The Carrera name holds great importance for both replica TAG Heuer and Porsche. Each brand has a product line named after the thrilling yet perilous Carrera Panamericana rally, which took place in Mexico in the early 1950s. The 3,000km race was halted in 1954 due to safety issues but was revived in 1988 and continues today. The year 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of the Porsche 550 Spyder’s success at the 1954 Carrera Panamericana, where it secured first and second place in the under 1500cc sports car category, along with third and fourth overall in the race. Just in time for the 2024 Carrera Panamericana, the replica TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon x Porsche Panamericana watch is launching, drawing inspiration from the victorious Porsche 550 Spyder. It is limited to just 255 pieces.
Upon first inspection, the silver, black, and yellow color scheme of the watch is clearly reminiscent of the classic Porsche 550’s design. The timepiece features a 42mm stainless steel case (49.7mm from lug to lug and 15.1mm in thickness) with a domed sapphire “Glassbox” crystal on top, a style that was popular in the 1970s and has been recently revived by replica TAG Heuer. The crystal elegantly extends to cover the 60-minute scale on the black flange. The case alternates between brushed and polished finishes, and the side is engraved with a “Spyder” logo in the original 1950s Porsche script. Branding is abundant as well, from the split “Carrera Panamericana” text on the dial to the iconic Clone TAG Heuer shield at 12 o’clock and the “Porsche” inscription on the flange, honoring both brands in this special edition.
The dial is where replica TAG Heuer Carrera Panamericana-racing Porsche 550 Spyder. The skeletonized design evokes the car’s wheels, while the shimmering surface of the dial replicates the vehicle’s bodywork. Black grain-finished details symbolize the asphalt, and the trio of yellow lacquered hands — placed at the center, the 3 o’clock chronograph minute counter, and the 9 o’clock chronograph hour counter — echo the shade of the number 55 stickers on the sides and front of the race car. The lume plots near the polished rhodium-plated indexes are also yellow. At the 6 o’clock position lies the tourbillon, the defining feature of the watch.
Inside the watch is the in-house COSC-certified Caliber TH20-09 tourbillon movement, offering 65 hours of power reserve and a frequency of 28,800 beats per hour. While parts of the snail-brushed movement and the tourbillon mechanism are visible from the front, a clearer view is provided through the sapphire crystal caseback. Like other replica TAG Heuer x Porsche models, this watch features a rotor inspired by a steering wheel. The individual number of each watch, out of the 255-piece series, is engraved on the bottom of the caseback. Why 255? Replica TAG Heuer explains that it is a nod to the number 55, which adorned the Porsche 550 Spyder during its victorious run in the 1954 Carrera Panamericana.
The replica TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon x Porsche Panamericana comes with a black perforated calfskin leather strap, featuring a yellow lining that is visible from the sides and top. It is fastened with a brushed and polished stainless steel folding clasp, equipped with double safety push-buttons.