Why We Can't Resist the TAG Heuer Carrera Skipper



Collectors of all walks of life will fall in love with the allure of this odd looking, niche tool watch.

Here is a reminder every year that the "TAG" in TAG Heuer stands for "Pioneering Technology". This La Chaux-de-Fonds-based watchmaker creates some of the most original and recognizable timepieces in the entire horological world. You know the watches we're talking about: Monaco's square case, S/el's sculpted links (80s kids are picking up what we put down), and Formula's cool color combo 1 .

However, while not as famous as its more famous siblings, the Captain is one of the most visually appealing (not to mention historically interesting) members of the TAG Heuer family.

Earlier today, we were lucky enough to get our hands on the brand's latest updated version of the classic yachting watch, which was discontinued 40 years ago, ahead of its official launch. And, spoiler alert, it totally rocks!

Love Regatta
Since sailors are known for their colorful stories, let's start with a story...

The Skipper saga began long before the merger of Heuer and TAG in 1985. That’s because, while elite sailors relied on their onboard chronographs and stopwatches, especially during races, for most of its history Heuer didn’t supply them with wristwatches. racer. Until 1964, TAG Heuer reached a cooperation with diving and nautical watch manufacturer Aquastar to launch the co-branded Aquastar "Regate" chronograph.

Then, in 1967, the America's Cup was held in Rhode Island, and the USS Intrepid returned to New York to defend her title on behalf of the New York Yacht Club (NYYC). The 40-foot (12-meter) vessel was considered one of the best in the New York fleet, and legend has it that Douglas Grewer, TAG Heuer's then US country manager, was passionate about yachting and asked Jack TAG Heuer to supply the Intrepid With timing device.

Therefore, with the help of TAG Heuer, the crew of the Intrepid won the America's Cup that year. To celebrate the victory, the brand created a new chronograph: Skipper.

captain my captain
Of course, TAG Heuer chronographs are legendary in the field of sports timing, so it is only logical that the Skipper draws on the best of its siblings.

For example, the brand borrowed the case design from the Carrera chronograph, but designed a sub-counter made specifically for regattas (a chronograph is needed to count down during the "pre-start" part of the event).

In addition, Skipper's unique "Swinging Sixties" colorway is directly inspired by Intrepid, with a blue metallic dial and two sub-counters; one of which is mint green, while the other is divided into three segments of five minutes each, There are mint green, green and orange parts respectively. While these color combinations feel like they were ripped out of a "How to Look Preppy" manual, the mint green is meant to match the hue of the Intrepid's anti-reflective deck paint.

Interestingly, although the Skipper was produced until 1983, only 300 were built with the Carrera architecture (other versions were built with Autavia shells), making the Carrera-based Skipper a unicorn among collectors.

The good news is that the captain is back. Even better news, this iteration pays homage to the original Carrera silhouette. The best news is that the new TAG Heuer Carrera Skipper takes design inspiration directly from the recently relaunched “glassbox” Carrera.

The "glass box" is beautiful. Because it extends to the very edge of the stainless steel case, it almost looks like the sea disappearing on the horizon. At the same time, all the functions of the bezel sit under the crystal and surround the cleverly flanged dial and well-balanced counters, which are very legible, just what you need when the salty waves are floating around you.

In fact, the most deserving of our quibble is the date window at 6 o'clock. It's not exactly a distraction, but we're interested to see what the watch looks like without it.

The 2023 Skipper also features Carrera’s oversized 39mm diameter case, the latest bi-directional TH20-06 movement with an 80-hour power reserve, and of course a high-end wear-resistant fabric strap. Everything about this watch has a true nautical feel to it.

Finally, while the 2023 TAG Heuer Carrera Skipper is a handsome, rugged chronograph for life on land, it will join the brand's core collection as the "flagship" of an entire range of nautical models, marking TAG Heuer returns to the world of yachts and yachts.