Since TAG Heuer and Porsche solidified their informal relationship into an official brand partnership in 2021, a slew of Porsche-themed specialty models have been launched by the Swiss marque. These models have ranged from limited-edition tributes to the iconic Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 to a unique Porsche-themed version of the Connected smartwatch with exclusive features. However, the most successful model to date from this collaboration is the 2022 Carrera X Porsche Limited Edition.
Now, for 2023, TAG Heuer returns with an updated version of this dynamic sports watch, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche Orange Racing, featuring striking orange accents and a focus on intricate mixed finishing. While not the brand’s most groundbreaking release of the year, this timepiece offers a bold and sporty style for one of their most capable modern designs, paying homage to Porsche’s racing heritage.
The case of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche Orange Racing is 44mm wide and coated in black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon), making it slightly larger for a modern chronograph. However, the black color visually streamlines the design and showcases the iconic angular beveled lugs and sharp surfaces that define the Carrera collection. Thanks to its short downturned lugs, the modern Carrera already wears impressively compact for its size, and the black DLC coating further enhances its sleek appearance while adding a touch of racetrack readiness. The case’s dark canvas provides a pleasing backdrop for the combination of polished and linear brushed finishes, creating captivating light play on the wrist. TAG Heuer incorporates eye-catching orange highlights that serve as natural focal points. T
he crown features an engraved orange accent ring, while the engraved “Porsche” text on the ceramic tachymeter bezel acts as a powerful visual element and the only overt Porsche branding on the front. The ceramic bezel combines polished, radially brushed, engraved, and painted surfaces to highlight its dynamic geometry, contributing to an overall premium feel. The watch is equipped with a sapphire display caseback and boasts a respectable 100 meters of water resistance, emphasizing its sporty nature.
The dial of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche Orange Racing breathes new life into the existing Carrera elements through the use of vibrant colors and finishes. Fans of the previous Carrera Chronograph x Porsche iterations will find the overall layout familiar, with distinctive speedometer-style applied Arabic minute numerals and signature accent colors throughout. However, compared to the previous yellow-tinged version, the new Orange Racing model features a more generous application of orange accents. These include orange highlight rings on the main dial and subdials, orange subdial markings at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock, and a blazing orange central chronograph seconds hand that ties the design together.
This bolder approach may not suit everyone’s taste, but it undeniably grabs attention and gives the watch a distinctive personality even from a distance. TAG Heuer also introduces new surfacing details, opting for a clean, vertically brushed main dial surface accented by multi-layered chronograph subdials with recessed azurage centers. The brand reduces the emphasis on the asphalt grain texture seen in previous Porsche-themed Carrera models, relegating it to an accent on the running seconds scale at 6 o’clock. This inclusion maintains a clean, automotive-themed visual shorthand that ties the series together. Overall, the dial retains the essence of previous Porsche-infused Carrera releases but refines the formula while amplifying the sense of aggression on the wrist.
Powering the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche Orange Racing is the in-house Heuer 02 automatic chronograph movement, which has earned its position as the brand’s flagship caliber since its introduction in 2018. This robust modern movement boasts an impressive 80-hour power reserve, a 28,800 beat rate, and coveted column wheel and vertical clutch chronograph actuation systems.
The finishing of the movement aligns with other appearances of the Heuer 02, featuring sharp Côtes de Genève across the skeleton bridges, a blacked-out custom rotor inspired by a steering wheel, and a contrasting orange column wheel that complements the overall design. Completing the watch is a sporty carbon-textured black calfskin leather strap with double orange accent stitching that matches the dial.
Entering its third year, the official partnership between TAG Heuer and Porsche is further strengthened by the refined and aggressive style of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche Orange Racing. This timepiece is available through select authorized dealers, TAG Heuer boutiques, and the brand’s e-commerce platform. The suggested retail price for the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Porsche Orange Racing is $7,050 USD at the time of writing. For additional information, please visit the brand’s official website.