The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox sprinkles diamonds beneath the crystal for subtle sparkle
Buffy Acacia- The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox has been given a classy upgrade with a cheeky half-carat of diamonds.
- As the diamond-set ring sits beneath the sapphire crystal, it feels more elegant than setting them in the case.
- It remains in the full-size 39mm case with 100m of water resistance and is powered by the in-house Heuer 02 movement with 80 hours of power reserve.
A key element of TAG Heuer’s popularity and success in the last couple of decades has been its air of accessibility despite its luxury status. No matter their price point or features, TAG Heuer watches have an unpretentious character, which remains true even when covered in diamonds. The Carrera Chronograph Glassbox has been one of the brand’s most lauded models since its release in 2023, and the collection has now expanded to include these gem-set references with a degree of sparkle for any gender.
The name Glassbox comes from the domed sapphire crystal which is supposed to evoke acrylic crystals of the 1960s and ‘70s, but more specifically refers to the way in which the crystal covers so much of the watch. There’s almost no bezel at all, meaning that the usual spot for diamond-setting wasn’t going to accommodate any modifications. Instead, the ring of round-cut diamonds that encircles the dial has actually taken over the chronograph’s tachymeter ring that sat just beneath the crystal. It lends a softer, more subtle look to the inclusion of diamonds – as subtle as 72 diamonds can be, anyway.
The convex curve of the diamond-set inner bezel is met by the sharp corner of the concave chapter ring, itself set with 11 diamond indices in the place of hour markers, minus the 6 o’clock marker that made room for the date display. It highlights the depth of the dial and pulls you in, especially when you notice the dimensionality of the sub-dial rings and their azurage textures. There’s also concentric brushing on the dial, allowing each of the colours to show off their respective lighter and darker tones as your wrist moves. The blue dial uses a classic shade of navy which is quite versatile, while the pink dial’s pastel hue could almost be aligned with a rosy taupe.
While the diamonds imply a more precious quality to the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox, these cases are still made of stainless steel to remain within the brand’s attainable ethos. They’re also still full-size watches at 39mm in diameter, 13.86mm thick and 46mm lug-to-lug, so nothing has been shrunk down for the sake of prettiness. 100 metres of water resistance cements its sports watch status as it can be taken swimming, although you would want to change the leather strap out first.
These two TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox Precious models are powered by the in-house Heuer 02, also known as the TH20-00. It’s been around for nearly a decade, but the spec upgrade it received with the first release of the Glassbox in 2023 has really cemented its presence within the TAG heuer catalogue. It has bi-directional automatic winding to keep its 80-hour power reserve topped up throughout the day, and a 4Hz beat rate for a smooth sweep of the chronograph’s seconds hand. You can view the movement through the sapphire display caseback, revealing the beating balance wheel and the column-wheel actuator behind the skeletonised winding rotor.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox Precious price and availability
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox Precious range with diamond-set bezels are available now. Price: US$8,600 (pink), US$8,700 (blue)
Brand | TAG Heuer |
Model | Carrera Chronograph Glassbox Precious |
Reference | CBS2214.FC6567 (blue) CBS2215.FC6568 (pink) |
Case Dimensions | 39mm (D) x 13.87mm (T) x 46mm (LTL) |
Case material | Stainless steel |
Water Resistance | 100 metres |
Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
Dial | Blue or pink, round-cut diamonds |
Bracelet and strap | Blue alligator leather, steel folding clasp Pink calfskin leather, steel folding clasp |
Movement | TH20-00 (Heuer 02), in-house, automatic, column wheel |
Power Reserve | 80 hours |
Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph |
Availability | Now |
Price | US$8,600 (pink) US$8,700 (blue) |