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TAG Heuer Adds Some 1980s Japanese Swagger to the Carrera Chronograph

George Bamford and Mia Ikuzama do it again.

Side view of a TAG Heuer Carrera chronograph watch with a white dial, red accents, and a white perforated strap on a red background.TAG Heuer
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By Brad Lanphear

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Team Ikuzawa began as a racing team in 1981, founded by famed Japanese driver Tetsu Ikuzawa. Under the guidance of his daughter Mai, it has grown into a global brand that spans motorsports, design, fashion and art.

No watch brand can match Team Ikuzawa’s deep auto racing roots like TAG Heuer, and with celebrated horological tinkerer George Bamford reprising his role as co-designer, the two brands have reunited for a second reinterpretation of the iconic Carrera Chronograph.

Silver TAG Heuer Carrera watch with white and red dial, attached to a miniature black race car chassis with rubber tires.
The Carrera Chronograph Team Ikuzawa is built on the ‘Glassbox’ blueprint.
TAG Heuer

Team Ikuzawa and TAG Heuer first came together in 2023 for a limited edition release based on Jack Heuer’s original Carrera Chronograph, decorated in the team’s racing livery. This time, the kindred brands are tackling the newer, much-celebrated Carrera ‘Glassbox’ Chronograph.

It features the standard 39mm stainless steel case with twisted lugs, a polished finish and piston pushers, accented with a red lacquered stripe around the crown.

Two TAG Heuer Carrera watches with white dials, red accents, and one with a white strap with red stripes, the other with a white perforated leather strap with red stitching.
The Carrera Chronograph Team Ikuzawa is decorated in the racing team’s distinct white-and-red accents.
TAG Heuer

Under the signature domed “glassbox” sapphire crystal is a dial that blends Team Ikuzawa’s design ethos with a deep-cut Heuer timepiece not worn on the wrist.

Hitting the Roadmaster

When George Bamford and Mai Ikuzawa got together to design their second TAG Heuer collaboration, they turned to the Heuer Roadmaster dash-mounted stopwatch for inspiration. An obscurity to the watch community, it is an iconic timekeeping device among vintage motorsports enthusiasts.

TAG Heuer Carrera wristwatch with white textured dial, red and black accents, and stainless steel bracelet on a red and white background.
The Carrera Chronograph Team Ikuzawa dial draws inspiration from the Heuer Roadmaster stopwatch.
TAG Heuer

The Carrera Chronograph Team Ikuzawa dial draws on elements from later-model Roadmasters produced during the 1980s, including the printed white ruler scale on the black raised flange, the printed black 60-second track on the outer rim of the white dial and the vibrant lacquered red chronograph seconds hand.

However, the most distinctive nod to the Roadmaster is the stylized 30-minute totalizer dial at 3:00. The segmented track with circled numbers comes directly from Heuer’s vintage racing instrument.

Silver TAG Heuer Carrera wristwatch with white and red dial on white leather gloves with red padded accents.
The Carrera Chronograph Team Ikuzawa features a 39mm stainless steel case.
TAG Heuer

Meanwhile, the bicompax dial with a date window at 6:00 remains true to Mr. Heuer’s iconic chronograph design. Just as the original, it notably lacks a running seconds function, prioritizing two totalizers and leaving dial real estate for sponsors and partnerships.

Team Ikuzawa’s logo fittingly occupies that reserved space just above 6:00. Like the Carrera logo below 12:00, it is printed in red on a flat rectangle, raised above the Clou de Paris-textured dial, which reminds me of certain 1980s Seiko 5 Sports references.

Back of a TAG Heuer Carrera watch with visible mechanical movement and red "Team Ikuzawa" text on the glass.
The Carrera Chronograph Team Ikuzawa runs on a TAG Heuer Caliber TH20-10.
TAG Heuer

This uncommon dial layout comes courtesy of the TAG Heuer Caliber TH20-10 automatic movement. It features a column wheel, vertical clutch and bi-directional rotor, beats at 4Hz, and provides an impressive 80-hour power reserve.

The modestly finished movement is visible through a sapphire caseback with the Team Ikuzawa logo printed in red and the Bamford Watch Dept. logo printed in white.

Kitted out

Along with the Carrera’s standard seven-link stainless-steel quick-release bracelet with a folding clasp, this collaboration includes two additional straps. There is a two-piece white textile strap with double red stripes and a white leather perforated racing strap with red side stitching, both fasten with signed stainless steel deployant clasps.

Red metal watch case with TAG Heuer x Team Ikuzawa branding, containing a silver watch with a metal bracelet, a red pouch, and two extra watch straps.
The Carrera Chronograph Team Ikuzawa comes with a decorative red steel toolbox.
TAG Heuer

On top of that, the watch comes with a black leather watch roll, red travel bag and three key chains, all packaged in a red lacquered steel toolbox based on those used by racing team mechanics for decades.

Availability and pricing

TAG Heuer is no stranger to collaborations, and the ‘Glassbox’ Carrera has become the preferred medium for obvious reasons. But this one stands out to me, not just because of how objectively gorgeous it is, but because it feels like one Jack Heuer would have set up himself.

It also features one of the coolest themed, decorative watch boxes I’ve ever seen.

The only problem with the Carrera Chronograph Team Ikuzawa is that, even if you can spare the $10,500 to buy one, it is limited to just 250 pieces worldwide and can only be purchased from select TAG Heuer boutiques.

Silver TAG Heuer Carrera chronograph watch with white dial, red accents, and stainless steel bracelet.TAG Heuer

TAG heuer Carrera Chronograph Team Ikuzawa

Specs

Case Size 39mm
Movement TAG Heuer Caliber TH20-10 automatic
Water Resistance 100m
About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.

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