We’re calling it: these are the best two vintage Carrera re-issues since the real thing. But which one is your favourite? And are you going to pull the trigger?
We’ve all likely seen these two glorious new Carrera references by now, but there are two hot questions remaining. Do you like either or both enough to pull the trigger? Because we have it on good authority that they’re just about done. You can pick them both up here until they’re gone. The second question is, which, in the end, is your favourite? TAG Heuer celebrate their 160th anniversary with two limited edition chronographs that each celebrate the essence of the brand in their own way. The TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Silver Limited Edition and the TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal Limited Edition. The Carrera chronograph line has been a staple of the racing chronograph category, with drivers and automotive enthusiasts everywhere touting them on their wrists. These stainless steel chronographs present fans of the brand with two great options to choose from. Some may even opt to add both to their collections, with each being such solid entries into the collection that many will wish the TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Anniversary models were standard production. They are both housed in 39mm cases, a nice compromise between modern and classic sizing, with sharp angular lugs that taper…
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In a year that sees TAG Heuer peaking with vintage inspiration, the new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph collection comes sliding into our feeds as a fresh take on a classic. There is strong inspiration from its ’60s heyday, while a contemporary 42mm case, and a sparkling new engine inside in the Heuer-02 movement, inspires a timeless quality worthy of the strong Carrera heritage, with no need for fauxtina. In these four strong references, we have a distillation of the design codes of the Carrera, which is to many the epitome of a 1960s chronograph. There is an elegant, urban touch that contemporarizes the classic design, and underlines how colours, dial details and strap choices transforms it from bold monochrome racer to the formality of a boardroom, without losing its strong identity. The tension in the case, underlined by the polished bezel and slim, angled lugs, creates an emphasis of balance between sports and elegance. The monochromatic black dial version has the purest vintage inspiration here, while the angular brushed steel bracelet sweetens the deal for a bold wrist presence. The sunray finish of the blue dial version is an exquisite bright navy, with an enigmatic hard-to-capture on camera quality. The…
If, like me, you love the svelte lines and sharp details of the vintage Heuer Carrera, the new TAG Heuer Carrera Collection blue dial chronograph (available for purchase here) is a reliable, sleek modern rendition. This is faithful to the lineage, in a contemporary 42mm. The deep blue dial blends formality with the clear motorsports lineage of the range, and is yet another strong contender from La Chaux-de-Fonds. There is no doubt that you are wearing a Carrera, yet this shows just how much a new rich colour brings to the resilient DNA. A sleek, suit-ready take on one of the most important chronographs of the last 50 years is no mean feat. The recognisable case is well proportioned, rendered in a vintage-inspired aesthetic, with a dynamic between dial, bezel and case body. The dial emanates a sporty vibe, and should you catch the right angle, you’ll have it winking at you with a delicious hint of purple. The delicate blue sunray scene is complete with sharp polished indices, register pointers and those classic baton hands. Under the caseback sits the Heuer 02 caliber, with its proven track record and weekend-safe 80-hour power reserve, yet another reason why this take…
Despite being an important pillar of the brand today, the Longines Record Collection is sometimes overlooked by the collector community. In its most refined form, the Record Collection represents the clean classicism that is so beautifully embodied by the brand, and offers a breadth of watches tailored for everyday wear. This year Longines have continued to develop what the Record Collection can be, with the Longines Record Australian Limited Edition adding a luxurious twist to what is on offer. Offering the simple, yet elegantly designed profile of the 38.5mm steel case, the bezel is set with 52 internally flawless VVS diamonds weighing a combined 0.624 carats. A further 13 diamonds are set as hour markers into the single piece of white mother-of-pearl dial. Simple, luxurious and tastefully considered. Powering the new Longines Record Australian Limited Edition is the Longines caliber L888.4, a COSC certified chronometer that offers an impressive 62 hours of power reserve. It is visible through the sapphire caseback that also records the limited edition number that your watch is in the series. Another exciting feature of this quietly gem-set Longines is the strap options that the watch arrives with. After receiving it, you will find the three different…
Editor’s note: We’ve had quite the flurry of Bulgari lately, mostly in celebration of the brand’s 2020 collection. And, increasingly, the pinion of the collection is emerging as this model right here. Make no mistake, it doesn’t rightly deserve to be. It’s a simple dial variation away from the black lacquer dial variation that the satin polished steel Octo Finissimo debuted with in January this year. But that’s the logical take. The emotional response, for the broader team, and not just me it seems – is very much centred around this lavish combination of rich blue dial, and the highly faceted and finished steel of its case and bracelet. Well, we all knew it was coming. There was no way that Bulgari was going to release the Octo Finissimo in satin polished steel, and not create a model with a blue dial. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the Bulgari Octo Finissimo blue dial in satin polished steel is the best attempt by any watchmaker in recent memory of creating a genuine Patek Philippe Nautilus or Audemars Piguet Royal Oak competitor. Bulgari had to make this watch. And now that it’s here, the burning question on…
The Bulgari Octo Finissimo has seen the update it was waiting for this year, with the announcement in January that it was going to be produced in steel. The months since that announcement have felt both very slow and very fast at the same time, and some may have missed that the Bulgari Octo Finissimo satin-polished steel is now available in both black and blue dial colours, giving fans of the brand the option of dialling up the dress or sport factor. Recently, Time+Tide was fortunate enough to spend some time with the blue dial reference at Geneva Watch Days, where we took the time to soak up what may well be the best new sports watch of 2020, with the heavily faceted case engineered to be water resistant to 100m. The blue dial is certainly the most viable option as a daily wear within the Octo Finissimo range, with the black dial perhaps a more suitable evening companion. Bulgari Octo Finissimo satin-polished steel with blue dial price and availability: The Bulgari Octo Finissimo satin-polished steel with blue dial is $17,800AU and is available from both Bulgari boutiques and authorised dealers across the country. Made in partnership with Bulgari. However,…
Editor’s note: Fergus Nash, the writer of this piece, is one of Time+Tide’s newest members of the writing team. Increasingly, I am finding that his point of view – rich with analogy, kaleidoscopic associations and energy – is connecting me with the watches he writes about in new ways. Not just new ways, enriching ways. Consider this piece. One of many OF Tourbillon Chronograph reviews. But I’ll wager it will be the most memorable you will read, if not just for the visual treasure map of imagery that it creates, and leaves glittering in your mind. Every now and again you’ll see an object where the stars have aligned, and everything just looks in its right place. This seems to happen disproportionately often with Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo line, a range of watches that sets out to melt the hearts of design lovers as well as smash the record books of technical achievement. With its perfect proportions, balance of symmetry, colour and weight, the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Chronograph Automatic is just the latest triumph in a long, long line. The dial Though there’s no shortage of skeleton dials in the world of ultra-luxury chronographs, there’s something about the Octo Finissimo that…