SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre TH20-00 'Harrods' Limited Edition Chronograph

Okay, let's get this out of the way right off the bat.... why is this a 'Spotlight On' post and not a 'First Impressions' post? The answer is simply that 'First Impressions' posts are for watches that have just been released, and somehow it seems this watch was released last year without anyone in my circle knowing about it. Nobody told me, nobody posted it on the THF forum, literally did not have a clue and as such it was not included in last years 'Watch of the Year' voting procedure. In fact the only reason I found about this one at all is because I spotted it on Watchfinder and thought 'what the hell is that!' 

And that's a bit of a shame if you ask me because I feel like this one could have garnered a vote or two. First off it's that crowd pleasing 42mm size (well, crowd pleasing is maybe a touch generous, but it's not 44mm so... a few more people will like it) and crucially it isn't yet another bloody glassbox, and that immediately kicks it up a notch in my opinion. 

Secondly, I really like the combination of silver dial, green rehaut and subdials with the gold highlights. It really looks rather nice and somehow it really captures the spirit of Harrods, you can just imagine wearing this on a visit to the venerable London department store, pottering around the food stores in the basement, perhaps picking up some hand made chocolates, heading upstairs to buy your wife a £900 Fendi handbag accessory then heading off for a small coffee and carrot cake, before eventually spending a shiny pound to spend a penny (not sure on that, haven't been to Harrods 'facilities' for many a year)... 

 

Okay, I'm being flippant, but there isn't really much to say about this one as it's just a variation on an already established model. I believe there are 50 of these, but strangely when I Google the part number they mostly seem to be listed on Japanese websites. Perhaps 'Harrods' is a strong brand out in the far East, I can imagine that it would appeal to tourists from the Pacific region, despite being on the larger size.

Where does this sit in the pantheon of Harrods themed TAG Heuer watches though? I'd say it's probably the best of the three, with the white dial Autavia coming second and the green dialed, solid gold 2023 model coming third.

Okay, well as we won't be including this in the end of year scoring, I've nonetheless asked the esteemed Council to give their opinion and obviously this score will be taken as final and added to the ongoing list.

Before I go, I have to tell you there is something coming that is so... remarkable that I can't even believe it. I don't think anyone will be able to believe it actually... so look out for that soon.

8/10: "It's really smart. The green and gold really does say Harrods and looks lovely on the silver dial. Simple but elegantly done."

7.5/10: "Beautiful dial, I like the green and silver combination better than the Harrods colours used for a previous model."

5/10: "Like the green accents and silver dial, but still only."

4/10: "Something really off putting about these Elegant Carreras indeed."

6/10: "The gold markets contrasts nicely against the heavenly silver dial."

3/10: "Yet another colour scheme. This one is decidedly uninspiring."

8/10: "Like this simple but effective, and it doesn’t say Harrods’ on it too obviously."

6.5/10: "It is certainly not my favourite edition of the Carrera Elegant… perhaps with a perforated green leather strap matching the subdials I would like it much more, but with the steel bracelet I am not enthusiastic about the combination (silver, gold, green) chosen."

6.5/10: "Nice watch, but the green just doesn't do anything for me."

6/10: "I agree, I'd rather see black than green."

5/10: "I can’t stand green and gold, even accents of it. It looks like something you’d have to fight a leprechaun for. I know it’s the Harrods thing, but not for me. Other than that it looks like any other Carrera to me."

4/10: "Not cool."

5.5/10: "This is not a watch I would pay a premium for, as Harrods holds no special meaning for me and green/gold is not my thing. Without knowing the price, I'll give it a 6/10. But if the price is higher than the Goodwood FoS (£6,450.00), I would score it lower at 5.5/10."

6/10: "It’s just an ok watch to me..."

7/10: "Not so bad. But would have to see it in the metal. The golden accents seem a bit lost."

8/10: "I like it, but maybe with a white dial might have been more striking?"