WT_2010_01: TEST: TAG HEUER GRAND CARRERA CALIBRE 36 ...

TEST
TAG Heuer Grand Carrera Calibre 36 RS
SPECS
TAG HEUER GRAND CARRERA CALIBRE
36 RS CALIPER CHRONOGRAPH
Manufacturer: TAG Heuer SA,
Rue L.-J.-Chevrolet 6a, CH-2300 La Chauxde-Fonds,
Switzerland
Reference number: CAV5115.FT6019
Functions: Hour, minute, linear small
seconds; chronograph with 30-minute
and 12-hour counters; date
Movement: Calibre 36 RS COSC, derived
from the Zenith El Primero 400, automatic;
COSC-certified chronometer; chronograph;
36,000 vph; 31 jewels; eccentric
fine regulation; Glucydur balance; Kif
shock absorption; 50-hour power reserve;
diameter = 30 mm
Case: Stainless steel with curved, doublesided
nonreflective crystal; sapphire caseback
with crossbar and six screws; waterresistant
to 100 meters
Strap and clasp: Rubber strap with stainless-steel
folding clasp
Rate results:
(Deviation in seconds per day):
Chronograph off/on
Dial up +3 +1
Dial down +3 +2
Crown up +3 +1
Crown down 0 -1
Crown left -1 0
Crown right +6 +4
Greatest rate deviation: 7 5
Average deviation: +2.3 +1.2
Average amplitude:
Horizontal positions 285º 263º
Vertical positions 274º 243º
Dimensions: Diameter = 43 mm,
height = 14.5 mm, weight = 140 g
Variations: With steel bracelet ($7,900);
with black PVD-coated titanium case and
rubber strap ($8,900) or alligator strap
($8,900)
Price: $7,900
The chronograph pushers are fluted;
the oversized crown features the
TAG Heuer logo.
78 WatchTime February 2010
Primero’s only technical drawback is that it lacks a hack mechanism,
which makes it impossible to precisely set the time.
Onto the reliable El Primero base caliber TAG Heuer adds
its own in-house disk displays for elapsed minutes and hours
and running seconds. The engraved, skeletonized rotor with
Geneva stripes as well as the “C36” engraving are also TAG
Heuer additions. Other visual treats — like exposed wheels,
blued screws, line finishes and polished and beveled edges — belong
to the Zenith base movement.
After adding modifications to the base caliber, TAG designates
the movement as Caliber 36 RS (the “RS” refers to the
disks, or “rotating systems,” for the chronograph minutes and
hours). All Caliper Chronograph movements are certified
chronometers, tested for accuracy by the Swiss testing agency
COSC. It’s worth noting that the only position not tested by
COSC (the rarely occurring position “crown right”) showed
results that jumped far into the positive range in our test. This
increased the maximum deviation to seven seconds. As a result,
the Grand Carrera Calibre 36 RS Caliper Chronograph re-