TAG Heuer has once again asserted its position at the forefront of watchmaking innovation with the introduction of a timepiece that is as technologically advanced as it is visually striking. The
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport TH-Carbonspring is a definitive statement, encapsulating a decade of research and development into a single, highly exclusive creation. Limited to a mere 50 pieces worldwide, this watch is not just a new model but the herald of a new era in mechanical regulation, built around the company’s proprietary TH-Carbonspring oscillator.
The Carrera collection has long been the backbone of TAG Heuer’s identity, deeply rooted in the high-octane world of motorsport since its inception in 1963. Named after the treacherous Carrera Panamericana road race, the line has always prioritized legibility, durability, and precision under extreme conditions. This latest iteration honors that legacy by pushing the material science and mechanical engineering associated with the collection into uncharted territory, creating a tool watch for the 21st century that respects its past while aggressively pursuing the future.
Courtesy of TAG Heuer
At the very core of this new release is a monumental technical breakthrough: the TH-Carbonspring. This is far more than an incremental update; it represents a fundamental rethinking of the mechanical watch’s regulating organ. For centuries, the precision of a timepiece has depended on the delicate interplay between a balance wheel and a hairspring, a concept that has remained largely unchanged since its invention in 1675. TAG Heuer’s LAB, the brand's in-house innovation center, has successfully developed and industrialized a hairspring made from a carbon composite, designed to outperform its metallic and silicon predecessors in every critical metric of daily wear.
To appreciate the magnitude of this achievement, one must look back at the history of the oscillator. The original steel hairsprings, while revolutionary for their time, were susceptible to the disruptive forces of magnetism, temperature fluctuations, and physical shocks. Over the decades, specialized metal alloys and, more recently, silicon were introduced to mitigate these issues. Silicon, in particular, offered excellent resistance to magnetism and temperature, becoming a hallmark of modern high-end watchmaking. Yet, the engineers at TAG Heuer saw an opportunity to leapfrog existing technology.
Instead of refining silicon, the brand embarked on a grueling, decade-long journey to create something entirely new. The path to the TH-Carbonspring was fraught with challenges and setbacks that tested the resolve of the team. The project required the development of entirely new manufacturing processes to shape the complex, non-concentric geometry of the carbon-composite spring. This relentless pursuit, fueled by a philosophy of being "Designed to Win," culminated in a regulating organ that sets a new benchmark for stability and resilience.
Courtesy of TAG Heuer
The performance benefits of the TH-Carbonspring are tangible and threefold. First and foremost, it is completely amagnetic. In a world saturated with magnetic fields from smartphones, laptops, and speakers, the ability of a watch to remain unaffected is a critical advantage. Traditional watches can become magnetized, causing their accuracy to degrade significantly or even stop altogether. The TH-Carbonspring renders this pervasive issue obsolete.
Secondly, the material offers exceptional shock resistance. The intricate structure of a mechanical movement is vulnerable to sudden impacts, from a dropped watch to something as simple as a round of applause. The carbon composite’s inherent properties allow the hairspring to withstand and absorb these forces far more effectively than its counterparts, ensuring the movement’s chronometric performance remains stable even under duress.
The third advantage lies in the lightweight nature of carbon. The reduced mass of the TH-Carbonspring decreases inertia within the regulating organ. This allows for more concentric oscillations, which in turn leads to superior timekeeping precision. This combination of lightness and durability provides a level of isochronism that is remarkably consistent, forming the basis for the watch’s COSC chronometer certification.
The vessel for this groundbreaking technology is a case constructed from black forged carbon. Measuring 44mm in diameter and 15.4mm in thickness, the case presents a formidable yet surprisingly lightweight presence on the wrist. The forging process gives each case a unique, marbled pattern, a dark and stormy motif that ensures no two of the 50 examples are identical. This material choice extends to the fixed tachymeter bezel, the chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock, and the large, grippy crown, creating a cohesive and stealthy aesthetic.
Courtesy of TAG Heuer
Visually, the watch is a study in texture and depth. The lug-to-lug distance of 49.7mm, combined with short, angular lugs, helps the 44mm case conform to the wrist better than its dimensions might suggest. The entire structure is optimized for performance, with every component contributing to its lightweight and robust character. Water resistance is rated at a practical 100 meters, making it suitable for daily wear and incidental water exposure.
