Nice, I'm off to read that now.

 

I remember watching an interview of JC Biver removing the “Grand Carrera” so as to consolidate the model lineup and make the Carrera as the flagship model of TAG Heuer. After that, we’ve seen the Carrera in the Heritage, Connected, Tourbillon and also in the regular movement versions.

 

So good that you get these scoops, @Calibre11, awesome read!!

 

Wow, what a scoop! Nice one David, looks really nice as well... now how about a post on the Grand Monaco? All I can tell you is they made a prototype but they never progressed it any further. Here's a pic I took of it (with permission) in the factory... (unfortunately the lights reflected on the 'Grand' text on the dial, how typical is that!)

 

Nice read, thanks for sharing stuff from behind the scenes with us

For me personally it was no loss that Grand Carrera was discontinued, never been a fan of the whole "grand" something (and similar) that some companies do.

Maybe the line would have been more succesful if they would have had the balls to make it a new line with a brand new name. Nother example of watch brands having to stick to their "history" and we see that Tag has not learnt that lesson, the new "Autavia" being the latest example.

 

That Monaco looks like one of those terrible eBay fakes

 

Well it was only a prototype...

 

Nice job David
Great read.
Thank you

 

I think this would really grade up the 3 hand watches. Do you think this is still developed right now? Or was it the Heuer 03 XT / Defy Lab?

 

Perhaps some of those Ebay tragedies were actually priceless prototypes?!

 

Agree! Would certainly gain Tag a lot of respect in the nerd commumity.

Wonder though if the general, non nerd, Tag customer cares about it? Maybe profits are better sticking with cheap off the shelf Sellita?

 

Would you like to pay more for your 3-hand watches though?

There might be room for both similar to the way they have the Calibre 16 and the 1887/Heuer 01/Heuer 02.

 

i feel the opposite. I think the GC line offered a build quality that is simply not there with much of the rest of the line. Can’t say I particularly cared for some of the deigns - but the CG36RS is the best finish on any of the TH/H that I own. So as a concept that works for me. But maybe it stretched the Carrera brand too much? I’d probably be inclined to spend the $ or £ on a new GC more so than current ‘bling’ larger (non heritage design Carreras) - which to me are like a poor man’s Hublot.

Of all the watches I own, that GC has the smoothest sweeping seconds of any - which I guess is down to the Zenith Movement beat rate.

i love many if the heritage Heuer designs - but apart from a few exceptions in the modern large Carrera range I’m left underwhelmed by Tag’s offerings. The exceptions being the more limited and niche examples like the Carrera Nanograph or TdV.

Great article on the history. Shame about the ‘bullseye’ ending (Older Brits will get the joke reference’.

edit added a few pic For fun

 

what was the ‘timing’ of this interview? I’d not be surprised if it was around the time he was sculpting Hublot into his vision for the brand. It would make sense to ‘cap’ the innovation and build quality at TH to prevent it crowding out Hublot.

 

I hear you loud and clear.

 

Yup. I’m trying to find the video interview. But i’m pretty sure JC Biver said that there should only be “Carrera” and not “Grand Carrera”. Probably others who remember can help out. I think it was one of DC’s interview with JC Biver. Please correct me if I’m wrong. But probably the reason why the “Grand Carrera” line was discontinued. IMHO I do agree with this. A “Grand Carrera” will be very different and without any heritage or connection from the past.

https://forums.calibre11.com/thread...he-tag-heuer-grand-carrera.63528/#post-795164

 

I remember that interview, he said something like 'You cannot say Carrera is the best and then have a 'Grand' Carrera... it doesn't make sense'.

But I also remember him saying the GC was coming back and it was assumed it would be with the new vibrating movement.

 

I’ve watched a dozen interviews with JC Biver! I like what DC & Time+Tide did with their interview. They “fragmented” it to several short clips and focusing on a certain question or topic per vid. That way you won’t get bored with a long interview

JC Biver has such a dynamic & spirited personality but with a very deep & thorough understanding of the Swiss watchmaking world In a way he has a certain charisma as a figure/leader. Might not agree with all of his decisions (eg alec monopoloy CR7 etc ) but he surely made waves in the watch industry.

 

How can you get bored with a long interview with JCB? I guess the TLR generation would...