When it comes to classic maritime style, few complications are as evocative (or as specialized) as a tide indicator. The ability to chart high and low tide at the press of a pusher is a useful functionality, but the colorful, intricate graphical treatments of tide indicators are often just as effective as their functionality. The classic 1968 Heuer Seafarer reference 2446C (also sold as the Mareographe, with other variants sold co-branded through Abercrombie and Fitch) offers one of the finest and most beloved of these vibrant complications, and for its latest release, TAG Heuer looks to recapture that magic. The new limited edition TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Seafarer x Hodinkee handsomely blends classic ‘60s dial elements and colors with the streamlined modern “Glassbox” case design, creating a compelling late-summer statement watch that’s sure to garner some fans.

TAG Heuer uses the larger 42mm “Glassbox” silhouette for the Carrera Chronograph Seafarer x Hodinkee’s stainless steel case. The mix of sharply angled lugs, pump pushers, and the Jetsons-esque bezel-less domed sapphire crystal should be familiar to fans of the brand, but TAG Heuer adds one new element here. At 9 o’clock, the brand includes a beefy new rectangular pusher, dedicated solely to the tide indicator complication. This new addition markedly changes the profile of the case in initial photos, giving the Seafarer its own unique personality. With that said, other than the new pusher, this case is more or less identical to other versions of the Carrera, including the sapphire display caseback and solid 100-meter water resistance rating.

Naturally, the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Seafarer x Hodinkee’s graphic dial is the real centerpiece here. TAG Heuer reworks the Carrera formula rather extensively in images, beginning with an outer minutes scale placed on the convex outer edge of the unique sloping chapter ring to echo the ref. 2446C’s minutes-scale bezel. Then, there’s the chronograph minutes subdial at 3 o’clock. On top of the silver azurage treatment, the brand adds a handsome set of sky blue regatta timer-style painted segments, lending the design a more playful and energetic feel in images. Of course, the 9 o’clock tide indicator subdial is the most thoroughly updated element, with segments in navy blue, sky blue, and striped black against a crisp white backdrop. TAG Heuer also revises the 6 o’clock running seconds subdial as well, adorning the sloping outer chapter ring with the Seafarer name and deleting the standard Carrera’s 6 o’clock date window. Taken as a whole, it’s a punchy, summery new look for the Carrera, even if the actual utility of the new elements is extremely situational.

TAG Heuer powers the Carrera Chronograph Seafarer x Hodinkee with its in-house TH20-13 automatic chronograph movement. Outside of the new tide indicator complication replacing the chronograph hours, the TH20-13 is broadly similar to the familiar TH20, including its exemplary 80-hour power reserve, 28,800 bph frequency, and the column wheel and vertical clutch chronograph actuation system. On the finishing side, the TH20-13 sports the brand’s usual Côtes de Genève across the bridges, a polished column wheel, and a handsome brushed skeleton rotor shaped like the Heuer shield emblem. To complete the package, TAG Heuer fits the watch with a black rubber deployant strap featuring an attractive woven texture.

Nothing quite fits the sunny, seafaring vibe of summertime like a tide indicator watch, and TAG Heuer has a history of creating some of the most sought-after examples. The new limited edition TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Seafarer x Hodinkee brings the ethos of one of its classic ‘60s examples into the modern age with an attractive, characterful dial treatment, impressive build quality, and a unique, rarely-seen complication. Only 968 examples of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Seafarer x Hodinkee will be made, and the watch is available through authorized dealers and the Hodinkee Shop now. MSRP for this watch stands at $7,950 USD as of press time. For more information, please visit the brand’s website.