Tag Heuer Carrera Heritage WAS2140.FC8176 by Elizabeth Lowry

Although the Tag Heuer website may identify this Carrera Heritage strap as “brown” this description seems incomplete. The strap is more aptly described as being a rich chocolate-caramel color—and it looks good enough to eat. Granted, when you hear that the strap on this Calibre 6 watch is made of alligator skin, the idea of licking it seems a little less appealing, but (at first glance) it really does look like a very enticing strip of candy. To compliment the strap’s rich caramel tones, the dial is highlighted by honey colored chronograph hands. The bezel, crown and and casing are of 18 carat rose gold as are the chronograph hands, Arabic numerals and raised Tag Heuer logo on the dial. Color-wise, this timepiece is a warmer version of its counterpart the cool blue and silver WAS 2111.BA 0732. Like its cool blue counterpart, this 39mm caramel-colored Carrera Heritage boasts an attractive flinque effect dial. For those not in the know, this means that the dial surface is engraved with miniscule lines following either straight or wavy patterns, and sometimes covered with a thin layer of enamel.

Pros: Double anti-reflective treatment on the scratch-resistant crystal covering the dial and water resistant to a depth of 100 meters (or approximately 300 feet). The dial also encompasses a smaller dial to count seconds which is positioned above the date window at 6. The bezel is pushed back to reveal more as much of the dial as possible.

Cons: Although leather straps are beautiful, they require attention. They shouldn’t get wet and must be carefully cleaned. Alligator straps are not water-friendly, so if your strap gets dirty you will have to try to clean it without using water. The color of the strap is likely to fade with excessive exposure to the sun and may become brittle in hot dry climates.

For serious watch buyers and wearers, the Carrera Heritage can become a watch for all seasons. The gold and caramel version could be worn with a winter wardrobe, while the cooler silver blue model could be worn in summer. This watch is also an interesting size; 39mm could be construed as a small men’s watch or a slightly larger women’s watch and would seem appropriate for either gender in a variety of contexts. For this reason (if you are comfortable with the drawbacks of a leather strap) I would say it is a worthy purchase.