This $14k Tag Heuer watch just resurrected a forgotten icon from the 1950s. Only 500 exist
The new Carrera chronograph is ready for its close-up
FOR THOSE WHO KNOW their watch history, the new Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph Limited Edition is more than just a beautiful timepiece – a vibrant homage to one of the brand’s most collectible chapters: the Heuer Seafarer created for the clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch in the 1950s and 1960s.
The original Seafarer watches were born from a unique collaboration between Swiss precision and American adventure.
Sold through Abercrombie & Fitch’s legendary Madison Avenue flagship, these watches weren’t fashion statements, but rugged tools for fishermen, sailors and explorers.
They blended chronograph functionality with a tide indicator – a pioneering combination at the time.
Early models featured distinctive colourful sub-dials, Solunar tide readings and regatta countdowns — all wrapped in charismatic mid-century design.
Tag Heuer’s 2025 Carrera Chronograph Limited Edition taps directly into this adventurous spirit.
A run of just 500 pieces, the watch borrows design cues from its illustrious predecessor: the bold blue opaline dial, turquoise and yellow accents on the sub-dials, and the iconic regatta-style 5-minute segments on the flange.
At 42mm, the polished steel case is crisp and modern, while still echoing the purposeful charm of its forebears.
Inside beats Tag Heuer’s TH20-00 automatic movement – a bi-directional calibre with an impressive 80-hour power reserve, visible through the sapphire caseback.
The yellow lacquered hands and colour-coordinated minute counters are not just visually arresting, but highly legible – a Carrera signature.
And the touches of turquoise?
A nod to the dolce vita lifestyle that blends sport with sophistication.
The watch is finished with a perforated blue calf leather strap and arrives in a matching presentation box and travel case, both in the same vibrant colour scheme.
In reviving the spirit of the Seafarer, Tag Heuer has neatly modernised its storied past.
The result is a timepiece that honours a forgotten gem of the mid-20th century while bringing its playful utility into the 21st.
It’s also a bit of a looker.
This story originally appeared on Esquire UK.
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