TAG Heuer Grand Carrera Singapore Grand Prix GMT watch
Celebrating the world’s first Formula 1 night race in Singapore, the Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer has created a Singapore Grand Prix edition of its premium-priced Grand Carrera timepiece.
The model’s production is limited to only 150 watches and it’s no wonder that the unit No.1 was auctioned at an outrageous price of S$40,000 Singapore dollars, which is about $27,700 USD.
This is especially impressive if you will take into account the fact that the normal TAG Heuer Grand Carrera Calibre 8RS watch has a list price of less than five thousand dollars!
The watch features the famous British Racing Green color scheme, which is a nice change of style from Grand Carrera’s normal black and red color combination.
While its body, bezel and dial are deep black (looks like the scratch-resistant DLC coating to me,) its second hand, leather strap stitching and the GMT marker are green.
As you can see on the pictures, the watch sports the same layout as the rest of the family.
There is a big date indicator at 12 o’clock and a GMT aperture at 6 o’clock. While most GMT watches display the second time zone with a secondary hour hand, Grand Carrera Calibre 8RS features a car dashboard-style rotating disk where current time in another zone is displayed with a thin marker.
The TAG Heuer Grand Carrera Singapore Grand Prix GMT watch is water resistant to 100 meters, and features a leather strap with Omega-style deployant button with push-button release.
The new timekeeper is powered by a COSC-certified Calibre 8RS automatic caliber, which is based on the ETA 2992-A2 self-winding ebauche with a slightly modified Soprod TT651 add-on module.
As you may have already guessed by the layout of the watch, all its features are operated with the same setting crown that can be pulled to different position and used for winding the watch, correcting the date and setting the time.
People that are used for timekeepers with exclusive controls designed to operate the second time zone, may find this particular solution less convenient.
Also, keep in mind, that it is always more difficult to service a movement with a piggy-back module on it than a natural-born GMT (chronograph, moonphase, you name it) caliber.
Photos: TAG Heuer
TAG Heuer Grand Carrera Singapore Grand Prix GMT watch specification :
Price range: N/A but close to $6000, I suppose
Movement: COSC-certified Calibre 8 RS automatic
Complications: GMT
Power reserve: 46 hours
Case material: Stainless steel
Case diameter: 42.5mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: Black
Water resistance: 100m
Strap: Black natural leather with green stitching
Crystal: Sapphire crystal, scratch-proof
Evgueni Matoussevitch in Swiss WatchesTags: 100 m, 42.5 mm, Calibre 8 RS, COSC, GMT, Grand Carrera, Grand Prix, limited edition, Tag Heuer
October 29th, 2008 at 7:37 am
I managed to get hold of one (No:42 of 150) and I am really pleased with it. Really unique piece of history as well as a beautiful watch. I know people who have bought one and it has never been worn..It seems such a waste.