In anticipation of the upcoming Lunar New Year, which heralds the reign of the dragon, Swiss luxury watchmaker TAG Heuer unveils a limited edition duo of timepieces that honour this majestic occasion. Seamlessly merging Chinese cultural richness with TAG Heuer’s racing DNA, these watches embody tradition and innovation, encapsulating the essence of the Year of the Dragon.
Rooted in ancient Chinese mythology, the Chinese Dragon is a supernatural being with benevolent powers, symbolizing imperial strength and unity for thousands of years.
Unique in the Chinese Zodiac as a creature that doesn’t exist in the physical world, the Chinese Dragon holds a special place in Chinese culture. It embodies values like power and charisma, which align with the spirit of TAG Heuer. This synergy is made evident in the strength and the precision of its movements and in the bold design of these new timepieces, mirroring the enduring legacy of the Chinese Dragon in the new year.
Crafted in rose gold and steel, these watches pay homage to Chinese culture and the success embodied by the Chinese Dragon, which unmistakably parallels TAG Heuer’s Carrera success story. Thus, TAG Heuer adeptly blends its racing heritage with the cultural significance of the Chinese Dragon, resulting in a watch that radiates majesty and celebration.
A true connection is born and resonates, much to the delight of the brand’s enthusiasts.
The steel version of the watch boasts a sunray-brushed silver dial while the rose gold version radiates with its sunray-brushed 18K 5N rose gold-plated dial. Both are adorned with rhodium-plated and 18K 5N rose gold plated indexes accentuated by a sumptuous red lacquer creating a harmonious blend. The distinct red “azuré” subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock add a captivating contrast with the dial, mirroring the emblematic reverse panda design.
The central red lacquered hand gracefully dances on the dial, drawing attention to the discreet yet significant calligraphic dragon character at 6 o’clock – a representation deeply intertwined with Chinese culture, continuously evoking notions of strength and prosperity. This emblem not only pays homage to tradition but also exemplifies TAG Heuer’s commitment to honouring heritage within a contemporary design.
The caseback design is fully customized to reveal a printed Chinese Dragon figure around the sapphire glass. Around it, are special engravings to indicate the watch’s limited release, “Limited Edition” along “One of 300” for the steel version and “One of 50” for the more exclusive 18K 5N rose gold version.
The watch’s movement, the Calibre Heuer 02, is visible through this stunning caseback. Developed and produced in-house by TAG Heuer, it offers great timekeeping precision and performance thanks to its vertical clutch and column wheel. With its 80-hour power reserve it is intended to support any thrilling lifestyle.
An alligator leather strap in an elegant red complements the steel and 18K 5N rose gold cases’, enhancing the watch’s sophisticated and racing allure.
A special box was imagined to house this exceptional TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph, Year of the Dragon, in the same profound red color as the watch, and elevated with the Chinese Dragon symbol in an elegant beige.
In the heart of the Year of the Dragon, TAG Heuer brings forth timepieces that embrace a legacy deeply intertwined with the Chinese culture. These watches are not mere accessories; they are symbolic tributes to a year of power, luck, and prosperity.
