Mens Watches

For four years starting in 1950, a legendary and grueling road race was held on Mexico’s Panamericana Highway. The spirit of competition, speed and strength under extreme conditions exemplified in this race is the design inspiration for Carrera watches. This brand seeks to bring determination and endurance to a timepiece. The race was brought to and end but later resurrected in a newer, better form. Likewise, this brand has experienced a rebirth in recent years. It has been redesigned and reformulated into a product well-suited for a fashion-conscious young buyer looking for a timepiece with a style as unique as his own.

What We Love About Carrera

The rugged inspiration for this brand is evident in its current designs. They have a bold, geometric look that works well with the current trends of today’s fashion. The designs are as modern and high-tech as the race cars they are meant to emulate. Carrera watches have a characteristic look that is consistent from model to model and line to line. The brand strives to make its line identifiable, even at a glance. It has streamlined the number of case options down to the bare minimum, giving the product line a uniform look and a specific identity. They have only one octagonal case for the majority of their collections and one other, a square, for their special editions. Variety comes into the line with color and texture. Rubber straps with tread-like patterns add to the race car feel. Leather and stainless steel bands mimic fine upholstery and gleaming engine parts. Black plated models evoke the streaks of black tire left behind by a speeding car. Bands and dials are available in trendy colors like red and orange. The brand offers sport models and chronographs, dive models and athletic versions. The special editions offer a dressier timepiece for a different, more formal look.

Click Here to See All Tag Heuer Carrera Watches

Some Things We Don’t Like About Carrera

Only two cases can make the brand sort of a one-note line. They simply doesn’t have the variety that other brands do. No matter how many different spins this brand can take on a theme, it is still not offering a model in a round or rectangular case. Building such a specific brand identity can limit the pool of customers. Any time a brand is this identifiable, it will have either devoted fans or avid detractors. One thing it won’t get is a lukewarm reception. This is a youth-centered brand, creating trendy pieces for a younger market. Traditionalists should look towards some of the more established lines.

History of the Brand

The first “La Carrera Panamericana” was held on May 5, 1950. The first race was run as a celebration of the completion of Mexico’s Panamericana Highway. It was compared to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Mille Miglia in difficulty and punishing conditions. The last race of this name was run in 1954 after several tragic accidents made maintaining safety an insurmountable issue. It was resurrected in 1988, when safety could be more effectively managed. The company seeks to recapture this uncompromising spirit in its products. It was, like the race for which it is named, relaunched in 2006 with an identifiable look and desire to succeed.