Heuer Carrera 1964 Re-Edition, mid 1990s

Dealer description — Analog/Shift

The original Heuer Carrera ran from the 1960s to the 1980s, its look shifting slightly as trends changed, ultimately taking on the cushion case design and automatic movements of the late 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s, after Heuer was bought by Technique Avant Garde (TAG), the Carrera line was discontinued. However, in the mid-1990s TAG Heuer realized that its classic designs still held value in the commercial market, and decided to re-release two watches: the square-cased Monaco and the Carrera. On the whole, the 1964 Carrera Re-Edition remained true to the look of its predecessor, featuring a 36mm case and a bold, open dial with recessed subsidiary registers and blue printed scales on the silver dial variant. While the 60s Carreras were powered by the Valjoux 72, the Re-Edition references used the Lemania Caliber 1873, most famously used in the Omega Speedmaster. This particular example, a Reference CS3111, dated to the mid 1990s and features the excellent, classic 36mm Carrera case in stainless steel, a matte black Tritium dial with white accents and applied indices and a matching handset, and comes fitted to a Ralstra® International Nero Black rallye-style leather strap with a "Heuer" signed pin buckle. The 1964 Carrera Re-Edition is important in that it set a precedent for TAG Heuer to reissue its most classic designs, thus continuing an appreciation for traditional horology. This old design, rather than languishing in the brand's archives, is exposed to a new generation of watch collectors. It's a testament to Jack Heuer's foresight that the Carrera remains popular and will continue to be for generations to come. Faithful re-edition or a vintage piece all on its own? This watch is both, and for that, extremely cool.