New Product Release: Bamford Watch Limited Edition TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph X Team Ikuzawa
While he may not be Japan's most successful racing driver on the international stage, few drivers represent the spirit of Japanese racing more passionately than Tetsu Ikuzawa. Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, Ikuzawa was one of the first Japanese drivers to compete in European racing, rising to prominence in Formula 3 and Formula 2, and eventually becoming a factory racer for the Porsche Endurance Racing Program, competing in races from Le Mang went to his hometown Suzuka Circuit. Today, his eponymous Team Ikuzawa racing team is both a booming fashion brand and a serious racing enterprise, thanks in large part to Ikuzawa’s daughter, internationally renowned designer Mai Ikuzawa. TAG Heuer’s latest release has collaborated with Team Ikuzawa and renowned watch customizer Bamford Watch Department to capture Team Ikuzawa’s clean, graphic and indelibly Japanese style in a modern racing chronograph. The new limited-edition TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa from Bamford brings a distinctly Asian street style to the Carrera platform, with one of the most focused and minimalist aesthetics in the current TAG Heuer catalogue.
The TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford’s 42mm-wide stainless steel case is shared with the rest of the modern (non-glass-boxed) Carrera chronograph range, featuring the usual Carrera visual signature suite. The familiar combination of narrow polished bezels, wide piston pushers and sharply angled, inward-angled lugs is intact here, rooting the rest of the design firmly in the established Carrera visual canon. TAG Heuer did make an effort to differentiate this model from the standard production Carrera Chronograph, with a limited-edition serial number on the sapphire display caseback, as well as the Ikusawa and Bamford Watch Division logos (unfortunately Yes, the brand was unable to offer this caseback at press time). In addition to this bottom cover,
Of course, the dial is where the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford adds its own twist to the Carrera formula, and the overall look here relies heavily on Ikuzawa's current street style and Bamford's on the matte, minimalist side The leading position in the creation of custom-made dials. The overall effect is crisp, sharp, and prioritizes labels over all other visual details. Compared to the ornate finish combinations found on most modern Carrera dials, the Bamford-designed Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa appears focused and understated, with an almost completely matte appearance and a simple two-tone layout. The main dial surface, as well as the outer ring and the ring of the 3 o'clock chronograph subdial, have a bright matte snow white finish. The striped wand-shaped handset, dial text and 9 o'clock chronograph hour subdial are all in pure matte red, creating a classic sporty contrast without destroying the simplicity of the overall design. A prime example of this minimalist design philosophy is at 6 o'clock, where TAG Heuer has removed the Carrera's usual running seconds hand, leaving a clear canvas for the oversized printed Team Ikuzawa logo. Of course, the most striking nod to the Ikuzawa team and its proud Japanese heritage is the subdial itself at 9 o’clock, which subtly forms a rising sun logo across much of the dial. However, the only contrasting texture here (besides the polished metal of the hands and indexes) is the faint hint of skylight on the sub-dial surfaces, so the lack of visual sophistication compared to the standard Carrera may not be to everyone’s taste.
Although the running seconds display has been removed for a cleaner look, the movement inside the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford is a standard Heuer 02 automatic chronograph. However, there’s a reason why the Heuer 02 is TAG Heuer’s de facto flagship chronograph movement. In addition to its lightweight and flexible vertical clutch and column wheel chronograph drive system, the movement is also capable of delivering powerful power at a frequency of 28,800 bph. 80 hours power reserve. TAG Heuer pairs the Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa by Bamford with two straps. The Carrera collection’s standard H-link stainless steel bracelet is the pick here, with slim polished center links and wider vertical brushed surfaces keeping the design sporty. For the more unique and interesting strap of the pair, TAG Heuer has opted for a glossy white, tightly woven fabric strap. This vibrant, casual style features a hook-and-loop closure and is stamped with the Team Ikuzawa logo that matches the dial for added presence on the wrist. To further connect the watches to Team Ikuzawa’s racing heritage, each watch also comes with a scale model replica of the Porsche 906 Tetsu Ikuzawa drove to victory at the 1967 Japanese Grand Prix.
Over the years, Team Ikuzawa's brand has transformed from a regional Japanese racing powerhouse to international motorsport success to streetwear fashion fame. The new limited-edition TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa from Bamford captures the vibrant Japanese spirit, fusing every iteration of Team Ikuzawa with fresh, modern style.
