TAG Heuer has launched a gold version of its sailing chronograph, the Carrera Skipper Chronograph. In 18k rose gold, it is essentially the same as the 2022 steel model, only in a new 18k 5N rose gold ‘Glassbox’ case with 18k 5N rose gold crowns and pushers, and water resistance of 100m. With a mix of polished and brushed finishing, it is 39mm (thickness of 13.9mm) and based on the ‘Glassbox’ design launched last year to mark the 60th anniversary of Carrera chronograph. As is the case with the other variations of the ‘Glassbox’ Carrera, the gold Skipper features a ‘curved flange’ dial beneath its crystal to increase legibility.

The watch’s functions are hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph, and regatta count-down, and the colour scheme of the modern Skipper is a nod to the Skipper Ref. 7754 (1968), combining a blue circular-brushed blue main dial with a 60 second/ minute scale with two contrasting sub dials – at 9 o’clock is a lacquered 12-hour counter in ‘Intrepid Teal’ with an 18K 5N rose gold-plated polished hand, and at 3 o’clock is a tri-coloured lacquered regatta count-down indicator with an 18K 5N rose gold-plated polished hand. At 6 o’clock, alongside the date window, is a blue seconds indicator with an 18k 5N rose gold-plated polished hand.

The 5-minute regatta counter’s three five–minute segments of different colours mirror those used on the Ref. 7754, which was launched under Jack Heuer to celebrate the victory of the New York Yacht Club’s ‘Intrepid’ over New Zealand’s ‘Dame Pattie’ in the 1967 America’s Cup.

The original Skipper’s 15-minute countdown sub dial’s three colours were Lagoon Green (inspired by Intrepid’s rigging), Intrepid Teal (the colour of her deck) and Regatta Orange for the final five-minute ‘get ready’ sector.

As was the case for the 2022 the steel model, this new rose gold version features triangular markers at five minute intervals around the outer curved flange, a lacquered Regatta Orange central seconds hand and a ‘Skipper’ nameplate at the bottom of the 12-hour sub dial. It has rose-gold hour markers and date window frame.

The 18k 5N rose gold-plated facetted and polished hour and minute hands have orange lacquered triangular tips and white Super-LumiNova. The orange central hand is lacquered. All the logos (‘TAG HEUER’, ;CARRERA’ and ‘SKIPPER’) are printed.

Beneath the screw-down open case back can be seen the in-house Heuer 02 (Ref. TH20-06), a column wheel chronograph movement with 80 hours of power reserve, and a version of the Heuer 02 adapted for regatta timing. It has a bi-directional TAG HEUER shield-shaped rotor.

The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Skipper Rose Gold comes on a blue textile strap with a rose gold pin buckle and has an RRP of CHF 21,000/ AUD 31,150.

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