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Tag Heuer is one of the best known watch brands in the world. Whilst their watches are not the absolute best mechanically, they are still very respectable and many levels above the average fashion brand.
Tag Heuer is well known for being an entry level luxury watch brand. This simply means that Tag Heuer cannot compete with the likes of Rolex or Audemars Piguet, but it is still many levels above the likes of Hugo Boss and Seiko.
The Tag Heuer Carrera is a luxury sports watch that is one of the brands best selling models. Compared to other series such as the Link, Formula 1 and Aquaracer – the Carrera is the most expensive of all of these. Thankfully, there are affordable homage watches which look very similar to the Tag Heuer Carrera.
Created in 1963, the Carrera was designed to be a racing style watch aimed towards wealthy buyers. Before racing watches such as the Carrera and Daytona, upmarket watches were mostly only classical and not designed to be sports style timepieces.
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Details About Different Types Of Tag Heuer Carrera Watches
The two most popular types of Tag Heuer Carrera are both the calibre 5 and the calibre 16. Both visually and mechanically there are distinct differences between these two watches and it is almost impossible to get them confused.
The Calibre 5 Carrera is a dress watch with a very simple color scheme and dial layout. This watch is produced in both a date and a day-date variation.
On the other hand, the Calibre 16 is a chronograph watch produced in a motorsport racing style. This watch has more complications than the Calibre 5, so costs considerably more money. However, when looking at alternatives, the price is not too much different to the Calibre 5, so this is certainly a positive.
Below, we have listed alternatives to both the Tag Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 and Calibre 16. This way you can choose exactly what design of watch you want.
As the Tag Heuer Carrera is beyond the budget for the average working man, this article displays cheaper alternatives for those who are looking to purchase something less expensive.
Is The Tag Heuer Carrera A Good Watch?
As there have been so many variations of the Tag Heuer Carrera watch over the decades, it is difficult to make a judgement upon them all at once.
In general, you will find that more modern Tag Heuer Carreras stick to using in-house movements. This alone separates them from other entry level Swiss watches which are using mass produced movements off the shelf from ETA or Sellita.
All in all, there is no doubt that the Carrera is a good watch. However, whether it is worth its price tag is another question entirely. There are certainly watches that are made to a higher or similar specification for a price tag that is low than the Carrera. Brands that rival this watch are companies such as Oris, Mido and Rado.
The Carrera is a classic watch and will remain in the Tag Heuer series for a long time to come.
Does The Tag Heuer Carrera Hold Its Value?
In all honesty, almost all Tag Heuer watches do not hold their value particularly well, with the Carrera being no exception to this rule.
Whilst you might find that there are special edition models which hold their value or even increase in value a little. For the most part, the Tag Heuer Carrera is a watch that does not do particularly well as it ages.
The main reason for this is that there is a constant supply of new watches. If you wish to buy a new Tag Heuer Carrera it is extremely easy compared to brands such as Rolex and/or Patek Philippe.
The Best Affordable Alternatives To The Tag Heuer Carrera Calibre 16
Casio Edifice
Much like the Tag Heuer brand, the Casio Edifice series has its roots deeply implanted in the sport of F1 as they sponsor Scuderia AlphaTauri.
The similarities don’t end there either. As you can see, the edifice chronograph is visually similar to the Carrera with the 3 subdials being housed in exactly the same positions at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock. The edifice chronograph also maintains a racing theme throughout with a textured black dial and numbered bezel which is exactly what you would expect from a watch that sponsors an F1 team.
Perhaps the main selling point is the cost of this watch. For under $150, you get a solar powered watch that is both super convenient and tremendous value for money. This watch isn’t an automatic like the Carrera but requires a lot less maintenance too.
Hugo Boss Grand Prix Chronograph
A mixture between a dress watch and a racing style model, the Hugo Boss grand prix has a very similar dial layout to the Tag Heuer Carrera Cal. 16.
Instead of the numbering being on the bezel, Boss has chosen to place it around the outside of the dial. One other difference between the two watches is the positioning of the date window being lowered by one hour marker. Other than this, there isn’t too much between the visual aspects of each piece.
Of course, Hugo Boss are well known for making fashionable timepieces rather than luxury watches. This is reflected in the price tag which is far lower than a Carrera.
Mido Multifort
The Mido Multifort is by no means a cheap watch. At around 50% of the price of a Tag Heuer Carrera, at first glance you might think that it is an expensive watch – and by some standards, you would be right.
