Alternatives to Tag Heuer Carrera?
 

My 40th is coming up, and I told the wife I want a Tag Carrera. Simplest model they make (WV211B.BA0787). Nothing on the dial, stainless. I love how clean and uncluttered it looks. If she buys it from a proper dealer, it will probably run $1600-$2000.

I've looked at some Omegas, but they all seem to lean towards a diving watch look. I don't want a heavy bezel like a dive watch. I want stainless case, stainless band, black face. No real fixed price point, but I don't see much point in spending more than $3000.

Anything I am missing out there?

This is my current choice:
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Does it have to be a "TAG"? For that money you could find a nice vintage Heuer....Here are a few early Carreras (and yes, there were non-chronos as well)

Heuer Carrera Chronographs: A Brief Overview

I love my Link series: TAG Heuer Link Calibre S Men Chronograph Watch > CJF7110.BA0587 > Swiss Chronograph - Men Luxury Watches

Not sure what they run these days but about 6 years ago it was $1800.

how about a rolex explorer? nice and simple.

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I like my TH's, have a couple of them.

I have the LInks Tiger Woods and I like it, I had the Tag Monaco Chrono and liked it too but my wife got me a Rolex GMT so I sold the Monaco, pretty dressy. I don't see how you can go wrong with the one you picked. Pretty classy looking, get the Auto, not the Quartz. If you go for the Explorer Rolex be sure to get the white face. Just twice the cost of the TAG.

I think your first choice is the nicest choice. SmileWavy

I second the Explorer or Rolex Air King. Both very simple designs. Not sure if the Air King comes in black face though. A Sinn 656 is a nice clean look as well.

You might want to look thru the Eterna catalog as well. Eterna is owned by Ferdinand Porsche so there's a nice connection with the 911 there.

FWIW, my family's purchased several watches from Chong Hing jewelers here in L.A. Chinatown and Monterey Park. Authorized dealer (for several upscale watchmakers) so everything's legit. They usually offer the watch at about a 25% discount off MSRP. The Carrera you have your eye on is beautiful.

Omega makes a watch that is pretty plain, with a plain bezel, black face and a more interesting (co-axial) movement than what you find in a Tag. See the pic below for one example. The Rolex Explorer is a good choice; that's my daily wear watch. You can always buy a used one and have Rolex go through it, if you don't want to spend what a new one costs. The Air-King was also made with a black face,a s were a bunch of other models over the years.

JR


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Real watches do not require batteries. Err...except this one:

http://www.watchestobuy.com/images/O...ronometers.JPG

Buy a watch that has a chance of being worth something someday, e.g. a Rolex or an Omega. As with anything else, just because you paid $$$ for it doesn't make it worth it.

Tag Heuer = Buick of the watch world.

Heuer? That's another story...

http://www.watches.co.uk/watch_pics/...era-ta7196.jpg

Make sure to try one on, the Carrera that is. They are effnn big.

Speedy:)

Get whatever you like, we dont have to wear it. Make sure you try one on first. I saved up for a watch for a long time and was let down at how it felt on my wrist.

Tissot makes a few nice, simple watches of similar quality to the Tag for little $$. More $$ but a 'nicer' option is a Seamaster Aqua Terra.

Would you be slumming with a Vicorinox Swiss Army?

http://www.swissarmy.com/images/ProductCatalog/sa/sa_241375_sol_a02.jpg


btw... Happy 40th!

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My favorite "clean" watch, automatic swiss movement and can be had for less than $400

If spending $2K, I would get a watch that is actually worth $2K.

Thus, a vintage Heuer Carrera that will likely retain or gain value, instead of a new TAG Heuer Carrera that will very likely lose value.

Aside from the financial aspect, if you care at all what serious watch buffs think, many of them wouldn't cross the street to look at a TAG, but a real Heuer is different.

The disadvantage is that you can't simply walk to a dealer and get one. You have to research, learn, decide, search, find.

For an idea on (the high end of) price ranges -
vintageheuer.com
val.htm
Heuer - Yorktime Used and Vintage Watches for Sale

And for a start on research -
Heuer Carrera Chronographs: A Brief Overview

Oh, also, if you want a Carrera, I'd personally think twice about getting a non-chrono one. The Heuer Carreras are known as chronos, their history and cachet is tied to racing, it is not a "dress watch".

This is what I'm wearing today. Mine has increased in value since I got it about three yrs. ago. I can't imagine a Tag coming close to this in quality. Mine is 44mm without the crown and plenty heavy. It got recognized in a restaurant here last week. Only real watch enthusiats know about these, but they are awesome.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1262277937.jpg

Just get one of these, plain black face and they look pretty good. Recognizable when you go out.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1262278822.jpg

Omega Seamaster for me...as simple in design as I am of mind:)