TAG Heuer has just presented a new chapter of the partnership with the German car manufacturer, we welcome the TAG Heuer x Porsche RS 2.7.
We at IWS went to Paris firsthand to be able to test the watch in the field, along with 15 crazy Carrera RS 2.7s. A unique opportunity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of an automotive icon.
The history of TAG Heuer is immensely linked to that of engines, from the Monaco to the Autavia, up to the Carrera which we will talk about today.
The birth of an Icon: the first “Carrera”
Paris, 5 October 1972. The Porsche 911 RS 2.7 is unveiled to the general public, the first to be nicknamed “Carrera” in the history of the brand. It was a crazy car, the fastest and most powerful German ever to be approved for road driving, equipped with the then iconic “ducktail”, the wing in the shape of a duck tail.
To increase cornering and braking performance, the wheels were of different widths, the rear ones being larger and the front ones smaller. Who owned such a car was not an ordinary person, as well as who bought a Heuer Carrera. Two objects designed for racing, but also for everyday life.
Jack Heuer’s inspiration with the Carrera Panamericana
As a watch enthusiast, you may have noticed the common name between (TAG) Heuer’s Carrera and Porsche’s Carrera, but this is by no means a coincidence. Jack Heuer at the time was inspired by the Carrera Panamericana, a very dangerous race that was held in Mexico between 1950 and 1954, which wanted to establish itself on a par with much more famous races such as the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio (two Italian races).
In 1962, during a conversation with the parents of two pilots, Mr. Heuer was so fascinated by that name that he wanted to register it for his own brand. It was a simple name to pronounce in any language, very impressive and connected to that spirit of madness in the automotive world (in Spanish “carrera” could mean both race and career).
Two new TAG Heuer x Porsche RS 2.7
At the time of the presentation, the RS 2.7 was presented in as many as 27 possible different colors, with blue being said to be the most iconic and red the rarest. TAG Heuer was inspired by these colors in Grand Prix white and blue or red livery to present the two anniversary watches.
Now let’s go into the details of the watches: we have in front of us a tri-compax chronograph, therefore with three sub-dials. The one at 9 is a 12 hour counter, the one at 3 is 30 minutes and the one at 6 is the continuous seconds counter.
What I love about TAG’s Carrera is precisely the arrangement of the meters, as at first glance it may seem like a bi-compax. The counter at 6 o’clock remains an important indication but in this case it does not interfere with legibility or distract the reader from the most important indications.
Both watches are powered by the Caliber 02, an in-house chronograph that the brand relies heavily on. The power reserve is a whopping 80 hours, so much more than weekend-proof (although we think it’s a watch you’ll struggle not to wear on weekends).
In the blue version we have indices and hands that recall the handles, mirrors and all the chrome details of the 911, while the counter at 3 is inspired by the Fuchs rims. If we rotate the watch case and observe it from the side, we notice the “Carrera” stripe shown exactly as in the car, and which is taken up by the nato strap.
In the 5N rose gold version, Guards Red, the characteristic fire red color of Porsche, becomes the protagonist. We have the same stylistic traits that distinguish the steel version but with the Carrera inscription engraved on the side of the case (not colored) and a matching alligator strap.
Both watches have a water resistance level of 100m.
It may not have been said by anyone, but the affinity of the colors also harks back to the French flag, a very important place for the presentation of the Carrera RS 2.7.
Price and availability of the TAG Heuer Carrera x Porsche RS 2.7
The new TAG Heuer Carrera x Porsche RS 2.7 are two distinct limited editions. The steel version with the iconic white and blue livery (reference CBN2016.EB0275), will have a retail price of € 7,450 and a production of only 500 pieces (also available with the option of the steel bracelet with H-links) .
For the most prominent edition of the collaboration, the one in red gold (reference CBN2045.FC8316), it will have a retail price of € 22,300 and a production of only 250 pieces.
We fell in love with it. What do you think about it?
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