To celebrate its appointment as official dealer and technical service of TAG-Heuer, jewelry Grau-Rabat of Barcelona inaugurated on October 9 an exhibition where, in addition to the latest innovations from the firm, we were able to see but above all touch three of the grails of modern watchmaking, namely: the Monaco V4, the Mikrograph and the MicroPendulum.
There I also had the opportunity to speak with the management of TAG-Heuer Spain in a relaxed atmosphere and completely willing to answer all kinds of questions, from the now old controversy of the origin of the 1887 caliber to the convenience - or not - of giving the prefix of the TAG matrix to an old watchmaking manufacture - Heuer - that could not have survived without the first.
We even talk about the renowned calibers that, contrary to what some have suggested in the forums, TAG-Heuer does not hide but rather clarifies perfectly in the technical document handled by the C.O. and available to anyone who requests it.
But let's get to the watches.
The three pieces that I had the opportunity to try on are the culmination of the charismatic Jean-Christophe Babin's efforts to put TAG-Heuer at the forefront of watchmaking innovation fourteen years ago, when he arrived from outside the sector. And it was Stephane Linder, current CEO after the former's departure to Bulgari, who was in charge of launching the revolutionary process.
In 2004 TAG Heuer unveiled the MONACO V4 Concept Watch, the world's first watch with drive belts, linear tungsten mass and four barrels on ball bearings. Only six years later, in 2010 and against industry predictions, he presented it in a commercial production. The Monaco V4 is the world's first wristwatch equipped with a linear mass, mounted on the smallest ball bearings in the world (2.2 to 4 mm in diameter, with a thickness of 0.6 to 1 mm), not to mention the transmission belts, thin as a human hair.
Launched in January 2011, the MIKROGRAPH 1/100th marked the beginning of TAG Heuer's “MIKRO” Fine Watchmaking. This innovation combines two exhausts that vibrate respectively at 28,800 and 360,000 vibrations per hour.
It offers unparalleled precision and timing thanks to its independent “normal speed” and “fast speed” gears. This technical marvel redefines modern chronograph manufacturing while combining a Heuer invention from 1916, the Mikrograph (the first counter capable of measuring 1/100th of a second) with the iconic Carrera design in rose gold, for a limited edition of 150 pieces with a brown dial and crocodile strap and another 150 pieces with an anthracite gray dial and a crocodile strap of the same tone.
The Carrera Mikropendulum chronograph is TAG Heuer's latest chronograph with a magnetic pendulum system and an accuracy of 1/100th of a second. The 45 mm case is made of grade 5 titanium (otherwise titanium is impossible to polish as it crumbles like a sugar cube), satin-finish and sandblasted.
The curved sapphire crystal has an anti-reflective treatment on both sides. The anthracite gray dial is satin-finished on one side and features a Côte-de-Genève finish under the pendulum, the first magnetic oscillator without a coil spring, which can be seen at 9 o'clock.
www.tagheuer.com
www.gr-bcn.com
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