However, when you look closer at the specifications you begin to realise that a Mido Multifort is not really an inferior watch to a Carrera. For a start, it uses a modified Valjoux 7750, which is one of the best mechanical chronograph movements of all time. The case and dial are also finished to a high degree, making the multifort a real rival to the Carrera.
In summary, the only real difference is the advertising budget of the two brands. Only real watch enthusiasts know about how good Mido timepieces are, so they are not even considered as a purchase by the average man.
Citizen Brycen
Citizen are renowned for their Eco-Drive watches since they are great value for money and extremely practical. The Brycen chronograph is a racing style watch which somewhat of a vintage feel about it. This model also has 3 subdials in the same location as a Carrera and has a very similar bezel.
Overall, the Brycen is on a par with many of the other solar chronographs featured on this list. It has almost identical specifications so the only real factors you should base your decision on when buying are both the look and the price of each solar watch.
Bulova Chronograph
Stylistically, Bulova have the dial of the Carrera cal 16 spot on. Everything from the hands, to the two silver rings around both bottom and top subdials is exactly the same. Not to mention this is also a day-date chronograph, something which most other quartz models do not bother with as it is more expensive to produce.
Bulova are a reputable watchmaker that now uses Japanese movements in order to keep their costs down. There is nothing wrong with this, but it is a slight downgrade from previously using Swiss movements.
Overall, this watch is somewhat expensive for its specification but is the closest visual match you will find to a Tag Heuer Carrera chronograph.
Fossil Commuter
Fossil are not a brand well known for making racing watches. The Fossil Commuter is a watch that is more formal and has been made in a dress style.
This watch is a good cheap alternative for the Carrera, especially if you are looking for something that is a little more refined and not as loud.
Of course, the main positive of Fossil watches is the price. For under $100, you are able to get a fashionable watch that is considerably cheaper than any luxury timepiece. Even though it is so inexpensive, it will last just as long as any other quartz or automatic watch.
Seiko Solar Chronograph
A great looking alternative to the stainless steel Carrera, the Seiko chronograph has a bezel that is almost identical to the original model.
The main differences between the calibre 16 and the Seiko model are that Tag Heuer use a slightly lighter blue bezel. In addition to this, the 9 o’clock subdial is slightly smaller but certainly doesn’t look out of place.
One major benefit of buying a Seiko for this mid-level price point is the fact they use solar movements. This means you can set the watch and never bother adjusting it again. It is very accurate and will not need a battery replacement like other quartz watches do.
The Best Affordable Alternatives To The Tag Heuer Carrera Calibre 5
Orient Bambino
Orient are without a doubt one of the best watchmakers on the planet when it comes to budget automatic watches. The Bambino is certainly not a high specification watch, nor is it luxury. It is however extremely good value for money, costing less than $150.
When you look at this side by side with the Carrera calibre 5, you can see that one watch should cost more than the other. However, a Carrera costs around 20 times the price of this Orient Bambino, which is crazy considering the main difference between the two watches is just the accuracy of the movement.
In summary, this is one of the best value alternatives you can possibly buy.
Certina DS-1
Certina are a brand that makes solid timepieces much like brands such as Tissot and Swatch. The reason for this is that they all use ETA movements which are some of the most solid automatic and mass produced that money can buy.
The distinct difference between the DS-1 and a Carrera calibre 5 is that roman numerals are used for the 4 main hour indicators. Other than this, it is a stainless steel sports watch in the style of a Carrera which also uses a Swiss automatic movement.
Tissot Ballade COSC
The Tissot ballade gives the Carrera dress watch a good run for its money – and any other watch for that matter. This is one of the cheapest COSC standard watches you can find, costing under $600. Considering this watch is 4x cheaper than a Carrera calibre 5, it shows you what good value for money this is.
If you were to just look at the specifications of each watch side by side, you could make an argument that the prices should be switched. The Tissot is more accurate and comes with an 80 hour power reserve, some 42 hours longer than the Carrera.
This is not a cheap watch but is certainly great value for money.
Seiko Presage
A popular budget choice for those wanting something a little more stylish and advanced than a basic Seiko 5. The presage series is more upmarket than your typical cheap Seiko watches.
The dial layout is very similar to a Carrera with the date located in exactly the same position. Seiko presage watches have textured dials and are not a single basic color, which sets them apart from other dress watches.
Overall, the Seiko Presage series is rather unremarkable but robust and has a large following due to its good value for money.
