TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 02T: A Masterclass In Packing A Punch

In 2016 TAG Heuer took the world by surprise with a brand new watch in the Carrera collection. Christened Carrera Calibre Heuer 02T, this watch combined a chronograph with a flying tourbillon. The goal of TAG Heuer was to make this timepiexe a gateway for enthusiasts who wanted a more complicated watch, as the brand gave it a very competitive price tag.

Three years later, we can conclude that they have succeeded in doing just that, and even more. The Carrera Calibre Heuer 02T has definitely proved its worth, and TAG Heuer also used the model to introduce, for example, their new hairspring made of carbon composite earlier this year. The appeal of this watch can be explained by the combination of complications. A chronograph with a flying tourbillon is by itself already quite a rarity, even among the Swiss brands. These complications rank separately already as some of the most desirable so combined the draw that it has on watch enthusiasts is even more powerful.

However, it is not only its movement that sets this watch apart from the rest. It is also its design, which features a 45mm case with a bezel engraved with a tachymeter scale, and is available in quite a few different materials. The watch is instantly recognizable as a Carrera, and TAG Heuer has achieved to combine form with function. The chronograph and the flying tourbillon are not at odds with each other, but rather achieve synergy in design. Most unusual is the water-resistance of 100 meters. This is quite deep for a watch which is not in particular intended for use in water, but even more so for a chronograph fitted with a tourbillon. This proves that the Carrera Calibre Heuer 02T is not just for show, but made to be worn and enjoyed daily.

While the watch carries with all these features quite a horological punch in its own right, it hits even harder when you consider its price. It starts at a mere $17.000,-  for the version with a titanium case, ceramic bezel on a black alligator and rubber strap. This is by any means a steal for an automatic chronograph fitted with a flying tourbillon made by a premium Swiss brand. The Chronometer certificate that comes with this watch is a testimony that TAG Heuer did not cut any corners to get to this price, just as an extra confirmation for those who don’t believe their own eyes. That makes it that the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 02T is truly a masterclass in how to pack a punch.