TAG Heuer Refreshes its Carrera Day-Date and Carrera Twin-Time Models

Jack Heuer’s Carrera chronograph is the stuff of legends. Released in 1963 and named after the dangerous Carrera Panamericana, the Carrera is still TAG Heuer’s flagship model. The current Carrera collection has eight sub-families, including the recently introduced Date family, home to the Day-Date and Twin-Time models. Released just four years ago, the Day-Date and Twin-Time GMT models have been upgraded with several aesthetic tweaks and a more powerful movement.

While many consider a Carrera without chronograph functions a form of disloyalty, there have been Carreras with three hands in the 1990s and even a Twin-Time GMT model from the 1950s. The Day-Date and Twin-Time Models capture their ancestors’ clean, spartan, legible style but stick to practical day-date and GMT functions.

The five new Carrera Day-Date models and the one Twin-Time model are released with different dials, straps and a new, upgraded movement. Sharing similar dimensions to the 2021 Day-Date models, the diameter of 41mm is the same, although the case thickness is 12.57 (.20mm thicker due to new movement). All the cases are 100m water-resistant, feature signature Carrera faceted lugs, and are decorated with brushed and polished finishes.

The Day-Date models – black grained dial with calfskin strap, black opaline dial with steel bracelet, black opaline dial with two-tone rose gold and steel bracelet, sunray-brushed blue dial with steel bracelet and gradient red with steel bracelet – reveal several changes on the dial.

The precision track on the periphery of the 2021 editions has been replaced with a double track with luminous dots (as opposed to rectangular ones) on the hour markers and an arrow at 3 o’clock highlighting the framed day-date window. Since the track is wider, the dial appears smaller. Four references have tone-on-tone day-date discs to blend in with the dial, while the gradient red dial has a black background, matching the darker colour of the peripheral tracks.

Another upgrade for the Day-Date and Twin-Time models is the redesigned steel bracelet with a new quick-change link system allowing for quick adjustments without tools. However, it must be said that there is no system to switch from a steel bracelet to a leather strap, and there is no micro-adjustment option on the clasp. The leather strap on the black-grained dial model has been refreshed with a visible light blue lining that matches the precision track on the dial’s periphery and the Automatic indication. This model also has a distinctive bright red central seconds hand. Another standout piece is the two-tone Day-Date with its rose gold-plated details on the dial and bracelet with alternating steel and brushed rose gold links.

The Twin-Time model has also been updated. Housed in a familiar Carrera-style case with identical specs to the Day-Date, the Twin-Time has undergone a more profound transformation. The 24-hour blue and white flange of the 2021 edition has been replaced with a bolder teal and silver 24-hour scale and a more pronounced teal and silver seconds/minutes track. The GMT hand stands out with its red lacquered tip, matching the Twin-Time mention on the dial.

Another noticeable change is the removal of the rectangular hour markers. These have been substituted with applied and polished Arabic numerals. Again, the fact that the numerals are placed on the inside of the track and not on top of the track creates a smaller dial. The only trace of Super-LumiNova can be found in the hour and minute hands.

All the new models benefit from the proprietary TH31 movement made exclusively for TAG Heuer by AMT, the high-end division of Sellita. Featured previously inside the Aquaracer Professional 300 Date, this automatic movement beats at 28,800vph and has a beefy 80-hour power reserve. However, unlike the TH31 powering the Aquaracer, the TH31-02 for the Day-Date and TH31-03 for the Twin-Time are not COSC chronometer-certified.

Prices for the Day-Date start at CHF 3,900 for the reference with a calfskin strap, ascending to CHF 4,100 – 4,300 for models with stainless steel bracelets and CHF 8,250 for the two-tone model with a steel and rose gold bracelet. The Twin-Time retails for CHF 4,750. The watches will be available in April 2025. More information at tagheuer.com.