FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera Date Plasma Diamant d’Avant-Garde

 

At last year's Watches and Wonders TAG Heuer released two new Carrera Plasma models: one was an even more blingy version of the previously released 44mm Carrera that overstepped the line where good taste ends and just kept on running... at the same time they released a much less gauche Carrera in 36mm, which featured a pink lab-grown diamond crown and a pink lab-grown TAG Heuer shield on the (lab grown diamond) dial.

It was pretty cool actually, and this year they've given it a make over by switching out the pink elements for yellow and putting it on a white alligator strap. Unlike Beaverbrooks while I can't honestly say I'm 'obsessed' with the 1.3 carat diamond crown, it is undeniably cool. The white strap I'm not so sure about and like most of the Council of Considered Opinion I think overall this looks 'nice' but perhaps slightly less 'nice' than the previous version. Or perhaps it just doesn't have the same impact second time around?

SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer's 2023 Releases (Jan/Jun)

 

Greetings dear readers, can you believe we're half way through this wonderful year already? And so of course it's time for a brief look back at our favourite Swiss watch brand's 2023 output so far. I'm not going to lie, it's been a very busy start and there are no less than FIVE June releases that haven't even been covered yet; as such I'm afraid I won't be including the ladies green dial Aquaracer, the steel Solargraph, the French limited edition Carrera, the 'Year of the Tiger' limited edition Chronograph or the Japanese limited edition mother of pearl dial Carreras in this round-up - but rest assured 'First Impressions' posts for all those are coming very soon!

In fact I might have to switch things up and fire out a few posts in double-quick time, because as it stands I'm scheduled to catch up on the June releases at the start of August, which is frankly ridiculous... (never mind the Monaco Rattrapante for Only Watch and the striking Chronotempvs Collectors Club Carrera which have both emerged in the last few days). 

Okay, with all that out of the way, let's crack on

VIDEO: TAG Heuer's 2023 Releases with Frederic Arnault by Wristcheck

 

VIDEO: TAG Heuer Releases for 2023 by About Effing Time

 

FEATURE: Watches & Wonders 2023 - Part 1: TAG Heuer (with Jim Dollares)

 

I thought we'd take a break from the W&W/C.O.C.O. scores (still a few left to do and now the green Aquaracer has come out too!), so today I invited our very special Swedish contributor Jim Dollares to join me in casting a critical glance over the new releases at W&W and of course we had to start with TAG Heuer. Part two is in the works, but for now let's take a irreverential look at what our favourite watch brand brought to Geneva this year.

ROB: Hej Jimbo!

JIM: Hey Rob! Good to hear from you. I have landed in my opinions on this year's Watches and Wonders and I think we have some awesome releases to talk about. How about kicking things off with something that perhaps is not the most awesome thing this year, the Plasma tourbillion?

ROB: Right you are... oh yeah, I really wasn't expecting them to make another Plasma Carrera, although funnily enough I did notice that Capsoul Diamonds Instagram account suddenly started becoming active again a couple of weeks before W&W. The funny thing for me was that when the first one came out last year, I barely noticed the diamonds set into the case, because I was distracted by the diamond crown and dial. It's a different story this year huh? Can`t really miss them this time... and, well.... it's a nice idea, and it's very clever. But it is it attractive?

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG HEUER Carrera Plasma Diamant D'Avant-Garde 44mm Tourbillon & 36mm Watch

 

Last year TAG Heuer shocked us all with the first incarnation of their 'Plasma Carrera' and to be honest until I saw their teaser for Watches & Wonders 2023 it never crossed my mind for a second that they would be doing it all over again. Only this time... throwing caution completely to the wind.

Now honestly, I can't remember what score I gave the 2022 version, but looking back to last Christmas and the Watch of the Year Vote for 2022, the original 'Plasma' scored a respectable 5.9 out of 10. Which is probably more than I would have expected when you consider that the majority of the people voting are somewhat conservative when it comes to watches and aren't shy about expressing themselves when it comes to the abomination that is the 'modern' Carrera.

FEATURE: A Look Back at TAG Heuer 2022 - Part 2 (featuring Jim Dollares)

 

Hello everyone and welcome back to the second part of Jim and I's look back over the TAG Heuer releases of 2022. If you haven't already read part one, click the link below:

https://tagheuerenthusiast.blogspot.com/2022/11/feature-look-back-at-tag-heuer-2022-so.html

ROB: Hey Jim, where should we begin with this second part of our chat?

JIM: Well I think I would like to start by hearing your opinion on a watch that could have been great, but left me with a feeling of 'meh'. A watch that has been out for some time now but we see very little of out in the wild. I am speaking of course about the new 43mm Aquaracer GMT.

ROB: Yeah... you know I was really, really, really excited about that one. Like I was genuinely saving for it at one point, months before the release... debating between the bracelet and the cool blue rubber strap, but then I finally saw it in a store and it was like. Wow. Okay... there ain't no way I am buying that. 

It was such a disappointment in the hand. I really thought that blue and white bezel was gonna look absolutely top billy-bollocks and in reality... I didn't like it at all. In fact, if I had to choose between the three Aquaracer GMTs (Pepsi, Batman and... what nickname did we give the blue and white again? The whale, was it? That clearly didn't catch on!) I would 100% go with the Batman first, the Pepsi a distant second and the blue and white not even in the running. And it's so weird because the new Aquaracer is clearly an improvement on the old one technically and yet I am yet to find one I really want to buy.

SPOTLIGHT ON: TAG Heuer's 2022 Watch Releases (Year to Date)

 

Can you believe we're already approaching the middle of 2022? Bah... it will be Christmas again before we know it! With that in mind I thought I would take this opportunity to share with you a little recap of the TAG Heuer watch releases to date (spoiler, it's very Aquaracer heavy!).

Overall we've seen some interesting pieces and very little in the way of genuine duds, but I'm sure there's plenty more to come in the second half of the year and don't forget the watches will all be scored again come December, before we announce the C.O.C.O. Council 'Watch of the Year'.

So then, here we have all the watches released so far in 2022 and as a bonus I've included links to the original 'First Impressions' posts (which of course include the invaluable thoughts of the C.O.C.O. Council).

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer 02T 'Plasma' Nanograph

 
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This is the last of the 'Watches and Wonders' releases to get it's 'First Impressions/C.O.C.O.' post, albeit 'First Impressions' is a bit of a joke since I can't honestly believe any of us mortals will be seeing one of these any time soon. To be honest, I've been rather unenthusiastic about doing this post because it's hard for me to grapple with a new TAG Heuer that is utterly beyond my wallet. I mean sure there are expensive models like the Carrera Tourbillons but they are still potentially attainable should I ever decide to sell a large number of pieces from the collection. This however, is a different story... should I wish to buy this watch I would need to sell my house and I don't think my wife would be very keen on that idea.

VIDEO: TAG Heuer at Watches & Wonders 2022 by Revolution Watches