Is it Sunday already? Sure, it’s, and we’ll be sure to have a very good final day of the weekend with this week’s episode of Sunday Morning Showdown. Daan and Lex will go face to face with two colourful chronographs. In a single nook, Daan represents the Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Flamingo Blue,” which provides off severe Miami Vice vibes. Within the different nook is Lex, who picked one thing Prince would’ve liked to put on whereas strolling by way of the rain, the darkish purple TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox. Might the perfect shade win!
You’re in all probability very accustomed to each the 41mm Tudor Black Bay Chrono and the 39mm TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox. The Tudor with a “Flamingo Blue” dial is a newcomer, although. The Carrera, with its smoky purple sunburst dial, has been round a bit longer, however you’ll be able to in all probability perceive why we put these two chronographs towards one another. Each watches are exuberant variations on a basic theme. Tudor went “full Florida” on the Black Bay Chrono, and TAG Heuer discovered inspiration at a farmer’s market exterior La Chaux-de-Fonds whereas taking a look at organically grown plums. That, nonetheless, will not be within the TAG Heuer press launch.
Final week, on Sunday Morning Showdown…
Earlier than we get into right now’s battle, let’s recap last week’s, which noticed the Girard-Perregaux Laureato 38mm and IWC Ingenieur Automated 40 compete. Are you stunned that the Midnight Blue model of the Laureato beat the blue-dialed IWC Ingenieur? It was fairly shut, although, with the GP taking 58% of votes and the IWC coming away with 42%. We’re guessing that we’ll have a good nearer race on our fingers this week. What now we have listed here are two watches with dials in very peculiar colours. In the end, the query will in all probability be: What’s your favourite shade — Florida blue or deep purple?
Lex: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox “Deep Purple”
The inspiration of this purple-dialed watch is the basic 39mm stainless-steel Carrera Chronograph case with horizontally brushed sides and polished bevels and lugs. The most effective characteristic, for my part, is the double-domed sapphire crystal, aka the glassbox. Not solely does it look considerably retro in a up to date manner, but it surely additionally seems to be comfortable and chic, and class is briefly provide within the land of mechanical chronographs. This Carrera is certainly elegant, although, and never simply the case and crystal but additionally the dial. Take a look at that refined chapter ring with a convex high and concave sides. Not solely does it match properly into the curved crystal, but it surely additionally minimizes distortions.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t matter what TAG Heuer has completed to the case and the crystal, the most important visible issue is the dial. It’s very onerous to not discover the dial’s smoky purple shade. It’s additionally unattainable to not have an on the spot opinion prepared. Outspoken colours do have that impact. I prefer it. Despite the fact that I’m normally not the most important fan of dials with a metallic sheen and a sunburst end, this one tickles my fancy. It makes me consider a Prince track and a Deep Purple observe , and in my head, that remix sounds superior!
Usually, I favor a matte dial, just like the Tudor one named after a non-existent chook. However this time, I favor the shiny dial with a purple-to-black gradient. Mixed with the black azurage-finished sub-dials, it ensures the purple hue isn’t too dominant. Though purple is sort of a daring shade, it comes throughout as extra timeless than the Tudor’s mild blue dial. This specific shade of purple makes for a extra refined shade accent than the in-your-face blue of the Carrera’s competitor.
Nothing to cover
I’m not saying a 41 × 14.4mm chronograph is just too large for my wrist. Nonetheless, I’ll say that the 39mm TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox, with its 46mm lug-to-lug and 13.9mm total thickness, feels and appears higher on my wrist. In comparison with the motion used within the Tudor, this Carrera additionally has the sting. The automated TH20-00, a 33-jewel in-house chronograph caliber, has an 80-hour energy reserve, which is 10 hours greater than the motion contained in the Tudor.
And in contrast to Tudor, TAG Heuer will not be afraid to indicate you the motion. The see-through case again permits a pleasant view of the caliber outfitted with a column wheel and a vertical clutch. Additionally, you will discover the Geneva stripes and skeletonized rotor, a few good little touches of luxurious in your cash. Talking of cash, the 39mm TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph with a smoky purple dial prices €6,500. It’s marginally greater than the Tudor, sure, however completely price the additional €510.
Daan: Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Flamingo Blue”
If the Tudor Black Bay with its turquoise dial is a flamingo, then the TAG Heuer Carrera with its purple dial is sort of a European starling. It’s primarily black, but it surely additionally has a purple shimmer throughout its feathers, similar to the Carrera on its dial. I fairly just like the starling; it’s a chook I see rather a lot right here in Amsterdam and an enormous a part of metropolis life. Nonetheless, it could’t compete with the flamingo, even when the latter doesn’t stay in Amsterdam and is an imaginary blue one.
Each the flamingo and the turquoise dial of this Tudor Black Bay Chrono are extra outspoken than the starling and the dial of right now’s TAG Heuer Carrera. Neither of those watches goes to be your first watch. Seemingly, you’ll have already got your fair proportion of white and black dials within the assortment earlier than you determine to purchase both of those choices. I simply really feel that the Carrera is a bit too secure. It jogs my memory an excessive amount of of the mannequin with the black dial as a result of, in most lighting situations, you received’t even discover its purple shimmer. That’s why I believe the Tudor is a significantly better selection. It provides one thing actually completely different subsequent to the extra standard dial colours in your assortment.
COSC certification vs. prolonged energy reserve
Though these are each two splendid chronographs, by way of seems to be and specs, they’re fairly far aside. Nonetheless, I didn’t count on you, Lex, to place the TAG Heuer forward of the Tudor merely due to its 10 additional hours of energy reserve. How a lot distinction does that truly make in the true world? None? Precisely, you’ll be able to simply put each these watches down for the weekend and put on them once more on Monday with out having to set or wind them once more. What I believe is rather more invaluable is the Black Bay’s COSC certification and Tudor’s additional effort to make it run between -2 and +4 seconds a day.
To me, that appears extra like an indication of high quality and dedication than an prolonged energy reserve does. Plus, I swap watches manner too many occasions every week to correctly discover the overall hours of energy reserve inside a motion. Alternatively, I do take pleasure in it when a watch runs precisely and may inform me the precise time after I look down at my wrist.
Bracelet vs. perforated leather-based strap
There’s additionally one other distinction I believe is tremendous necessary right here, and that’s the shortage of a bracelet on the Carrera. Certain, you’ll be able to order a further stainless-steel bracelet for it, and it’s a decent-looking one as effectively. Nonetheless, that can improve the value of the TAG Heuer much more. Then, the value distinction between these two watches turns into a bit too giant. One other drawback (for the Carrera) is that Tudor is thought for its very strong and well-designed bracelets.
The one on this Black Bay Chrono is a pleasant Jubilee-style/five-row bracelet. The hyperlinks have a cushty oval form from the facet and have a brushed and polished end. As well as, the clasp has Tudor’s T-Match mechanism for easy-breezy micro-adjustments anytime. That actually is useful when you’re parading the Miami shoreline. It additionally stands the warmth higher than the perforated leather-based strap on the Carrera!
Get able to vote!
All proper, there you might have it — a battle between two chronographs with uncommon dial colours. Will you go for the TAG Heuer Carrera that appears like a plum, or do you like the Tudor with its “flamingo blue” dial? Rumor has it that the latter smells like roasted peanuts as blue flamingos only eat blue M&Ms. Anyway, be certain to vote, depart the explanations in your selection within the feedback under, and luxuriate in your Sunday!
Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Flamingo Blue” vs. TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox in Purple
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