The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford is one for the motoring enthusiasts
Kieran Robson- A three-way collaboration between TAG Heuer, Japanese motorsport team and fashion label Team Ikuzawa, and legendary watch customiser George Bamford.
- Based on the 42mm Carrera Chronograph, it’s a love letter to racing heritage, style, and innovation.
- A Japan-only limited edition of 100 pieces, it’s a bit of a tease for the rest of the world.
TAG Heuer has long been intertwined with the top flights of motorsport for several decades, partnering with the literal who’s who of the craft: Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche… TAG Heuer continues to be deeply involved with motorsports to this day, most prominently with the newly crowned 2023 Formula 1 Constructors’ Champions, Red Bull Racing. Motorsport is an essential part of TAG Heuer’s brand – and their latest watch, the verbosely named TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford is demonstrative of that.
For the uninitiated, Team Ikuzawa was a racing team from Japan founded by sports car driver Tetsu Ikuzawa which competed in a variety of motorsports series across the 60s, 70s and 80s. Nowadays, Team Ikuzawa is headed up by Tetsu’s daughter, Mai, who has transformed the brand from a racing outfit to a hype-y fashion brand. Team Ikuzawa produces quality clothing and accessories with clear callbacks to the historical liveries and teamwear of the racing team’s vehicles and personnel. You could consider them as the Supreme or BAPE for the motorsport enthusiast.
The platform for this limited edition is the standard 42mm Carrera Chronograph in stainless steel, which has received a fitting Japanese white and red makeover. The chronograph hours indicator at 9′ stands out in red against the sheer white dial, evoking the Japanese flag, while the Team Ikuzawa logo takes pride of place at 6′ above the date window.
While the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford comes mounted on a steel flat-link bracelet, this collaboration also comes with an additional strap option: a unique white leather and Velcro strap emblazoned with Team Ikuzawa branding. Additionally, the TAG Heuer x Team Ikuzawa x Bamford Carrera comes in a custom, red-lined white box, where the watch is presented alongside the additional leather strap and a miniature vintage Porsche Carrera 6: the car Tetsu Ikuzawa won the 1967 Japan Grand Prix in.
The Carrera x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford is by no means TAG Heuer’s first racing-themed collaboration with Bamford Watch Department. Recent history has given us collaborative pieces with Porsche tuner RUF and motorsports-inspired streetwear brand Illest, who, like Team Ikuzawa, are brands with huge cult followings in the car enthusiast and racing community. However, the purity of this Team Ikuzawa collaboration’s design – as well as its status as a Japan-only limited edition – means that this watch will no doubt be a firm cult favourite in years to come.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford pricing and availability
As mentioned above, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford is a limited edition of 100 pieces and is exclusively available in Japan. Price: US$6,300
| Brand | TAG Heuer |
| Model | Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford |
| Reference Number | CBN201F.EB0356 |
| 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 opaline, red details, Team Ikuzawa logo at 6 o’clock |
| Strap | Steel three-link bracelet with folding clasp Additional leather and Velcro strap |
| Movement | Heuer 02, in-house, automatic, column wheel chronograph |
| Power Reserve | 18 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph |
| Availability | Limited edition of 100 pieces, Japan only |
| Price | US$6,300 |