TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 Automatic

The longer I spend around watches, the less I find myself in bells and whistles (Patek alarms and Jaquet Droz excepted). In fact, I find myself more and more drawn to simple, pure designs that just work. The TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 Day-Date is a perfect example of this. On the surface there’s nothing flashy or fancy about this watch. But it’s precisely this steadfast design and supreme versatility that makes this watch such a winner …

It’s easy to think of the Carrera as purely a collection of chronographs, as that complication is where its roots and, indeed, heart lies. But for a long time the TAG Heuer Carrera has been about more than just sports timers. It’s evolved into something more, a shorthand for sports pedigree and precision. This is the spirit with which the Carrera Calibre 5 Day-Date shines.

The Carrera look is still there, of course, notably in the 41mm steel case, with those proud lugs and polished bezel. But the heritage is there in the dial — the simple baton markers and matchstick hands aren’t too far off those of the earliest Carreras. What’s new, though, is the day-date apertures: large, legible and neatly framed. Honestly, I really like this sort of execution of dates. They cop a lot of flak when they’re done in a haphazard, last-minute manner, but that is most definitely not the situation here, where the supremely practical calendar info is king, standing out from the matt black dial in a good way.

This Carrera is a classical beauty, and the day-date doesn’t detract in the slightest. It’s also a watch built for the everyday. It feels comfortable and solid on the wrist, is handsome yet unobtrusive. It’s a perfect companion for daily life. It’s a watch with some great, storied names on the dial, powered by a reliable engine (the Calibre 5 is TAG Heuer’s in-house name for the 2824 or its Sellita version) and finished to a solid degree, with its brushed flanks and polished front.

From all accounts, this is a popular model for TAG Heuer, a brand that has smartly positioned itself at the more accessible end of the Swiss watchmaking spectrum, and, really, even though it might lack some of the pizzazz and excitement that people who ‘follow’ watches have come to expect, it’s easy to see why. The Carrera Calibre 5 Day-Date is a good-looking unit.

Angus Davies provides an in-depth review of the recently launched TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 Automatic – Steel 41mm. This seemingly simple watch features a plethora of delightful design details which impart a smile-inducing joy. This detailed review of the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 Automatic includes live images, specification details and pricing.

I adore complicated watches which feature a chronograph, a minute repeater or tourbillon. However, on some occasions, there is a strong argument for simplicity. Sometimes a pure, clean, uncluttered appearance, with ease of interpretation, makes an appealing rationale for purchase.

Simplicity, in terms of watchmaking, is a contradiction in terms. Whilst a watch may seem absent of numerous functions, to create a stylish watch devoid of registers, guilloché or tourbillon cage is actually quite difficult. The designer needs to impart eye-appeal whilst not overburdening the dial with the extraneous. Indeed, the idiom “the devil is in the detail” is very apt when designing a watch with a limited array of functions.

Earlier this year at Baselworld 2014, TAG Heuer revealed some awe-inspiring novelties featuring some incredible avant-garde aesthetics and know-how, including the mind-blowing Monaco V4 with its ingenious belt-driven movement. However, a model which caught me on my blind-side and seduced my soul with its dapper, but restrained, appearance was the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 Automatic.

TAG Heuer offer the Carrera Calibre 5 Automatic – Steel 41mm with a choice of steel bracelet or alligator leather strap. Dial variants include black, silver and anthracite. I have not seen all the available options, but confess to liking the black dial version on a leather strap (ref WAR211A.FC6180). It has a pre-eminent legibility and warmth, courtesy of the black hued strap. It is this model which provides the focal point of this in-depth watch review.

The new TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 Automatic – Steel 41mm is a handsome timepiece with a notable air of sophistication.

The seemingly simple dial is the result of many hours of toil spent in the TAG Heuer design studio, honing each element to a peerless outcome. The resultant landscape of the dial is beautiful, with delightful details which reinforce the rationale for purchase.

Versatility is another key strength of the Calibre 5 Automatic – Steel 39mm. It is a suitable accessory to complement casual or formal attire. Indeed, I would suggest it would admirably fulfil the role of dress watch at a black tie event, such is the cleanliness of the dial.