HANDS-ON: The olive green dial of this TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph is incredible

Nick Kenyon

As you may have seen here and here, we have been taking a closer look at the latest chapter in the TAG Heuer Carrera collection that sees a total redesign of one of the brand’s most historically important families. But within this new collection, the TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph green dial catches the eye differently. Both the boldness of the dial colour and the restrained bezel execution see this watch stand out in a refreshing light, and make it a different proposition from the rest of the collection.

In the new TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph green dial you’ll find the same specs as the rest of the collection. That includes the 44mm steel case, that will sit just over 15.3mm off your wrist. As we covered in our collection review, those dimensions might be a little daunting on paper, but thanks to the redesigned case, it wears very comfortably on the wrist despite those larger numbers.

You still get the same iconic Carrera lugs that can be recognised for the sharpness of their lines, and their natural flow from the case, but they have been shortened slightly. This, along with their gentle curve downwards to match the contour of your wrist, makes for a watch that wears smaller than its diameter might suggest, allowing it to be a much more approachable option for most wrist sizes.

The same movement has also been used across the four-reference collection – specifically TAG Heuer’s own in-house Heuer 02 caliber. It’s a workhorse movement that firmly cements the Carrera collection in the landscape of modern Swiss watchmaking, and has all the bells and whistles you would expect. It is an automatic chronograph movement with column-wheel operation, and features a very respectable 80 hours of power reserve. The Heuer 02 is well finished to the TAG Heuer standard, and is visible in the watch through the sapphire crystal caseback.

Where this watch gets really interesting is the dial. TAG Heuer have been playing a lot with green dials over the last couple of years, including in the Monaco, Aquaracer, and Formula 1 collections, each with their own unique hue. But the particular shade of rich olive found in the TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph green dial is enough to cause a double-take. The depth of the tone is enchantingly complex, and shifts vastly, depending on the light — from a dark emerald to an effervescent chartreuse green in direct sunlight.

The other factor that makes this particular green dial stand out so much is the brushed stainless steel bezel. A visual point that isn’t often discussed is the way the bezel of a watch serves as a frame for the dial, emphasising or softening depending on the specific arrangement. Because the steel bezel of the TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph green dial features all of the same finishings as the rest of the case and bracelet, it almost melts into the case as you look at it.

Rather than being visually distinct from the case in the way that the ceramic bezels of the rest of the collection are, the case and bezel very much look to be one piece, which has the effect of bringing the dial to life in a very special way. Add the interestingly finished radial brushing on the surface of the dial, and you have a seriously attractive watch on your wrist.

While the entire new collection is an exciting step forward in the history of the Carrera family, the TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph green dial visually stands out in a very good way. It offers a tone that we haven’t quite seen from TAG Heuer before, while also offering the same Carrera DNA we know and love. While clearly a matter of personal preference, if you are looking to add a new chronograph to your collection, this new release will have your #watchfam green with envy.

TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph green dial ref. CBN2A10.BA0643 price and availability:

The TAG Heuer Carrera Sport Chronograph green dial ref. CBN2A10.BA0643 is AUD$8300, and is currently available.

For more details, visit TAG Heuer right here.

Made in partnership with TAG Heuer. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.