Being effectively shiny as a men’s thing is something which TAG Heuer got right in the Link, and in many respects, I can not think of a lot of other genuinely modern men’s dressy business bracelet watches that are this boldly shiny and yet nonetheless elegantly tasteful. The hour hands and markers could afford to be this big because the remainder of the dial is relatively uncluttered and clean. I would however have enjoyed the date disc’s color to match that of the main dial (though it does on versions like the Link with the black dial). I would also have enjoyed for the 12 o’clock hour marker to be somewhat different in design in the remainder of the hour markers. This is a common practice which is valued because it helps the viewer’s thoughts orientate the dial when looking at it from different angles. Possessing a distinctive-looking 12 o’clock hour marker just overall helps with legibility, but also orientates the layout so that it’s a proper “upward” and “down.” It may have been enough for them to just make the 12 o’clock hour mark a little wider, as well as an applied version of the TAG Heuer logo. Also given the size of the hands and hour markers, I bet this watch dial would look cool with tritium gas tubes (OK, now I am just going beyond what the manufacturer could even do).

TAG Heuer‘s top selling wristwatch is the Carrera Heuer-01, a chronograph featuring an appealing see-through dial that reveals the mechanics below.

Priced at under SFr5000, equivalent to US$5000, the skeleton dial Carrera Heuer-01 is a large 45mm in diameter, making unwieldy for some. Now the same aesthetic is available on a more manageably sized 43mm model.

While the 43mm case was first introduced late last year, it was not available with the skeleton dial that makes its larger brother such a compelling watch – the styling does bring to mind pricey brands like Richard Mile and Hublot.

The downsized Carrera Heuer-01 may be smaller, but everything else stays the same, from the details of the dial to the movement inside. Visually it’s difficult to distinguish the 43mm model from the 45mm, as both share the same design.

While the 45mm version is available in a plethora of guises ranging from black ceramic to Manchester United livery, the Carrera Heuer-01 43mm is offered in three variants for now: blue, black or brown, with various options for the strap.

The 43mm case is steel, with a ceramic bezel to match the dial colour. But as the case construction is modular, being built out of 12 separate parts, allowing for a degree of mix and match in styling, for instance combining a titanium case band with rose gold lugs.

That degree of variety isn’t yet available on the 43mm model, but going by what’s available with its larger sibling, it’ll will happen.

And the watch is powered by the calibre Heuer-01, a movement produced by TAG Heuer but originally conceived based on the construction of a Seiko chronograph movement, the calibre 6S37.

Price and availability

The Carrera Heuer-01 43mm starts at SFr4850 or S$7100 for the version on a rubber strap. And the models on a steel bracelet or alligator strap are SFr5000 or S$7300.

They will be available starting June 2017 at TAG Heuer retailers and boutiques.