The 1970s are widely regarded as a transformative period for the watch industry and an iconic era for Formula 1 racing. Renowned drivers such as Lauda, Hunt, Stewart, Andretti, and Fittipaldi introduced the sport to a broader audience during this decade. As sponsorships increased and aerodynamic innovations emerged, Formula 1 cars became faster, more powerful, and visually stunning. At the convergence of these two significant periods was replica TAG Heuer (formerly known as Heuer), which played a crucial role by providing sponsorship and equipment to drivers across the series. While many Heuer models gained fame on the wrists of Formula 1 drivers, none held more significance than the legendary gold-cased Calibre 11 Heuer Carrera. Jack Heuer, the brand’s CEO, had a tradition of gifting gold Carreras to certain Formula 1 race winners throughout the decade, in various styles, and some of these distinctive gold Carreras have achieved legendary status within the vintage Heuer community. As a highlight of its year-long celebration marking the 60th anniversary of the Carrera line, Fake TAG Heuer has reimagined the gold reference 1158CHN Carrera, originally gifted to the late Swedish racer Ronnie Peterson, for the modern era. The new Super Clone TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph in 18K gold blends the modern “Glassbox” Carrera design with the bold, funky C-cased Calibre 11 Carreras of the 1970s, creating a fusion of clean contemporary lines with a striking gold-on-black color scheme and dramatic finishing.
The new replica TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph has a 39mm wide and 13.9mm thick case, which is functionally similar to previous versions of the current “Glassbox” Carrera generation. However, the use of 18K yellow gold gives this familiar design a more pronounced, disco-era flair than typically seen in photographs. Yellow gold is making a strong comeback in the watch industry in 2023, and this vibrant, visually striking metal contrasts intriguingly with the sleek, futuristic lines of the “Glassbox” design. The broad, sloping upper surfaces of the case and the inward-facing lug bevels, characteristic of the Carrera, provide ample polished surfaces for a dramatic visual impact. Yet, the decision to keep the sides of the case laterally brushed helps retain some of the Carrera’s sporty character on the wrist. Although the completely bezel-less, Jetsons-like domed sapphire crystal usually dominates the visual design of modern Carrera cases, the visual weight of gold, combined with the matching tones of the case and dial, allows this element to blend into the overall design more seamlessly than in stainless steel versions. While this may diminish some of the stylistic impact of the “Glassbox” concept, the 18K gold brings a different kind of impact in photographs to balance it out. Like all modern Carrera models, the new replica TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph in 18K gold features a sapphire display caseback and is water-resistant up to 100 meters.
The dial of the new replica TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph, like its case, emphasizes the aesthetic power of gold but also showcases deep, dramatic textures. Although it may not capture the flamboyant energy of the ultra-wide Geneva stripe texture seen on Ronnie Peterson’s famous gold Carrera, the sharp, dynamic vertical brushing on the new Carrera Chronograph’s gold main dial surface is still striking in initial images. Replica TAG Heuer complements this pronounced brushing with a glittering grainy matte gold surface for the Carrera’s distinctive wave-shaped two-sided chapter ring, while the simple azurage on the raised black chronograph subdials softens some of the dial’s visual intensity in photos. Finally, replica TAG Heuer chooses classic polishing for the striped baton hands and the contoured applied indices, adding a touch of wrist-flash to match the polished sections of the case. Although the overall look remains largely faithful to its 1970s inspiration, the new Carrera Chronograph’s white date display at 6 o’clock may not appeal to all enthusiasts, with some likely preferring a black date wheel to blend more harmoniously into the design.
As is common with many of the modern Carrera line, the new replica TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph in 18K gold is powered by the in-house TH20-00 automatic chronograph movement. Interestingly, replica TAG Heuer has opted not to include any gold accents on the movement for this model, even foregoing the brand’s usual dial-matching column wheel. Instead, the brand has chosen a clean, all-steel look, enhanced by sharp finishing touches such as Côtes de Genève on the bridges and a layered shield-motif skeleton rotor featuring linear brushing and matte blasting. The movement offers excellent performance, with an 80-hour power reserve and a 28,800 bph beat rate. To complete the luxurious yet sporty appearance, replica TAG Heuer has fitted the new 18K gold Carrera Chronograph with a classic perforated rally strap in deep black calfskin.
The 1970s were a significant period for both replica TAG Heuer’s chronographs and Formula 1 racing, and the new replica TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph in 18K gold honors the convergence of these two landmark eras with vibrant style and a bold, luxurious feel in photos. The replica TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph in 18K gold is now available through authorized dealers, with a retail price of 21,000 CHF as of press time. For more details, please visit the brand’s official website.
