We start off with a true cult classic: the Zenith Chronomaster El Primero (ref. 24.2041.400/21.R576). In this landscape we pick a few sporty and versatile chronographs. The TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 16 (ref. CV2A84.FC6394) has a recommended retail price of S$7,150 / US$5,150. The chronograph pushers feels pronounced upon activation and time-keeping was good, in-line with COSC specifications of -4/+6 seconds per day. The movement features several basic luxury decorations such as Côtes de Genève (Geneva Stripes) and Perlages (circular graining).
#Tag heuer carrera calibre 16 chronograph 43mm free#
Some feel this is a cringe-inducing trait, but others like the feel of the free swinging rotor as one moves the wrist.įinishing is done to a high engineering standard nothing spectacular.
That said, the base 7750 is well-known to have a noisy rotor. It features a 42-hours power reserve and beats at 28,800 bph (4 Hz). Powering the watch is the Calibre 16, a rebadged ETA 7750/Sellita SW-500 elaboré movement with minor cosmetic changes. A friction deployant clasp is included to secure the strap. The watch is accompanied on a distressed brown leather strap with curved ends. Turning the watch over, we find a see-through sapphire crystal case back. It features basic luxury decorations such as Côtes de Genève and Perlages. See-though sapphire crystal case back gives us a glimpse of the 7750 movement. We feel that it is an appropriate choice as the vintage lume adds character, and a nod to its heritage inspiration. However, ‘fauxtina’ may not sit well with some (some purists may cry blasphemy!). Both the hands and markers are filled with vintage-inspired SuperLuminova lume, ensuring excellent legibility in all situations. Complimenting it is a set of brushed silver hour, minute and seconds hands. To top it off, the dial sports appliqué Arabic numerals – a stark contrast to the stick indices found in other models and one that contributes to the modern, sporty mien. And in the TAG, it is executed very well and appears discreet, perhaps due to the colour combination. Overall, detailing is done nicely with good all-round proportions. Though the dial layout is busy on paper, it is well loved and widely accepted. All sit slightly recessed into the dial which provides better depth and contrast. The 6 and 12 o’clock counters are fashioned with a circular ‘record’ finish, while an inner flange surrounds the 9 o’clock sub seconds. They record hours-elapsed, running seconds and minutes-elapsed respectively.
The subdials are placed at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock positions, a tell tale for the ubiquitous Valjoux 7750 family of ebauches. The dial-side finishing is not bad with good detailing. In our test, we experienced no issues with the TAG’s PVD-coated titanium case, holding up well during our daily “abuse”. That said, the durability of either methods depends on a variety of other factors such as quality of the bare metal itself and the application process. PVD coatings are technically less hard, but technological advancements have improved in toughness (and hardness) to withstand daily usage. In our experience, it holds up well to daily wear and tear. In fact, a DLC coat typically uses the PVD process for application.ĭLC touts to be the hardest form of black coating ever to exist (equivalent to the hardness of sapphire). The result is a smooth and even coat – perfect for precision parts such as watches. (TAG, for instance, uses titanium carbide on their black-finish watches.) That material is then deposited on the case which forms a molecular bond to the metal surface. It is done by vapourising metal compounds to the watch case, layer by layer, in a heated vacuum. The second and perhaps most commonly used method is Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD). It involves blasting carbon onto the watch case and then supercooling it, resulting in a strong bond to the stainless steel/titanium surface. The first method is a coating: DLC, short for “Diamond Like Carbon. Sidebar: There are broadly 2 options to treat metals to achieve a black appearance, apart from using outright carbon itself.
The titanium case is lightweight and offers a nice heft while on the wrist.
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