The 2023 TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche is a wholesome celebration of both brands

It was serendipitous that both the TAG Heuer Carrera line and the Porsche 911, originally called the 901, were born in 1963. But their year of birth not withstanding, it feels only logical that the brands collaborate given their history of racing, speed, timing and precision. And that’s what happened in 2021, when Porsche and TAG Heuer entered into a strategic global partnership (though in the decades past, the brands had been associated with each other in several different capacities, like jointly developing and producing the TAG Turbo Engine which was used by the McLaren team to win in 1980s, and TAG Heuer being the title and timing partner of Porsche’s Formula E team). This resulted in the creation of several different timepieces that embodied their partnership, and the latest one is the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche.

TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche in steel

The watches, created in a rose gold with a beige dial (Ref. CBS2040.FC8318) and steel with a grey dial (Ref. CBS2011.FC6529), are particularly symbolic because it celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Carrera as well as of the 911. So they have been crafted in way that takes the best of both worlds and melds it into an aesthetically and mechanically pleasing piece. This is expressed in several ways.

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TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche in yellow gold

TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche Design

The 42mm timepieces capture the idea of speed, integral to both brands (the Porsche 901 reached 0-100 km/h in a mere 9.1 seconds, and the Carrera was born of the race Carrera Pamamericana rally race event), on the dial. The red arc on the flange represents the 9.1 seconds it took for the 901 to reach 0-100 km/h, and to match this, the central chrono seconds hand moves fast in this sector and decelerates and adjusts speed to complete the 60 seconds correctly. The 6 o’clock central seconds subdial has an area between 50 and 55 seconds that is inspired by the dashboard of the 1970s Porsche, and in the 9 o’clock 12-hour subdial, another red arc serves as a reminder of the critical engine limit beyond which damage may occur - the limit of 6800 revolution per minute. Furthermore, the counter hands of the watch draw inspiration from the shape of a car dashboard.

The red arc on the 12-hour subdial serves as a reminder of the critical engine limit beyond which damage may occur

At 12 o’clock the Carrera and TAG Heuer logo rest one on top of the other, and at 6, within the small seconds, is the date aperture. The dial is topped by the double glassbox, a domed, curved, crystal glass, whose curve flows seamlessly over the flange and blends into the case. It helps make the dial more legible. The watch has a water resistance of 100 metres.

Both watches will feature a calfskin leather strap, in brown for the gold edition and in black for the steel edition, with the embossed original number “911” on the strap, paying homage to Porsche.

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The 6 o’clock small seconds subdial has an area between 50 and 55 seconds that is inspired by the dashboard of the 1970s Porsche

TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint X Porsche Mechanics

The accelerated and decelerated movement of the central chrono hand is thanks to the TH20-08 4Hz movement, a new interpretation of the in-house caliber TH20, which featured in the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glass Box, released earlier this year. This innovation is thanks to the movement’s two unique snail-shaped wheels, crafted with the LiGA process widely used in the MEMS industry. The oscillating weight replicate the iconic three-spoke steering wheel of Porsche, and features the words ‘Porsche’ and ‘TAG Heuer’ on it. The watches have a power reserve of 80 hours.