An Icon Reborn

On the occasion of the launch of the Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph, a reinterpretation of the brand's famous "success" gold watch, its CEO Frédéric Arnault speaks to Tatler about remaking an icon 

- Ahy Choi

On a misty October evening, guests showed up at the site of Beijing’s Hanlin Academy, an elite scholarly institution established in the eighth century, during the Tang dynasty. “It was a starting place for many successful figures in Chinese history,” says Frédéric Arnault, CEO of Tag Heuer since 2020, appearing fresh and energised despite his busy schedule, which included tours of cities across China and press interviews ahead of the event. “It is the perfect location for [showcasing] the new ‘success’ watch,” he adds, referring to the Carrera gold watch that originated in 1971.

The Carrera Chronograph earned its “success” nickname back in 1971, when Jack Heuer, the great-grandson of the brand’s founder, decided to gift Ferrari F1 drivers gold timepieces as a gesture of camaraderie. To mark the 60th anniversary of the iconic Carrera, Tag Heuer has released a new Carrera Chronograph, which reinforces the brand’s enduring association with car racing and aligns with Arnault’s strategy of establishing Tag Heuer in the realm of haute horology.