New Release: The All-New TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal Limited Edition

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Completing 160 years in an industry as competitive and as relentless as the Swiss Haute Horlogerie is quite the feat. To celebrate this accomplishment, Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer has been on a roll. One of the timepieces it has released to mark this milestone is the 160th anniversary special Carrera Montreal Limited Edition. The timepiece is made in just 1,000 pieces and it takes great deal of features from the modern Carrera line of watches. However, it is heavily inspired by the vintage Heuer Montreal chronograph timepiece. The color theme of the new timepiece is also adopted from the said watch.

The New TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal Limited Edition

First Impression

The TAG Heuer Montreal was originally launched in 1972. It was a huge leap for the Heuer brand in terms design as well as technology for that era. The overly large 42 mm case (for that time) with the bold application of red, blue, yellow color theme on the dial gave off a very 70’s vibe. The timepiece used the coveted Calibre 12 and features a bi-compax sub-dial layout. The date display was situated at the 6 o’clock marker.

The new 2020 release is a tad different, but not too much. The watch kind of shares its DNA with the aboriginal and adds a bit of modern flair to it. The model, however, does not mention the term Montreal anywhere on the dial. Although it does embody the very spirt of the timepiece.

The 2020 iteration features a smooth and might I add thin 39 mm case. The original had a 42 mm wide case. The original also had a date display at the 6 o’clock marker which the 2020 release has bygone. This is quite the bold move from the brand as it does not happen often that a modern re-interpretation of a vintage hit is smaller in size as well as missing a complication that the earlier version had.

Honest Opinion

The 2020 edition of the TAG Heuer Carrera 160 Years Montreal is an absolute banger. The timepiece is classy, clean, and well-balanced. The dial is especially a key point of attraction. It is matte white and there is a blue ring surrounding the inner part of the dial. At a closer look, you will also notice a white flange that displays a 60-second counter in red and blue colours.

The chronograph’s seconds hand is made in deep red lacquer. Excellent choice. The dial further shows three deep blue concentric circle (azure) sub-dials. The overall color palette of the watch pays a tribute to the original Montreal timepiece. It is vibrant, eccentric, and even little bit bold.

In terms of movement, the watch is powered by the Heuer Calibre Heuer 02, an in-house manufactured movement. The mechanism features a vertical clutch, a column wheel, and last but not least, an 80-hour power reserve. Each watch has its unique limited edition number mentioned on the sapphire display at the back.