An official partnership between the TAG Heuer replica watch brand and the Porsche sports car manufacturer was a natural choice. Over the years, the two companies have developed a deep friendship based on their shared history, story and values. However, the news came as a shock. The reason was enough for the watchmaker to launch an exceptional model and for us to put it to the test immediately.
Compared to the current TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre Heuer 02 model, the new Porsche Chronograph is impressive for its closed dial, where the admiring eye inevitably sticks to the asphalt like a hot tire. The seemingly ordinary anthracite-colored dial is not perforated, but it is very special. This unique texture, as rough as an asphalt track, was given to our test watch, the Carrera Special, symbolizing TAG Heuer’s affinity with motorsports and its new partnership with Porsche.
For the same reason, the shiny black scratch-resistant ceramic bezel, originally stamped with the word “tachymeter”, has also been engraved with the name “Porsche” in red, the same font as the original. Like the red brake calipers on a car, they symbolize sportiness here and accentuate the stopwatch function.
In addition to the characteristic color scheme of red, black and gray, the clone watch dial features numerals that reference Porsche design codes and recall the dashboard of a high-end racing car. The fact that the decals mark the minutes and seconds, rather than the hours as on other Carrera models, makes perfect sense for a special edition watch intended as a tribute to motorsport. These numerals glow bright green in the dark, as do the other triangular indicators and the bar hand indicating the main time. But when the light goes out, it continuously running six seconds and the chronograph’s elapsed time indicator is unreadable.
