Borna Bosnjak
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Four new colours for a traditionally sized TAG Heuer Carrera time-only modelA revised case profile with improved thickness and wearabilityUpgraded from Calibre 5 to Calibre 7History is a hugely important aspect of any new Carrera release, owing to the rich heritage of the model and the moments and personalities associated with it. Though no longer only a chronograph, the modern Carrera line-up still carries some signature elements, from the case design to the ingot-like dial indices and simple handset. The new Carrera Date 36mm retains the case size of the original, though simplifies the dial to go hand-in-hand (pun fully intended) with their time-only Three Hands collection.The Carrera Date 36mm launches in four colour variants – a neon pink, pastel green, rich blue and subtle silver. The latter three all sport contrasting gold appliques which add a touch of warmth to the cold sunburst dial colours. The bold pink, adds an extra touch of pizzazz with a snailed finish to its sunburst pattern, opting for silver indices instead.The double-wide batons always remind me of precious metal ingots, presented here in a fully polished finish. The handset is a simple pencil style, with a grained middle portion that opens up to give way to the lume. The applied TAG Heuer logo is also a nice touch – the lettering and shield outline surround an inner portion which is colour-matched to the dial and the bead-blasted finish of the angled chapter ring.The aforementioned case size of 36mm is a nod right back to the original, and seems to be the perfect modern sweet spot for a great unisex watch. Oftentimes brands stray too far towards the feminine when trying to create a unisex watch, and I’m happy to say that doesn’t seem the case here, with plenty of feminine and masculine appeal in a size that’s suitable to most.While the size is the same, the stainless-steel construction has been downsized slightly both in terms of lug-to-lug measurements and thickness. Measuring in at 41.6mm lug-to-lug and 10mm in height, its approximately a 2mm reduction in both. These are welcome additions for a watch like this, as the long Carrera lugs tend to wear larger than the 36mm suggests.Much like the rest of the watch, the H-link bracelet is kept simple but well-executed. The alternating finish of brushed and polished mid-links is pleasant, finishing in a brushed folding clasp engraved with the TAG Heuer shield.The final upgrade to the Carrera Date 36mm is the movement, going from the Calibre 5 to the Calibre 7, which equates to an upgrade from an ETA 2824 to the 2892, the base movements that TAG Heuer uses. The Calibre 7 boasts an extra 18 hours of power reserve, now at 56, as well as a slimmer construction, which is surely a contributing factor to the slimming down of the case.TAG Heuer Carrera Date pricing and availability:The TAG Heuer Carrera Date 36mm in blue, green and silver is available from April 2023, with the pink model joining in May 2023. Price: A$4,600BrandTAG HeuerModelCarrera Date 36mmReference NumbersWBN2310.BA0001WBN2311.BA0001WBN2312.BA0001WBN2313.BA0001Case Dimensions36mm (D) x 10mm (T) x 41.6mm (L2L)Case MaterialStainless steelWater Resistance50 metresDialSunburst silver, blue or greenSnailed sunburst pinkCrystal(s)Sapphire front and backStrapStainless steel H-link bracelet with folding claspMovementCalibre 7, ETA 2892 basePower Reserve56 hoursFunctionsHours, minutes, seconds, dateAvailabilityApril 2023 (silver, green, blue)May 2023 (pink)PriceA$4,600
27.03.23