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TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant d’Avant-Garde Chronograph Tourbillon adds more diamonds

TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant d’Avant-Garde Chronograph Tourbillon adds more diamonds

Borna Bošnjak
  • TAG Heuer’s super avant-garde Plasma is back with even more diamonds
  • The entire dial is a one-piece diamond plate with two smaller polycrystalline diamonds used for the sub-dials
  • Powered by a tourbillon calibre with a carbon nanotube balance spring, its anti-magnetic properties are excellent

Upon its initial release in 2022, the TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma showed off a new way of using diamonds, lab-grown ones at that. This year’s follow-up builds on its predecessor by embedding diamonds into the bezel and bracelet, along with the case, crown and one-piece diamond dial seen in the first model. While there is no clue in its name, the plasma sits atop the Carrera line-up as its crown jewel, made even more important this year, as it is the iconic model’s 60th anniversary. Totalling 15.5 carats, 120 diamonds and 3 polycrystalline diamond plates across the case, bezel, bracelet, and dial, TAG Heuer dressed this piece up for the celebratory occasion.

TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant dAvant-Garde Chronograph Tourbillon 44mm dial

For me, the stand-out feature of the Plasma has to be the dial. At first glance, it appears as a stippled texture with baguette diamond markers, grained sub-dials and tourbillon aperture – pretty standard for a high-end tourbillon chronograph. Look closer, however, and you’ll discover that the entirety of the dial background is actually one huge diamond – a result of growing a number of diamond crystals into a single polycrystalline plate. The same goes for the sub-dial backdrops, both single pieces of lab-grown diamond plate contrasted by black chapter rings. All the hands are rhodium-plated, with the hour and minute hands also receiving a coat of black lacquer, helping their contrast and legibility along with the Super-LumiNova.

TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant dAvant-Garde Chronograph Tourbillon 44mm bracelet diamonds

The addition of a diamond-embedded aluminium bezel and bracelet is the biggest novelty of the plasma. Cased in black 44mm aluminium, the finishing is media-blasted matte throughout, which allows the shimmer of the diamonds to stand out that much more. The largest single diamond, apart from the dial plate, is the crown itself. A single 2.5 carat crystal was grown to produce the best possible clarity while retaining all of the functionality a crown needs. Finally, the H-link bracelet sports diamonds embedded in a disappearing pattern, tapering towards the clasp.

TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant d'Avant-Garde Chronograph Tourbillon 44mm caseback

The in-house Heuer 02 Tourbillon Nanograph is responsible for timekeeping, finished in a contemporary style, consistent with the matte black look of the watch. With a carbon nanotube hairspring, its anti-magnetic features are excellent, and so is the shock and temperature resistance. The escapement beats at 4 Hz for up to 65 hours, topped up by the semi-skeletonised winding rotor with stylised TAG Heuer insignia.

TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant d’Avant-Garde Chronograph Tourbillon 44mm pricing and availability:

TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant d'Avant-Garde Chronograph Tourbillon 44mm

The TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma will be limited in production, available on order through TAG Heuer boutiques in September 2023. Price: A$740,000, CHF 500,000

Brand TAG Heuer
Model Carrera Plasma Diamant d’Avant-Garde Chronograph Tourbillon 44mm
Reference Number CNBN5A91.BZ0000
Case Dimensions 44mm (D)
Case Material Black aluminium set with 74 diamonds
Dial Polycrystalline diamond with 12 diamond indices
Crystal(s) Sapphire
Strap Black aluminium set with 34 diamonds, steel folding clasp
Movement Heuer 02T Nanograph COSC, in-house, nanotube hairspring, automatic chronograph
Power Reserve 65 hours
Functions Tourbillon, chronograph, hours, minutes
Availability September 2023
Price AU$740,000
CHF 500,000