Inside the TAG Heuer Carrera Day Date’s hard-hitting redesign
Buffy Acacia- Coinciding with TAG Heuer’s Formula 1 sponsorship deal, the Carrera Day Date has been given an overhaul.
- The new dials play with depth and colour, especially regarding the new chapter ring design.
- The Calibre 5 has been exchanged for the TH31-02, made by Sellita’s AMT manufacture with an 80-hour power reserve.
The Carrera Day Date as we know it has served the TAG Heuer catalogue faithfully for years. Powered by the Calibre 5 which was based on either an ETA 2824-2 or a Sellita SW200-1, it’s been the go-to option for a sporty wristwatch that is still versatile enough for daily wear, the office, or even formal attire with a leather strap. But now that TAG Heuer has returned to the pinnacle of Formula 1 sponsorship, it’s time for the collection to have a little shakeup – and what better time to do it than for Watches and Wonders 2025? Redesigned with more careful detail, a new movement and exciting colours, the new TAG Heuer Carrera Day Dates take on an extra dimension of thrill.
There has been a general trajectory away from minimalist watch design in the last year or two, and while the previous Calibre 5 Carrera Day Dates were classic, they could be viewed as a little boring. The key to the new models isn’t so much that they’re radically changed, but tweaked in such a way that there’s more detail without sacrificing its simple appeal. For example, the old dial used to be flat, with a chapter ring that sloped up to the crystal. Now, the chapter ring overlaps across two levels of depth, creating a channel that’s dug around the dial. The dial itself now stands out more because of this, and the baton hour markers are even more legible due to the height contrast. Whether it’s the glossy black, the timeless blue sunburst, or the new fumé red reference, sports and sophistication go hand-in-hand. The one exception is for the sportiest version, which sets itself apart thanks to blue highlights, a bright red seconds hand, and a harshly grained black dial.
Many of the TAG Heuer Carrera Day Date’s specifications have been retained, which is good because there was nothing wrong there. A 41mm diameter is strong but not overbearing, the 12.57mm thickness also hits a nice Goldilocks zone for an automatic sports watch, and it truly earns the “sports” prefix thanks to 100 metres of water resistance and a screw-down crown that makes it swimmable. The lug-to-lug length of 47.5mm is generally well-suited to average wrists too, and their slender profile with polished outer facets brings attention back to the 1960s vibe of the original Carreras. And further proving that the Carrera Day Date has held on to a spark of its dressiness is in the H-link bracelet, with subtle centre links that are polished for a little extra light play.
The calibre TH31 has been used in a few TAG Heuer models already, notably the Aquaracer Professional range that’s also COSC-certified. This version, the TH31-02, isn’t a certified chronometer. But, it is an exclusive movement for TAG Heuer made by AMT, which is the custom manufacturing arm of Sellita. It boasts an 80-hour power reserve with its 4Hz beat rate, and a sapphire display caseback so you can admire the shield-shaped winding rotor and côtes de Genève decoration. You may also notice a little laurel wreath next to the Carrera engraving, which ties it into the legacy of victory atop Formula 1 podiums.
TAG Heuer Carrera Day Date price and availability
The new TAG Heuer Carrera Day Date collection is now available. Price: US$4,000 (leather), US$4,200 (bracelet), US$8,450 (two-tone bracelet)
| Brand | TAG Heuer |
| Model | Carrera Day Date |
| Case Dimensions | 41mm (D) x 12.57mm (T) x 47.5mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel Two-tone stainless steel and 18k gold |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Black opaline, fumé red opaline, blue sunburst, black grain |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Movement | TH31-02, Sellita AMT, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 80 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, day/date |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | US$4,000 (leather) US$4,200 (bracelet) US$8,450 (two-tone bracelet) |