TAG Heuer Carrera Split-Seconds Chronograph — Our Favourite from LVMH Watch Week

At LVMH Watch Week in Milan, TAG Heuer presented something that truly stands out — and that immediately became a highlight. The new TAG Heuer Carrera Split-Seconds Chronograph combines one of watchmaking’s most advanced complications with the classic Carrera format in a way that feels both obvious and unexpected. The result is a watch that is supremely cool, technically impressive, and entirely at home in the Carrera suit. It is also the first time a rattrapante, or split-seconds chronograph, takes its place in the Carrera family — a clear step for TAG Heuer and a statement about where the brand is heading within modern haute horlogerie.

A natural step in Carrera’s evolution

The Carrera was launched in 1963 by Jack Heuer and has since been strongly associated with racing, clarity, and functional design. With the major redesign of the Carrera collection in 2023, where the well-known glassbox design was introduced, the foundation was laid for more experimental and technically advanced interpretations. The split-seconds variant builds on exactly this. Here the complication does not feel tacked on, but rather a natural continuation of Carrera’s racing DNA. The ability to measure intermediate times fits perfectly in a watch that has always had motorsport at its core.

Modern design with clear Carrera codes

The case measures 42 mm (15.17 mm thick) and is made from Grade 5 titanium, giving a modern, light, and technical feel on the wrist. The characteristic lugs remain, as does the high legibility that has always been one of Carrera’s strengths. The glassbox sapphire crystal is elegantly integrated into the case and gives an almost magnifying effect to the dial and its details. The tachymeter scale and the fifth-second flange follow the crystal’s curvature, which both improves legibility and reinforces the visual experience by reducing parallax. The extra pusher at nine o’clock, which controls the split-seconds function, is neatly integrated into the case band and reinforces the technical impression without disturbing the whole.

Transparent dial with depth and character

The dial is made from translucent sapphire, giving an open view of the advanced movement beneath, with the chronograph subdials subtly smoked. The three subdials are individually built up in the same material and create clear depth in the design. Red details on the hands and markers give a sporty contrast against the more industrial, grey tone. Indices and hands are open-worked and filled with white Super-LumiNova, ensuring good legibility even in low light, and the watch carries twin chronograph hands — one white, one red — the red split-seconds hand easy to follow, giving the watch extra visual dynamism.

A movement at the absolute top level

The heart of the watch is the caliber TH81-01, developed in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier (derived from the TH81-00 of the Monaco Split-Seconds). The movement works at high frequency — 5 Hz (36,000 vph) — with a 65-hour power reserve (55 with the chronograph running) and is constructed to deliver extreme precision, with tenth-of-a-second resolution, even when the chronograph is active. It consists of over 350 components, uses titanium plates and bridges (making it one of the lightest automatic chronograph movements), and is hand-finished with several advanced techniques such as anglage and black polishing. The chequered-flag decoration, applied by hand using the graté technique, is a clear signature of TAG Heuer’s most exclusive movements. The rotor’s shape is inspired by TAG Heuer’s shield logo and carries hand-painted details (a black-to-red gradient) that further underline the level of craftsmanship. Through the generous sapphire caseback, the movement is experienced as almost floating — a detail that recalls the Monaco Split-Seconds.

A sporty whole with a focus on use

The watch comes on a black rubber strap with textile embossing and red stitching, reinforcing the sporty expression. The titanium clasp with double safety buttons gives both comfort and security in daily use. Despite its advanced technology, this is not a watch that feels fragile or reserved for the display case. It is built to be used, experienced, and worn — exactly as a Carrera should be. The reference (CDD2180.FT8120) is not a limited edition and is priced at CHF 110,000 (around USD 127,000), available from June 2026.

A Carrera we look forward to seeing in the metal

The TAG Heuer Carrera Split-Seconds Chronograph is a clear example of how tradition and innovation can meet without compromise. The advanced complication, the transparent design, and the modern material choice make this one of the most exciting Carrera models in a long time. For another standout Carrera, see our look at the TAG Heuer Carrera Desert Heat.