The Rowing Blazers x Bamford TAG Heuer Carrera is peak preppy goodness
Jamie Weiss- Cult fashion label Rowing Blazers teams up with Bamford and TAG Heuer on a very collegiate chronograph.
- The watch, which was designed in collaboration with Eric Wind, pays homage to the Heuer Yacht-Timer ref. 33.512.
- It boasts a triple-signed white dial with pastel highlights.
TAG Heuer has long been synonymous with motorsport, but in 2023, the 163-year-old brand is reminding us that they’ve also got plenty of watersports heritage, too – especially when it comes to yachting. Earlier this year, TAG made a splash by bringing back the Skipper in the form of the new Carrera Glassbox. Now they’re doubling down on the regatta-y goodness with a three-way collaboration between preppy American fashion label Rowing Blazers (who have previously collaborated with Seiko), vintage watch specialist Eric Wind (of Wind Vintage fame) and Bamford Watch Department (friends of Time+Tide) for a Carrera Chronograph that takes inspiration from one of Heuer’s most iconic timing instruments.
That instrument in question is the Heuer Yacht-Timer ref. 33.512, which could be worn either on a nylon strap or on a nylon neck cord, and featured a single large onion crown-tipped pusher at 12 o’clock. The Rowing Blazers x Bamford TAG Heuer Carrera is a little less spartan, as it comes with the choice of a nylon strap or a steel three-link bracelet… It can also tell the time as well as time things.
It’s worth pointing out that despite its regatta timer inspiration, the Rowing Blazers x Bamford TAG Heuer Carrera – like the Carrera Glassbox Skipper – doesn’t feature a regatta timer complication per se, rather it’s a conventional chronograph. That’s not really a big deal: who of us actually goes yacht racing? It kind of fits in with Rowing Blazers’ general oeuvre anyway: capturing the vibe and style of Ivy League athletes without the need to sink a few hundred thousand bucks into a degree and house in the Hamptons. Enlisting Eric Wind to design the watch was a smart move.
Like the Yacht-Timer ref. 33.512, the Rowing Blazers x Bamford TAG Heuer Carrera features a white dial with dark blue accents and pastel-coloured sub-counters that feature a cross-hatched texture, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ben-Day dots: a stippling technique used in comic book art that was also the signature of famous Pop Artist Roy Lichtenstein. It’s a subtle effect that reinforces the watch’s retro vibe – it’s like it’s been lifted from the pages of a Boy’s Own adventure or an Archie comic.
From a technical perspective, the Rowing Blazers x Bamford TAG Heuer Carrera is based on the Carrera Chronograph 42mm, which boasts the brand’s tried-and-tested Heuer 02 movement. 80 hours of power reserve and 100m of water-resistance make it both practical and preppy.
This is the second such collab TAG has penned with the help of Bamford in as many weeks, with the dynamic duo tapping Japanese motorsports/streetwear outfit Team Ikuzawa on a similarly vibey Carrera Chronograph earlier this month. This Rowing Blazers number is stylistically very different, however: the Team Ikuzawa model features two sub-counters and a date window, while the Rowing Blazers model features three sub-counters and no date window.
Rowing Blazers x Bamford TAG Heuer Carrera pricing and availability
The Rowing Blazers x Bamford TAG Heuer Carrera is a limited edition of 99 pieces and will be available exclusively at rowingblazers.com. Price: A$16,100 / US$8,900.
| Brand | TAG Heuer |
| Model | Rowing Blazers x Bamford “Yacht-Timer” Carrera |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (D) x 14.3mm (T) x 48.6mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | White with red, green and dark blue sub-counters; light blue rehaut; Rowing Blazers logo at 6 o’clock, Bamford text at centre |
| Strap | Steel three-link bracelet with folding clasp |
| Movement | Heuer 02, in-house, automatic, column-wheel chronograph |
| Power Reserve | 80 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph |
| Availability | Limited edition of 99, available exclusively at rowingblazers.com |
| Price | A$16,100 / US$8,900 |