Hands-On With The New TAG Heuer Carrera Dato Chronograph
After introducing the Carrera Glassbox models in 2023, TAG Heuer unveiled its latest addition to this collection during LVMH Watch Week in Miami. Meet the TAG Heuer Carrera Dato Chronograph with a teal dial. Based on the 1968 Heuer Carrera 45 Dato, this Carrera has a date window at 9 o’clock.
In 2021, TAG Heuer reintroduced the Dato in collaboration with our friends at Hodinkee. But, of course, that model did not feature the Glassbox crystal and curved flange around the dial. Today, TAG Heuer reveals the new Carrera Dato Chronograph with both of those elements plus a striking teal-green dial. According to the brand, this combination pays homage to a rich history while embracing a vibrant future.
TAG Heuer Carrera Dato Chronograph
The teal color blends blue and green and should remind you of the golden age of motorsports. It’s a color that TAG Heuer also used in one of the Carrera limited editions in 2021. It has now made it back to this Carrera Dato and a Carrera Tourbillon that we will cover separately.
With the date window at 9 o’clock and a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, the new Carrera Dato runs on the TAG Heuer’s caliber TH20-07. This movement offers an 80-hour power reserve, bidirectional winding, Côtes de Genève decoration, and a rotor with a skeletonized TAG Heuer logo. The movement can be observed via the screw-in case back with a sapphire crystal.
Glassbox crystal
Like the Carrera Glassbox models we reviewed in 2023, the Carrera Dato has a 39mm case diameter. This is the sweet spot for many watch enthusiasts. Additionally, the case measures 13.86mm thick and 46mm from lug to lug for a nice, modest fit. This TAG Heuer chronograph also ticks the box for decent water resistance, offering a very respectable 100m rating.
The 39mm stainless steel case also displays a mix of finishes. While the tops of the lugs are polished, the case band has a fine horizontally brushed finish. As you can see in the pictures, the mushroom-style pushers are also polished with a sunburst-like brushed finish on top.
A spacious dial in teal green
The new Carrera Dato Chronograph has the same curved flange as in the 2023 Glassbox models. The dial has a circular-brushed finish, while the sub-dial has traditional concentric engraving. Applied to the dial are thick, high-polished hour markers, which match the silver (rhodium-plated) hands. Just like the hour and minute hands, the hour markers have a slit in the center filled with Super-LumiNova.
At 9 o’clock, we find the famous date window, with its silver frame matching the dial’s other applied elements. Then, at 12 o’clock are the printed “Carrera” name and TAG Heuer logo, with a “Swiss” designation at 6 o’clock.
In terms of its layout, the new TAG Heuer Carrera Dato Chronograph Glassbox is different from many watches out there. Plus, with the teal-green color of the dial, you certainly won’t see a watch like this every day. It’s my favorite of the new TAG Heuer models that came out during the LVMH Watch Week in Miami. Aside from the gold Glassbox that came out in 2023, this is my favorite version so far. TAG Heuer has done a fantastic job with all the Carrera Glassbox models, and by adding a new (or modern) touch to a classic design, it will speak to a broad(er) audience. It will be attractive to not only watch enthusiasts and collectors but also to those (first-time buyers) who just want a nice-looking chronograph.
On the wrist
Just like the previous 39mm Carrera Glassbox models, the new Carrera Dato Chronograph sits nicely on my 18.5cm wrist. It’s an easy watch to wear and a proper hingucker (German for “eye-catcher”). I found myself looking at the Carrera Dato on my wrist many times during the day.
TAG Heuer hit the bullseye with the new Carrera Glassbox models, and the Dato with this teal-green dial is no exception. The color is not for everyone, nor should it be, but I think it will only be a matter of time before TAG Heuer comes up with more colors for this model.
Strap and folding clasp
The alligator strap suits the watch nicely and is attached to a folding clasp with push buttons. I can also imagine wearing this watch on something sportier, though, like a perforated leather strap or fabric (NATO) strap. You can dress it up or down however you like.
What I appreciate about the TAG Heuer Carrera Dato Chronograph is the level of detail that the brand put into it. The combination of polished and brushed surfaces on the case, the circular-brushed finish of the dial, the azurage finish on the sub-dial, and the rhodium-plated hands and hour markers all add to a great experience when wearing this watch. On top, you will get an in-house-manufactured TH20-07 movement with a column wheel and an 80-hour power reserve.
The Carrera belongs to a classic lineup of chronograph watches, the others being the Rolex Daytona, Omega Speedmaster, Zenith El Primero, and Breitling Navitimer. For CHF 6,400, the TAG Heuer Carrera Dato chronograph is a clever pick if you want to own one of these classics. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed wearing it for a while, and being a rather conservative guy when it comes to watches, I am positively surprised by how much I liked the teal hue of the dial.
I am very curious to read your thoughts about the TAG Heuer Carrera Dato Chronograph and the Glassbox models in general. Drop them in the comments below, and visit TAG Heuer’s website for more information.
