I've pondered this question myself. The answer I suppose depends upon where one is on their watch collecting journey.

I used to be a normal person, in that I'd buy a new expensive watch maybe once every 3-5 years. I'd be perfectly happy with that one watch as my only watch for next 3-5 years until the next purchase came along.

In the last 12 years that changed, as I set my sights on certain grail watches. One by one, as each grail piece was achieved a new one would arise. That's when you know you're hooked (as many of us are) on watch collecting. I'm not a flipper, the majority of my watches I still own. So I'm now at a point where I feel enough is enough. I want to go back to being a normal person, easier said than done.

 

I think the Monaco has the Carrera beat when it comes to being the most original (if by original you mean unique).

 

Yeah fair point. I didn't mean original really, perhaps definitive. But the Monaco has an equal claim I guess, or perhaps even stronger with the McQueen link.

 

Everything wrong with THF in one sentence.

 

I agree, I think the Monaco is too quirky to be truly definitive.

 

But then, you know, that's the trouble with all that Avant Garde stuff.

 

I don't see how the Carrera can be called the most definitive, TAG has so many different versions of the Carrera, I'm not sure what it is these days.

 

Pretty sure Charlie isn't talking about anything with a skeleton dial..

 

I guess I meant anything that mimics the original Carrera lugs/case - anything you would look at and say "that is obviously a Carrera". I just think it gets "a watch" so right.

 

I had no doubt what type of Carrera hits the spot for you.
The 1158CHN is my grail Carrera. It doesn't have the original's case/lugs, but many consider this to be the ultimate Carrera (including Nicholas Biebuyck).

When one says Monaco, more often than not the McQueen pops to mind. But when one says Carrera, the image that one might get probably differs a lot from person to person. The modern Cal 16, Sport, Elegant, Skeletons, and Connected are all so different looking.

 

That is without doubt a beautiful watch. I don't think it's the definitive Carrera (i.e. the essence of a watch and the blueprint from which other models take their DNA) but it's a worthy grail. I certainly wouldn't mind one!

 

This doesn't look very Carreraish does it?

 

It does for those who are fans of the 70s style C case Carrera.



This style looks even less Carrera like to me.

But that's what I mean, the 60's version is arguably the most definitive Carrera, but not necessarily the most definitive Heuer/TAG Heuer. In fact, the Carrera line might be the most diluted in its various forms.

 

So then, the Carrera clearly has a history of being reinterpreted. Interesting that.