Watches Red carpet reveals: Ryan Gosling’s unique timepiece

When two icons in their respective industries get together, it’s newsworthy. Over the past quarter century, Ryan Gosling has become a movie giant thanks to his talent, his endurance in a high-pressure profession, and his remarkable versatility. With his classic good looks, he always stands out, whether playing comedic, romantic, fantasy or action roles as in The Fall Guy, in which he plays a stuntman. 

What better watch to wear than the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph, with its venerable pedigree going back to 1963, when it was housed in a 36-millimeter case and ran on a Valjoux 72. The timepiece was born in the world of racecars, at the Carrera Panamericana, a grueling rally in Central America, and has remained an iconic model ever since, beloved for its inherent nobility. It reappeared in 1975 as an automatic in a fashionable cushion case. This watch became a veritable symbol of success when Jack Heuer, one of the leading figures in the development of the automatic chronograph, began giving it to the winners of major races.  

Age has not diminished the classic beauty of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph. Today’s iteration exhibits many genetic elements of the older versions, like the date aperture at 6 o’clock, and the tachymeter scale, an absolute must for fans of fast cars. The dark hour and minute subdials at 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock respectively, still stand out elegantly on the yellow gold-plated dial, which has been given a regular, vertical brushing recalling the motorsports origins. A black small seconds hand ticks away discreetly at 6 o’clock. At night, the SuperLumiNova clearly marks the hour and minute hands and the hours. Readability is enhanced thanks to the vaulted sapphire crystal that stretches over the tachymeter scale just as it did on the 1975 version.

The gentle curve of the 39-millimeter case ensures a comfortable fit on the wrist. The lugs also taper aerodynamically to hug the bracelet bar giving this timepiece a very sleek shape. A notable difference from the 1975 iteration is the crown, which has moved back to the right-hand side, and the use of edgier pump pushers to start, stop, and reset the chronograph.

The watch runs on the automatic, in-house TH20-00 Caliber ticking at 28,800 vph. It is wound by a bidirectional custom rotor visible through the exhibition case back and delivers up to 80 hours of power reserve.

The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph comes on a calf-skin strap. But noblesse oblige… Ryan Gosling’s watch is a unique piece. It was created especially for him, with a yellow-gold Milanese mesh bracelet, a vivid reminder of the models from the 1970s that can occasionally be spotted in old photos gracing the wrists of the daredevils who raced on famous tracks all over the world. The Carrera Chronograph comes on a stylish calfskin strap and is available in boutiques and on the TAG Heuer website.