Watch Paparazzi

Model Sara Sampaio spotted wearing Tag Heuer

The 2023 Monaco Grand Prix once again proved to be as much a showcase for fine watchmaking as it is for motorsport engineering, and Portuguese supermodel Sara Sampaio delivered one of the cleaner wrist sightings of the weekend. Photographed in the Loges VIP enclosure — Tag Heuer's own hospitality territory, naturally — Sampaio wore a stainless steel Carrera Automatic with a muted gray sunray dial, gold-tone applied baton indices, and the brand's brushed-and-polished integrated bracelet.

The reference in question appears to be the WBN2410.BA0621, part of Tag Heuer's relaunched Carrera collection aimed at the 36mm ladies' segment. The watch is powered by the Calibre 5 automatic movement — a 38-hour power reserve workhorse based on the ETA 2824-2 architecture — housed in a 36mm steel case with a sapphire crystal and 100-metre water resistance. The date window sits at six o'clock, consistent with what is visible on Sampaio's wrist. Gold-tone accents on the crown and applied hour markers bridge sporty and dressy registers effectively.

The Carrera name carries genuine horological weight. Introduced in 1963 and named after the Carrera Panamericana road race, it was one of the first purpose-built chronograph watches designed with driver legibility in mind. The contemporary automatic dress variants depart from the chronograph format but inherit the clean dial philosophy and motorsport associations that make the name commercially potent.

Sampaio's presence at Monaco was not incidental — Tag Heuer has held naming rights to the Monaco Grand Prix circuit itself and maintains deep F1 partnerships, making VIP appearances by brand-adjacent celebrities part of a deliberate experiential marketing strategy. Whether Sampaio attended in an official brand capacity or as a personal guest, the watch choice reads as considered rather than coincidental.

On the market, the WBN2410.BA0621 retails at approximately $2,650 USD through authorized dealers, sitting in a competitive segment against Tudor and Longines automatic offerings. Grey market pricing tracks close to retail, reflecting steady but not speculative demand. For collectors, it is a lifestyle acquisition rather than an investment piece — which is precisely what an event like Monaco calls for.