TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 36

The TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 36 is the perfect chronograph: It ticks at a frequency of 5 Hz, has a flyback function, and boasts a 50-hour power reserve. This luxury watch is among the top Carrera models. Thanks to its movement, it can accurately measure periods of time to within 1/10th of a second. The flyback function means you can reset the timer at any time simply by pressing the push-piece at 4 o'clock. Most chronographs, including the Carrera Calibre 16, require the timer to stop before it can be reset.

The Calibre 36 gets its name from its balance frequency. This movement ticks at 36,000 alternations per hour (A/h), equal to 5 Hz, which is 7,200 A/h more than the balance frequency of most mechanical timepieces. TAG Heuer bases their movement on the Zenith El Primero. Both Zenith and TAG Heuer belong to the luxury conglomerate Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton SE (LVMH).

In terms of design, the Carrera Calibre 36 puts a retro twist on a sporty, modern timepiece. For example, the 43-mm case, angular lugs, and black titanium case of the Racing edition are in keeping with modern trends. On the other hand, the dial design resembles that of stopwatches from the 1960s. The wide external bezel with a 60-second scale is especially practical and makes it easy to measure elapsed time to within a fraction of a second.

There are two stainless steel versions of the TAG Heuer Carrera Caliber 36: one with a silver and gray dial and the other with a black and gray dial. Both models have their gray sections in the middle for telling the time. If you look more closely, you'll notice that the minute hand only reaches to the end of the central gray area. The 30-minute counter at 3, date display at 6, and small seconds at 9 o'clock also sit within this section.

A wide black or silver ring runs around the outside of the main dial. It has a 60-second scale, making it easier to read the fractions of a second. The 2011 TAG Heuer Carrera Mikrograph , which is accurate to within 1/100th of a second, served as the inspiration for this design. A long and narrow chronograph seconds hand with a red tip completes the front display of the Calibre 36.

The Carrera Calibre 36 has a sapphire glass case back, allowing the wearer to view the movement at work. The case is satin-brushed on the sides, while the bezel and lugs are polished. Standing almost 15 mm high, the watch is on the thicker side.

Since both models are now out of production, a vast majority of the pieces on the market are pre-owned. Prices fall between 3,300 and 5,100 USD, depending on the piece's condition and band. This stainless steel Carrera is available on a leather strap or stainless steel bracelet.

The TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 36 Racing is perhaps the Calibre 36 series' most interesting timepiece. This chronograph has a titanium case coated with a black layer of titanium carbide, lending it a sportier and more modern look than its sister models. Furthermore, titanium makes for a much lighter case than stainless steel.

The dial is solid black except for the tips of the chronograph seconds hand and subdial hands, which are red. Unlike the stainless steel edition, the Calibre 36 Racing has a tachymeter scale around the edge of its dial. You can use this feature to calculate speeds. Another difference is the minute hand, which stretches beyond the center dial all the way to the 60-second/60-minute scale. The hands and the scale's applied numerals are made of so-called "black gold." If the Carrera Calibre 36's perforated leather strap looks familiar, it's because TAG Heuer crafts it from the same material found on many steering wheels.

A pre-owned TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 36 Racing costs around 4,700 USD. Never-worn pieces are more rare and tend to sell for about 5,600 USD.

The luxury watches in the TAG Heuer Grand Carrera collection are genuine high-end timepieces. Their most remarkable feature is the rotating discs found beneath the dial. The discs take the place of more traditional subdials and give these timepieces their unique look. The collection's top model is the Grand Carrera Calibre 36 RS with the El Primero. The abbreviation "RS" stands for "Rotating (Disc) System."

However, the true highlight of the Calibre 36 RS is TAG Heuer's proprietary caliper system. This mechanism makes reading the fractions of a second a breeze and is controlled using an additional crown at 10 o'clock. Once you've finished measuring the time, simply align the caliper's "0" marker with the chronograph seconds hand. This allows you to read off the elapsed fractions of a second at the point where the first line marker on the caliper matches up with one of the dial's second indices.

The Grand Carrera Calibre 36 RS comes in stainless steel or black-coated titanium. The latter is available with red or yellow accents. You can purchase the model with red accents for roughly 5,400 USD pre-owned, while the yellow version costs around 6,800 USD new. The stainless steel editions are the most affordable and require an investment of about 5,000 USD. Mint-condition pieces are extremely rare since TAG Heuer has ceased production of this model.