TAG Heuer: A Deep Connection to Motorsports

Fifty years ago, in 1963.TAG HeuerIts current Honorary Chairman, Jack Heuer, began development, leading to the launch of the "Carrera" in 1964. Designed for racers and motorsport enthusiasts, this iconic sportychronographcontinues to be a flagship model for TAG Heuer, beloved by many even today, over half a century since its creation.

For Jack Heuer, who loved motorsports and was a driver himself at the time, the Carrera was crafted with a highly legible, large dial and a case resistant to shocks and water, incorporating all the essential elements for a racing watch.Porsche "911"Its name, like that of the Porsche "911", is famously derived from the legendary "Carrera Panamericana Mexico", a grueling road race held between the USA and Mexico from 1950 to 1954.

The design inspiration also drew from innovative ideas of the early 1960s, such as modernism and the clean aesthetics of pop art. Simultaneously, it reflected the understated beauty of monochrome dashboard counters in historic cars, resulting in a restrained, simple, and classic, timeless design stripped of all superfluous ornamentation.

The first Carrera, equipped with a tachymeter and featuring a black-and-white "Panda" edition, quickly gained popularity among top racers in Europe and America. Today, it is one of the most coveted chronographs for luxury watch collectors.

Furthermore, in 1969, TAG Heuer unveiled the "Carrera Chronomatic Calibre 11", the world's first automatic chronograph. The name "Chronomatic", merging chronograph and automatic, became one of the greatest legends in Swiss watchmaking history.

The TAG Heuer Carrera continues its lineage to the present day. At Matsuya Ginza, alongside various artistic visuals of the Carrera, spanning from its early models to the latest, and representing its heritage and future, you'll find decorations inspired by TAG Heuer ambassadors like Leonardo DiCaprio and the "Calibre 1887", the in-house chronograph movement that serves as the "engine" of the Carrera. These vibrant, 1960s-inspired decorations, reflecting the Carrera's origins, adorn the streets of Ginza.

On a soft, sun-drenched early summer day, the world of the Carrera unfolds in the streets of Ginza. It's an invitation to pause and reflect on the 50-year journey of the Carrera.


TAG Heuer Concierge
Tel. 03-3613-3921
http://www.tagheuer.co.jp