View?

Everyone has been raving about the new TAG Heuer Glassbox Carrera watches since their inception around 18 months ago. And quite rightly so. In fact, Glassbox can be seen across a number of different watches from the brand with standout pieces like the 39mm Carrera Glassbox reverse panda. In any case, we think on the surface (or should that be dial), there appears to be a Glassbox to suit the most discerning of enthusiasts and collectors. 

Best Chronograph Watches

If you are in the market to buy a watch, it’s time to delve into our hot picks of the best chronograph watches;

• TAG Heuer Carrera Skipper

• Hublot Big Bang UNICO Full Magic Gold

• Rolex Daytona 126500LN

• A. Lange & Söhne Odysseus

• IWC Portofino

• Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono Alinghi Red Bull Racing.

For more horological inspiration, check out our in-depth look at the best chronograph watches here.

Conclusion

This co-branded collab ticks many timekeeping boxes and no doubt these watches will fly off the shelves for motor freaks and fans of the brand. Doesn’t matter if you don’t have a Scooby-Doo about why it is called the “Chronosprint”. 

What matters is the new TH20-08 movement that gives this timepiece a certain je ne sais quoi. Novel, odd…call it what you will. The reenactment of an accelerating speedometer will rev many horophiles up to buy a TAG Heuer of this nature. Like all their watches, this one tells a certain story to rival Greek Mythology. But this ain't no Trojan horse. Far from it.

After all, as in Troy, beware of Greeks bearing gifts. Yet this is a horological gift from the g-ds that will compensate for both fans. Our verdict? This is no Daytona, but it gives it a mighty good run for its money. Well time is running out for now but one thing for sure is the undeniable nod to speed that will please the crowds on the track and in the boutique stores. 

Time to speed off into the sunset…until the next drop.

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Further Reading: 

TAG Heuer Unveils A Collection Of Brand New Monaco Skeletonized Dial Watches

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