Manufacturing TAG Heuer - New mechanism 1887

[The White Rabbit]

There are suspicions about the claims of TAG Heuer CEO Mr. Babin. They boast having singlehandedly developed a new integrated chronograph from the ground up within 3 years. That movement also happens to be reliable and fit for mass-production.

Let alone the couple of years it requires to test a new movement, a company needs to be very, very, very good to achieve such a result in such a short time. Remember ETA is sticking to 1970's designs which have been improved over the years, and everybody keeps coming back to them for a reason or another.

A couple of years ago, German watch company Junghans released two "new in-house" calibers, that after close examination proved to be Seiko designs. The company either negotiated a license to use Seiko's IP or puchases blank parts from the Japanese manufacture and finishes them and assembles them in Germany.

No permission to use that pic.

This established the fact that Seiko is open to negotiating the use of its IP by other aspiring movements manufacturers.



Edited by mod:Photo of Seiko cal. 6s37a by "DrSeiko.com"

Now in the case of TAG Heuer, the striking similarity of their caliber with the Seiko 6S37 makes it look like Mr. Babin might have gone a far stretch when he claims that the caliber 1887 was all developed in-house within 3 years time. There is nothing wrong with using another company's IP or parts. Fact is, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin have been relying on Lemania (Swatch Group) designs for many years; and according to Swiss watch making regulations, you can claim a movement is Swiss Made as long as 50% of the cost of production is done in Switzerland. But if this new TAG Heuer 1887 proves to be Seiko's 6S37, making it look like it is TAG Heuer's own IP is what you would call "pushing the envelope" of marketing... or just plain wishful thinking.