Chronographs compared: Rolex Daytona replica, TAG Heuer Carrera replica, Omega Speedmaster replica

Since our heart beats for chronographs, we have decided to compare the three most iconic sports models of all time. We often forget the utility that chronograph watches can have for everyday life. They also have one of the most difficult complications to manufacture (our article on chronographs can provide you with more information on this). They are, in my opinion, the pinnacle of beauty, also thanks to their sporty appearance. The three timepieces we have chosen all have something in common and are easily identifiable as true watchmaking icons.

TAG HEUER CARRERA REPLICA

Introduced in 1963, the Carrera was Heuer's first line of watches with its own brand. The Carrera represented a revolution in design for Heuer and its innovative appearance stood out among the most popular chronographs of the 1940s and 1950s. Jack Heuer, the then CEO of the company, wanted a watch with excellent legibility and was not particularly enthusiastic about the unnecessary functions of many chronographs of the time. That's why he had the 1/5-second scale applied to the thin inner part of the bezel, making the appearance simpler and neater and the dial wider. It could be said that the result was one of the most beautiful chronographs ever.

Designed for pilots and racing enthusiasts, Jack wanted to find a name that evoked the spirit of motor sports. The name Carrera dates back to the 1950s, when a legendary event called the Carrera Panamericana was born, an exhausting and often lethal race that crossed the entire Mexico and involved some of the world's best drivers. Jack Heuer was a lover of road races and heard about this race. He was particularly struck by the name Carrera, which in Spanish means career or race, and decided to register this name for his new watch.

Heuer had a clear vision for the Carrera and therefore was inclined to choose a name that was easy to pronounce and recognized internationally. The first two models of the new collection were the Carrera 12 with a 36mm ref. 2447, which had three sub-dials for measuring hours, minutes, and seconds, and the Carrera 45 with a ref. 3647, which had only two sub-dials, one for 45 minutes and the other for timing seconds. The Carrera 12 was powered by the highly reliable Valjoux 72, also used for other famous watches of the time, such as the Rolex Daytona. The success of the Heuer Carrera was so overwhelming that it favored the development of other variants.

The design of TAG Heuer's famous chronograph has changed slightly over the years, but has always remained consistent with the style of the collection. Today, the Carrera with its numerous variations remains one of the reference models of the watchmaking house in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Whether it's a new or vintage model, the characteristics of the Carrera remain unique and unmistakable.

OMEGA SPEEDMASTER REPLICA

The most interesting history of the three watches is certainly that of the Omega Speedmaster. The first Speedmaster with ref. CK2915 was designed for race car drivers, athletes, and engineers in search of a chronograph. But this watch owes its fame to reasons that have nothing to do with asphalt, competitive sports, or planet Earth in general. I am sure that the designer Claude Bailod together with Pierre Monait and his team of developers would never have imagined what impact this model would have in the years following its launch.

As many know, the Speedmaster received the nickname 'Moonwatch' after some tests conducted by NASA on various wristwatches in 1962. The other competitors were models from Bulova, Longines-Wittnauer, Rolex, and Waltham. But only the Speedmaster managed to convince engineers at the US aerospace agency and thus became the wrist companion of the Apollo 11 mission astronauts.

Of the three watches compared in this article, only the Omega Speedmaster still looks the same as the original model that went to the Moon. Some changes have certainly been made, but the end product has remained unchanged, a sign of timeless design that refers to the saying: "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

ROLEX DAYTONA REPLICA

Probably the most famous of the three chronographs in this article, or at least on par with the Speedmaster, is the Rolex Daytona. This watch is adored by many for unknown reasons, but many have good reasons to love it. Introduced in 1963 with ref. 6239, the Daytona was inspired by motor racing, just like the other two chronographs. The original name of the Daytona was 'Le Mans', but evidently this watch was not destined to be called that.

When the chronograph arrived in America, Rolex USA requested the word 'Daytona' on the dial for models in the US market, since Rolex was the official sponsor of the 24-hour Daytona race. The name, however, did not change until 1964. From that year on, the winners of the grueling 24-hour race received one of these models as a prize.

The Rolex Daytona is undoubtedly the most collected sports chronograph ever and is still the most popular chronograph in the world. Vintage models, however, are special. As mentioned, the 6239 was the first Daytona to be introduced and, like the Speedmaster, had a bezel with a tachymetric scale. Later changes were made to both this and the dial. The beating heart of the early models was the famous Valjoux 72 (the same already mentioned for the Carrera), renamed Rolex 72B.

The next significant change came just a year later, in 1965. Rolex has always been proud of its waterproof cases and a watch without the qualities of an 'Oyster' would not have been worthy of the Geneva watchmaker. So the traditional chronograph pushers were replaced by the brand new screw-down pushers (this reference is known as the 6240), which made the Daytona a true Rolex Oyster and the reference model for modern versions.

Today the Daytona is still a chronograph that manages to attract even those who know little or nothing about it. The design is timeless and in 2016 Rolex introduced the latest version, which once again caused quite a stir.