Pretty in Purple (and Pink): TAG Heuer’s Colorful Take on the Need for Speed
Unsurprisingly, the hero timepiece moments from TAG Heuer at LVMH Watch Week had an exciting automotive edge. But, while its other releases, particularly a series of new Carreras, hew to that racing-inspired message, they do so with a new level of colorful and horological elegance.
During the recent LVMH Watch Week in New York, automotive alignment was the name of the game for TAG Heuer.
However, if you would be so kind as to take a quick look at the glorious purple Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon in our header image, you will get an idea of how far a racing-aligned watch can be stretched into a more elegant, bold, and unexpectedly sophisticated realm.
The Purple Flag
With a smokey black-to-purple gradient dial, this tonality’s op-art effect was first successfully introduced in the TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph limited edition from 2022. It is deployed even more successfully here as it instantly combines with the vintage-inspired glass box crystal to make the Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon more modern, eye-catching, and artful.
While the eye delights, the Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon in purple (as well as its sister Carrera Chronograph) checks all the boxes on a track-ready performance timepiece.
First, its 42mm brushed and polished steel case, mushroom chrono pushers, and large crown practically scream tool watch authenticity. Meanwhile, the black azuré minute counter at 3 o’clock and similar hour counter at 9 o’clock present a stealthily subdued take on vital timing stats. Plus, its perforated black calfskin strap (with purple lining, naturally) cannot be compared to anything except a new-jack driving glove.
Lastly, the rhodium-plated tourbillon at 6 o’clock defines this purple provocateur as its own animal.
Track-Ready Two-Fer
Powered by the Caliber TH20-09 tourbillon/chrono movement, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon in purple is limited to 200 pieces, features an exhibition caseback, is water resistant to 100 meters, and retails for $34,850.
The 39mm TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph in purple is powered by the TH20-00 chronograph movement, also sports an exhibition caseback, carries a small seconds counter and date window in the 6 o’clock position, and lists for $6,650.
Sporty Elegance
While TAG Heuer has produced Carrera models in partnership with, ahem, the German automaker that shares the Carrera name since 2021, the brand’s spiritual father, Jack Heuer, selected the name after hearing about Mexico’s Carrera Panamericana races in 1962 and introduced the first Carrera watch in 1963, instantly creating an icon of precision timekeeping and sporty elegance.
So, although this new duo of 36mm gem-adorned steel Carrera Date models that debuted at LVMH Watch Week may fall more strongly on the “elegance” portion of that equation, they are no less emblematic of the model’s illustrious heritage.
Their size, in fact, is the original case size of the first Carreras, but the 11 shimmering diamonds adorning the hour indices (there is a date window at 6 o’clock) are elevated into a modern, feminine vibe by luscious pastel dial colors of powdery pink and subdued lilac.
Flowers for the Winner?
The pink dial receives a classic sunray finish, while its lilac sister has a distinctive curving snail-brushed visual presentation, and both are just, well, delightful. Powered by the 56-hour power reserve of the time-tested Calibre 7 movement, both are offered on a polished H-link steel bracelet and retail for $4,350.
You can learn more via the TAG Heuer website.