Manufacturing TAG Heuer - New mechanism 1887

[JuanSinmiedo]

Tag Heuer is progressing steadily.

Of the 60 patents filed since 1860 by TAG Heuer, 14 have been obtained in the last 4 years and 12 will be recorded throughout 2009. Still, missing the best ... TAG Heuer announces that the next five years will present more than 150 major innovations.



The first one is about to be revealed. This is the new Caliber 1887, the fourth movement Developed exclusively by TAG Heuer concluded after the Caliber 360, Caliber S and Caliber V. This new movement will have its chronograph function is controlled by a column wheel, its components will be manufactured at the premises of TAG Heuer Cornol and then assembled at its headquarters in La Chaux de Fonds.



The completion of the new mechanism, besides the increase of activity in different areas of development of the firm has led to a necessary enlargement of the premises of TAG Heuer headquarters. 3000 square meters of usable space were added to the current 10,000 square meters.

It will probably be presented at Basel 2010...

Regards.

[glamuro]

Happy to see the progression of Tag. I believe the price range of Tag will increase with more self developed movements. LVMH must see a bright future of Tag.

[C. Davidson]

Thank you very much Juan.

The 1887 will compare very nicely to other in-house chrono calibers on the market. Can't wait to see it!

[h2xmark]

thanks for the info, i'm glad to see Tag is really getting some more inhouse movements

[Wisconsin Proud]

thanks for the info, i'm glad to see Tag is really getting some more inhouse movements

I agree, it lends more credibility to the brand when they use their own movements but the flip side is watch prices will go up.

Everyone knows what happened when Breitling introduced the B01 this year.......they loved the watch but hated the price.

[TheWalrus]

I agree, it lends more credibility to the brand when they use their own movements but the flip side is watch prices will go up.

Everyone knows what happened when Breitling introduced the B01 this year.......they loved the watch but hated the price.

In other words, time to pick up a Tag Heuer before they pull an Omega / Rolex and price themselves out of my salary.

[TobyJC]

Any idea what models will have this new movement?

[enricodepaoli]

this re-climb TAG Heuer is going thru, will also increase older models prices, as well as turn them into sought after pieces.

This is already happening as the brand re-strengths its name. A lot of the used models are slowly becoming more expensive. Not a fast change, but a good one.

[Robertus]

According to factory on-line leaflet the dial will be the same as the Valjoux 7750 has (I mean sub-dial layout), with date at 6.
Questions:

1. where is the symmetry when date window is at 6???

2. any idea of a day-date version? Remember: today no in-house movement has a day-date feature! (I mean Rolex, Breitling, IWC, JLC and PP - Nautilus) Could be a nice plus for the customers, at least as an option. Can't wait to see this day-date version in the Aquaracer line - with a new lunette design...

Regards: Robertus

[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.