The dial continues the carbon narrative, crafted from a slice of forged carbon that features a distinctive spiral-engraved pattern. This subtle texture is directly inspired by the geometry of the TH-Carbonspring itself, a clever design cue that visually links the watch’s exterior to the innovation beating within. The layout is clean and functional, featuring two snailed black opalin subdials. At 3 o’clock resides the 30-minute chronograph counter, while the 12-hour counter is positioned at 9 o’clock.
For optimal readability against the complex carbon background, TAG Heuer employed sharp contrasts. The applied hour indices and the facetted hour and minute hands are all rendered in black gold and filled with generous amounts of white Super-LumiNova®. The tips of the hollowed subdial hands are lacquered in white, as is the entire central chronograph seconds hand, ensuring that a quick glance is all that’s needed to read the time or the elapsed chronograph measurement.
The undeniable centerpiece of the dial is the flying tourbillon, prominently displayed through a large aperture at the 6 o’clock position. Circled by a black-gold ring, the tourbillon cage rotates once per minute, providing a captivating mechanical spectacle that also serves to counteract the effects of gravity on the escapement. Its intricate, open-worked structure offers a glimpse into the mechanical complexity that defines this timepiece.
Courtesy of TAG Heuer
Powering this advanced machine is the in-house Calibre TH20-61. This automatic movement is the heart of the watch, integrating the column-wheel chronograph, the tourbillon, and the revolutionary TH-Carbonspring regulator. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) and provides a healthy power reserve of 65 hours. The movement’s COSC certification is a formal testament to its high precision, a standard achieved through the superior stability of its unique carbon oscillator.
Turning the watch over reveals a black sandblasted DLC grade-2 titanium screwed caseback fitted with a sapphire crystal. This exhibition window offers a view of the Calibre TH20-61, showcasing its industrial-style finishing and custom rotor. The caseback is engraved with essential information, including its water resistance rating and, most importantly, its unique limited-edition number, noted as "XX/50," confirming its rarity.
Completing the package is a supple black rubber strap designed for comfort and durability. The strap integrates seamlessly with the carbon case and is secured by a folding clasp with dual push-buttons. The clasp itself is crafted from black DLC-coated grade-2 titanium, a material choice that aligns perfectly with the watch's lightweight, high-strength ethos. The TAG Heuer shield is subtly engraved on the clasp’s surface.
The launch of the Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport TH-Carbonspring at Geneva Watch Days 2025 marks a pivotal moment for TAG Heuer. It is the physical embodiment of the brand's commitment to avant-garde watchmaking, a demonstration of its capacity to not only compete but to lead in the highly technical arena of chronometry.
Courtesy of TAG Heuer
This timepiece is a clear signal of intent from the brand. As stated by company leadership, the TH-Carbonspring is not a one-off experiment but the beginning of a new chapter. The technology developed over the past decade will eventually find its way into other high-performance watches across the TAG Heuer collections, promising a new generation of mechanical timepieces with enhanced, meaningful benefits for the owner.
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport TH-Carbonspring, with reference number CBU5091.FT6305, is priced at $42,100.00. Given its production is strictly limited to 50 numbered pieces for the entire global market, it represents an exceedingly rare and technologically significant offering. Prospective owners will need to act decisively, as availability is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, and demand is certain to outpace the limited supply.
Case: 44mm diameter black forged carbon case with matching forged carbon tachymeter bezel, crown, and pushers. 15.4mm thickness, 49.7mm lug-to-lug distance, and 22mm lug width. Black sandblasted DLC grade-2 titanium screwed caseback with sapphire crystal and 100 meters of water resistance.
Movement: In-house automatic Calibre TH20-61, COSC-certified. Functions include hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, and a 1-minute flying tourbillon. Features the proprietary TH-Carbonspring oscillator, a 65-hour power reserve, and a frequency of 28,800 vph (4Hz).
Dial: Black forged carbon with a spiral-engraved pattern. Two black opalin chronograph counters at 3 o'clock (minutes) and 9 o'clock (hours). Black gold facetted hands and applied indices with white Super-LumiNova®. Visible flying tourbillon at 6 o'clock.
Strap: Black rubber strap with a black DLC grade-2 titanium folding clasp with push-buttons.
Price: $42,100.00
Reference Number: CBU5091.FT6305
Notes: Limited to 50 pieces worldwide. This watch debuts the revolutionary TH-Carbonspring, a patented, in-house carbon-composite hairspring that provides superior amagnetic, shock-resistant, and chronometric properties. Available Q1 2026.