In this instance, TAG Heuer has chosen to feature a black ceramic bezel on the Carrera Calibre 1887, marked with a tachymeter scale. In recent years, we have seen several brands employ ceramic for the bezels of their timepieces. Once again, it demonstrates that the minutest details can cleverly impart pleasing portions of joy to the wearer.
The silver coloured frame encourages the eye to read the date housed at its centre. Again, their design ensures excellent ease of read-off.Ī date aperture is positioned at 3 o’clock.
The applied Arabic numerals framing the dial are particularly attractive in the way they shine in ambient light, with areas of brightness and shade enhancing their form. Moreover, the red tip gracing the central chronograph hand further accentuates the difference between the stop watch functions and the hour, minutes and seconds display. It is smaller than its neighbouring subdials, does not feature the silver circlet and dispenses with the red tip seen on the chronograph counters. This is a colour scheme which is repeatedly used on the dial providing a cohesive design language.Ī small seconds display resides at 9 o’clock. The hands on each counter are silver and detailed with red tips. Their circular forms are framed with silver-coloured circlets marked with neat black strokes. They are the 30-minute register and 12-hour register, respectively. Two chronograph counters are presented below noon and above 6 o’clock. The first thing to impress me about this model is the clarity of the dial. This particular model was launched at Baselworld 2013, in the year the brand celebrated the 50th anniversary of the iconic Carrera watch. The TAG Heuer Calibre 1887 Automatic Chronograph 43mm Ref CAR2A10.BA0799 features a black dial. Whilst at the site, I looked at several Carrera Calibre 1887 models and over the coming months intend to review further models within the range. Yet, despite the accessible price point, there was no prospect of a watch leaving the production facility without meeting the company’s exacting standards. The watches appeared perfect to my ageing eyes. I repeatedly tried to observe the so-called faults and invariably failed. I found it fascinating seeing quality control personnel address surface blemishes on cases of watches awaiting dispatch. My host explained that the company can produce 50,000 chronograph movements per annum.Įxacting quality controls ensure that, despite the heavy reliance on automation and the many different hands that work on each watch, reliability is not compromised. The highly automated production methods provide economies of scale, helping the avant-garde brand deliver a quality product at a highly attractive price point. It was an object lesson in mass production. An area which was profoundly impressive was the department responsible for the creation of the Calibre 1887. They include watches that provide high quality movements, handsome cases and yet represent value for money.Ī few months ago, I toured the production facilities of TAG Heuer at La Chaux-de-Fonds. There are a large number of luxury timepieces which populate an area of the market located between the two aforementioned extremes. Vast numbers of watches can be created by adopting a “Vin de pays” approach to timepiece production but these watches merely fulfil a need rather than indulge a passion. Their endeavours invariably prove time consuming and the product volumes generated are relatively small. The finest examples of haute horlogerie demand the talents of the most skilled artisans. A similar parallel can be seen in the world of horology. The time consuming production, exacting quality, limited output and, by default, scarcity, ultimately justifies the high price. However, the high price of wines such as Petrus and Château Haut-Brion can be explained very simply. I simply did not know of their existence beforehand. It was with some surprise, a few years ago, when I first learned that wines can cost many thousands of pounds per bottle. My colleague, Philip Day, is our expert on all matters relating to fine wine. This detailed review of the TAG Heuer Calibre 1887 Automatic Chronograph 43mm Ref CAR2A10.BA0799 includes live images and specification details. In his watch review he looks at the importance of numbers, economies of scale and ultimately value for money delivered in the competitive arena of luxury timepieces. TAG Heuer Calibre 1887 Automatic Chronograph 43mm Angus Davies writes about the TAG Heuer Calibre 1887 Automatic Chronograph 43mm Ref CAR2A10.BA0799, launched at Baselworld 2013.
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