Watches Spot the references ?
5 min
When you think of the TAG Heuer Carrera, your mind drifts to high-speed cars, legendary chronographs, and the charming icons who wore them. That’s why, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the TAG Heuer Carrera, we’ve released a film that captures both the nostalgia and the pioneering spirit of the collection. Presenting The Chase for Carrera, starring superstar and TAG Heuer ambassador Ryan Gosling. Directed by David Leitch (John Wick, Deadpool 2, Bullet Train), the film is an action-packed, wall-to-wall entertainer. Measured and made to Hollywood standards, it’s loaded with crazy stunts, car chases, rushes of adrenaline, and dollops of humor. And because the TAG Heuer Carrera is at the center of the action, you’ll discover some delightful Easter eggs in the film. Each one a nod to the history and heritage of the TAG Heuer Carrera. Let’s see if you can spot the references.
The speed queen
Freeze frame on the elegant elderly lady with the sunglasses and suitcases. It’s an actor dressed in the style of Jacqueline Evans de Lopez. A British-born Mexican racing driver, Lopez was well-known for being the only woman who participated in five legendary Carrera Panamericana races between 1950 and 1954. A strong, determined personality, Lopez self-financed her thunderous pursuit of racing glory. She captures the pioneering spirit of the TAG Heuer Carrera, and this Easter egg is a glitzy tribute to the speed queen.
Door number 63
While you’re watching Ryan Gosling brush fake shattered glass off his jacket, your eye might be drawn to the hotel facade behind him. There’s a number on it. Sixty-three. This Easter egg is a nod to two things: Jack Heuer’s love for architecture and 1963, the year Jack created the timeless TAG Heuer Carrera collection.
Hotel Leonarda
Behind every great watchmaker there’s a partner who keeps them ticking. And that’s why the hotel in this film set is named ‘Leonarda’, after Jack Heuer’s wife. Leonarda has always been by Jack’s side, through thick and thin. What makes this Easter egg even more special is that 2023 doesn’t just mark the 60th anniversary of the TAG Heuer Carrera, it’s also the year Leonarda and Jack celebrate their 60th anniversary. As always, they’ve got their timing perfectly right.
The man behind the myth
As Gosling speeds his bright red Porsche through a gangster film set, you spot a character who looks very familiar. The man with the large square glasses, cool sideburns, and stacks of Heuer boxes behind him. Is that…a young Jack Heuer? Yes. Or at least that’s an actor doing a very good impersonation of Jack Heuer. A humorous homage to the father of the TAG Heuer Carrera.
Thinking outside the box
The stack of Heuer boxes are a salute to Jack Heuer’s out of the box marketing strategies. From race tracks to movie sets, Jack would make sure his timepieces were found in places where they would be worn by best.
The legendary race behind the name
See those beautiful vintage posters on the film set? They were designed to promote a legendary race: the Carrera Panamericana. First staged in Mexico in 1950, the race spanned over 3,000 kilometers. It became widely known as the ultimate test of endurance. Due to its high drama and multiple crashes, the Carrera Panamericana was canceled in 1954. But its air of mystique remained. In 1963, after being mesmerized by stories of the race, Jack Heuer took the name Carrera and turned it into an equally legendary watch collection.
‘One last spin around the dial’
That’s the line Ryan Gosling delivers before pressing the pusher on his Carrera chronograph and ‘escaping’ to his car. This sequence is an homage to the running start at Le Mans. As you know, the storied race begins with the drivers rushing towards their automobiles. ‘One more spin around the dial’ is also a great way of expressing the addictive rush of adrenaline triggered by the Carrera, don’t you think?
Enjoy those Easter eggs? Well, as the film suggests, the race never stops. We’re going to continue giving you exclusive glimpses into our year-long celebration of the TAG Heuer Carrera. So keep your eyes peeled.