Available from 13 November 2023, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph, Year of the Dragon, will be sold exclusively in TAG Heuer boutiques, on the brands’ e-commerce websites in select countries, as well as at select retail partners.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph The Year of the Dragon – Steel edition
Ref. CBN201H.FC6553 – 6’150 CHF
Movement
- Calibre Heuer 02, Automatic
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Dial
- Silver sunray brushed dial
- Silver flange with 60 second/minute scale
- 3 counters:
- 3 o’clock: red “azurage” minute chronograph counter; rhodium-plated polished hand
- 6 o’clock: silver sunray brushed hour chronograph counter; rhodium plated polished hand
- 9 o’clock: red “azurage” permanent second indicator; rhodium-plated polished hand
- Rhodium-plated facetted, polished applied indexes with red lacquer and white Super-LumiNova®
- Rhodium-plated facetted, polished hour and minute hands with white Super-LumiNova®
- Red lacquered central triangle hand
- Rhodium plated polished TAG Heuer applied logo 6 o’clock angled date
- “CARRERA“ & Chinese Dragon symbol printed
Case
- 42mm diameter
- Steel fine brushed, polished case Steel polished bezel
- Beveled, domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment Steel standard crown at 3 o’clock
- Fine brushed, polished steel round pushbutton at 2 o’clock Fine brushed, polished steel round pushbutton at 4 o’clock
- Steel screw-down sapphire caseback with special engraving “LIMITED EDITION” & “ONE OF 300” and a Chinese Dragon pattern printed Water resistance: 100 meters
- Dimensions
- Lug-to-lug: 48,6 mm
- Thickness: 14,33 mm
Bracelet
- Red alligator leather strap
- Steel folding clasp with double safety pushbuttons; TAG Heuer shield
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph The Year of the Dragon – Rose Gold edition
Ref. CBN2048.FC8323 – 22’000 CHF
Movement
Calibre Heuer 02, Automatic
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Dial
- 18K 5N rose gold plated sunray brushed dial
- 18K 5N rose gold plated flange with 60 second/minute scale
- 3 counters:
- 3 o’clock: red “azuré” minute chronograph counter; 18K 5N rose gold plated polished hand
- 6 o’clock: 18K 5N rose gold plated sunray brushed hour chronograph counter; 18K 5N rose gold plated polished hand
- 9 o’clock: red “azuré” permanent second indicator; 18K 5N rose gold plated polished hand
- 18K 5N rose gold plated facetted, polished applied indexes with red lacquer and white Super-LumiNova®
- 18K 5N rose gold plated facetted, polished hour and minute hands with white Super-LumiNova®
- Red lacquered central triangle hand
- 18K 5N rose gold plated polished TAG Heuer applied logo 6 o’clock angled date
- “CARRERA” & Chinese Dragon symbol printed
Case
- 42mm diameter
- 18K 5N rose gold fine brushed, polished case 18K 5N rose gold polished bezel
- Beveled, domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment 18K 5N rose gold standard crown at 3 o’clock
- Fine brushed, polished 18K 5N rose gold round pushbutton at 2 o’clock Fine brushed, polished 18K 5N rose gold round pushbutton at 4 o’clock 18K 5N rose gold screw-down sapphire caseback with special engraving “LIMITED EDITION” & “ONE OF 50” and a Chinese Dragon pattern printed Water resistance: 100 meters
- Dimensions
- Lug-to-lug: 48,6 mm
- Thickness: 14,33 mm
Bracelet
- Red alligator leather strap
- 18K 5N rose gold pin buckle; TAG Heuer shield
About TAG Heuer
TAG Heuer, founded in 1860 by Edouard Heuer in the Jura Mountains of Switzerland, is a luxury watch brand that is part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (“LVMH”), the world’s leading luxury group. Based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and with four production sites, TAG Heuer has 1,860 employees and is active in 139 countries. TAG Heuer products are available online at www.tagheuer.com for select countries and in 260 boutiques and 2,300 points of sale worldwide. The company is headed up by Frédéric Arnault, CEO of TAG Heuer. For 163 years, TAG Heuer has demonstrated pure avant-garde watchmaking spirit and a commitment to innovation with revolutionary technologies that have included the oscillating pinion for mechanical stopwatches in 1887, the Mikrograph in 1916, the first automatic-winding chronograph movement – Calibre 11 – in 1969, and the first luxury smartwatch in 2015. Today, the brand’s core collection consists of three iconic families designed by Jack Heuer – TAG Heuer Carrera, Monaco, and Autavia – and is rounded out with the contemporary TAG Heuer Link, Aquaracer, Formula 1, and Connected lines. Embodying TAG Heuer’s motto, “Don’t Crack Under Pressure,” are prominent partnerships and brand ambassadors that express the brand’s passion for action and high performance.