160 Years Montreal Limited Edition

TAG Heuer marks its 160th anniversary with a second collector’s edition, the TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal Limited Edition. “Montreal” was the name of a 1972 collection of luminous and captivating Heuer automatic chronographs. Now, the design makes a striking comeback in an elegant 39 mm TAG Heuer Carrera limited to only 1,000 pieces.

Fusing the designs and DNA of two iconic watches, the new TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal Limited Edition is directly inspired by an exceedingly rare collector’s item, the White Heuer Montreal. The bright dial, a perfectly balanced red, yellow and blue colour palette, is emblematic of the 1970s when watch design was transformed by the ability to use coloured luminescent materials; an invention that opened-up a new era of creativity, especially for Heuer.

A lover of clean, modern design, Jack Heuer wanted the aesthetics of his Heuer Carrera chronograph, inspired by the legendary Carrera Panamericana road race, to be pure and well-proportioned, to be perfect for drivers who needed to see the time at a glance during adrenaline-pumping races.

The brand’s early years and designs all merge on the matte white dial of the anniversary timepiece, which holds three stunning blue “azurage” counters. The chronograph minute counter at 3 o’clock stands out with three curved lines from 1 to 5, 10 to 15, and 20 to 25 that are coloured with yellow Super-LumiNova®, the central minute and hour hands are similarly coloured, while the central chronograph seconds hand features a distinctively different bold red lacquer.

The dial is protected by a domed sapphire crystal. The polished stainless-steel timepiece paired with a blue alligator leather strap, reflects the splash of colour on the dial. The limited-edition number is engraved on the case back, where the Calibre Heuer 02 and its oscillating mass are visible through the sapphire crystal.

The tribute model is powered by the brand’s Calibre Heuer 02 manufacture movement, a sophisticated in-house innovation made entirely in TAG Heuer’s Chevenez manufacture. It comprises 168 components, including a column wheel and a vertical clutch and boasts an impressive power reserve of 80 hours, an increase of 30 hours compared to the Calibre Heuer 01.

At just 6.95mm thin, the movement allows for a thinner case design and improved wrist comfort. The vertical clutch improves the precision of the start-and-stop functions as well as the running of the chronograph second hand, with no loss of time when in use. The column wheel provides more accurate and precise functionality, made noticeable by the smooth pusher movement. A frequency of 4 Hz ensures precision and greater stability.

Marking its 160th anniversary with an inspired timepiece that takes the very best of two of the watchmaker’s most illustrious and appealing creations, TAG Heuer uses its past to take off into the future, continuing to strengthen its DNA while staying at the cutting edge of innovation and on-trend design.