TAGHeuer

Tag Heuer Limited-Edition Anniversary Chest

Filed under: Gadgets, Timepieces / Watches

Tag Heuer is celebrating its 150th anniversary in many ways, one of which is by offering this limited edition 'coffret' that will be officially unveiled at the Baselworld Watch and Jewelry Show in Switzerland and available for purchase sometime in early April. Only 150 will be made, one for each year Tag Heuer has been in business, and each will come with a limited-edition Grand Carrera Calibre 17 RS2 Chronograph watch and one of their hand-assembled smartphones, the Meridiist. Designed by French master craftsman Fred Pinel, the chests are customizable and prices start at €14,900 (about $20,000).

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Tags: cell phone, CellPhone, mobile phone, MobilePhone, tag heuer, TagHeuer, watch

2010 TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster Car

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

It seems to make sense that TAG Heuer teamed up with Tesla Motors - though I don't quite understand why I think that. Successful marketing on behalf of both sides I guess. The collaboration between the brands may continue for a while (likely not going to be like the maligned and now extinct Panerai Ferrari deal) - but the first consumer result is something that I have never seen before. It is a watch themed car. Something I never thought would occur. The rest of the time it is a car themed watch. How fascinating the result is. The bad news? This is a one-off car for now. No word on whether anyone will be able to purchase this cool Tesla Roadster or one like it. Call it a hunch, but I believe that Tesla and TAG are going to be doing things together in the future.

The case comes complete with some cool graphics on it and the TAG Heuer name. The side swooshes are in white with gears in them. Pretty cool. Note the green and red side mirrors that are trademark TAG Heuer colors. The car is actually done as part of TAG's 150th's anniversary. Inside the car will be a special Heuer vintage 1/5 of a second stopwatch and a TAG Heuer Meridiist luxury mobile phone. People who attend the Geneva auto show will get to check out the unique electric sports car, and then it wil be driven to Baselworld for us watch nerds to view. You can thank TAG Heuer's reassuringly burly guards in advance, who will need to prevent me from driving off quickly (but quietly) in the high-tech, fast driving, watch themed, zero polluting, wonder-mobile.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: 2010 TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster Car

Tags: car, roadster, Tag Heuer, TagHeuer, Tesla, watch

Tag Heuer Ambiguously Finalizes Position On Relationship With Tiger Woods

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

"The relationship between the leader in prestigious sports watches and chronographs since 1860 and golf virtuoso Tiger Woods has always been extremely professional and productive," was part of a statement directly from Tag Heuer recently on its relationship (since 2002) with troubled sports star Tiger Woods. I believe that a follow up to this story was necessary because Tag Heuer has been flipping around a bit. Post extra-marital scandal statements from the popular watch brand Tag Heuer confirmed its commitment to its promotional relationship with Tiger Woods. Within a day or two the brand reviewed the current state of Tag Heuer's public opinion as well as his intent to leave the world of professional golf for some indeterminable amount of time, and it looked as though they had a good excuse to release Mr. Woods from his "obligations." Thus, Tag Heuer then reported that it was strongly reconsidering its relationship with Tiger Woods, and reports indicated that they felt Mr. Woods was going to be too much of a liability to the brand image, with not enough future value given his leave of absence from the public eye.

All of a sudden Tag Heuer seems to have come to their senses and realized that despite the scandal, no matter how minor or major it is, Tag Heuer is still a very valuable personality and image for the brand. In what I hope is their final position, they indicate that they will temporarily scale down Tiger's involvement or image in current advertisements, but still retain him in select ad campaigns. Don't expect to see too many more Tag Heuer "Watch are you made of?" campaigns with Wood's face attached to the ad - because the public has an answer to what Wood's is made out of. Plus, Tiger's future as the face of Tag Heuer will of course depend on if and when he returns to professional golf (which he likely will). Part of Tag Heuer's reluctance to drop Woods all together might have something to do with Tiger being titled PGA Tour player of the year. I promise that this will be the last time this story is mentioned - no matter how many times Tag Heuer seems to change its mind. Several of Tiger Wood's other sponsors have dropped him altogether, while a few like Tag Heuer are committed to the international star, but will limit his presence in ads for the foreseeable future.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: ad, campaign, relationship, sponsor, Tag Heuer, TagHeuer, Tiger Woods, TigerWoods

Tag Heuer Watches To Reconsider Relationship With Tiger Woods

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

I recently mentioned that Tag Heuer affirmed its commitment to Tiger Woods as a brand ambassador. They publicly stated that they would stick by the super star as a face of the brand despite and alleged transgressions. It now looks like they might have altered their position. This is the second time this month that Tag Heuer has had to "restate" an earlier announcement. The first was in regard to the origin on their new Caliber 1887 movement.

Now Tag Heuer seems to suggest that Tiger Woods may not be in their short term future goals.We have already seen Tag Heuer pull Tiger Wood based ads, but that makes sense in the immediate given the negative publicity of Tiger's current extramarital activities. Now it looks like Tag Heuer is seriously considering their future with the golf superstar. The main reason? Not likely the current scandal. Though it helps lubricate their decision - the main rationale behind Tag Heuer's likely separation from Mr. Woods is his announcement to leave the professional world of golf for some indeterminable amount of time. Tiger's main allure was his ability to draw a large audience when he played on the greens. Now that he will withdraw from the public eye, does he really have immediate value to the popular watch brand? Several months from now when Tiger Woods hasn't been in a golf tournament in months, he will just be another rich guy in a Nike baseball cap (unless they pull out too). The bigger picture is that because Tiger Woods is exiting the world of golf for a while, he is severely jeopardizing his main income stream - endorsements.

Via World Tempus.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: ambassador, endorsements, golf, Tag Heuer, TagHeuer, Tiger Woods, TigerWoods, watch

Tag Heuer Retains Tiger Woods As Brand Ambassador Despite Scandal

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Sports

It has not been an easy holiday season for mega super athlete Tiger Woods. After news got out about his possible extra-marital affairs and the resulting fiasco surrounding it, the squeaky clean celebrity now has a new angle to his personality. Still, I think he handled the media conference aspects of it much better than others have in the past.

Tiger is a very wealthy guy thanks to years of unprecedented sponsorship and endorsement deals. Suddenly advertisements with his iconic image have all but disappeared - especially on television. Sponsors are worried about possible negative associations with the star looming in the public at this time. Of course, none of this is a surprise.

Like most scandals, this will likely more or less blow over in a few weeks or months. Whatever ensues in Tiger's personal life, is his own business. From a sponsorship standpoint, things won't be quite the same, as some of the more conservative advertisers will likely shun Tiger, although he was once the boy-wonder of conservative image athletes.

One of Tiger's most popular sponsors is watch maker Tag Heuer - who has recently announced their dedication to sticking with the man who has likely been good for their business. Tag Heuer, while a Swiss watch maker, is French owned (by LVMH). While they may pause or delay advertisements in the immediate future, expect to see lots more Tag Heuer ads involving Tiger Woods, a baseball cap, a golf club, and a watch in the near future.

Via World Tempus (in French).

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: endorsements, golf, scandal, sponsorship, tag heuer, TagHeuer, Tiger Woods, TigerWoods, watch

Tag Heuer New Caliber 1887 Watch Movement SNAFU

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This was certainly a sticky situation for Tag Heuer, the details are a bit murky, but the situation is clear. Tag Heuer recently announced their "new, in-house made and designed" Caliber 1887 automatic chronograph movement. All seems well with the movement itself, but the problem is that Tag Heuer didn't design it. Nope, they sort of cosmetically altered an over 10 year old Japanese Seiko movement design (Seiko 6S37). So after 150 years, Tag Heuer's anniversary surprise was on loan from Japan. I do understand that this was arranged with Seiko, and that Tag Heuer will actually be building the movements in limited quantities themselves. At least Seiko isn't doing everything.

Tag Heuer got caught red handed by the watch lover community who noticed the similarities between the two movements. This qualifies us as true nerds, seeing details such as this. Tag Heuer would have gotten away with it to, if it wasn't for us meddling bloggers! That's right, thank the internet watch lover community, who is responsible for this situation being discovered. A powerful indication to the watch industry of what the internet can do for them, or against them. In good taste, as a response to the situation, Tag Heuer CEO Jean-Christophe Babin himself went online to respond to the "accusations." He honorably admitted a "mistake" by Tag Heuer and that the movement was in fact "adopted" from Seiko.

The clear winner in this whole situation is first and foremost the power of the Internet watch lover community, second Seiko, and third Tag Heuer for responding to a sticky situation quickly and admirably. Seiko movements are pretty outstanding, and it is funny that here even the Europeans are rather tacitly suggesting that. Plus, Tag Heuer is a rather mainstream watch brand. Meaning that most people who buy their watches will never even know about this situation. Tag Heuer admitted wrong doing, hopefully a few heads will be caved in there in the marketing department, and they will go on their lives being good watch designers, not movement designers. Lastly, there are several watch forums and blogs that knew about this situation but refused to mention it even though they discussed the new Tag Heuer Caliber 1887movement. They lose the most in this situation for the destruction of valuable street cred among Internet watch lovers who simply expect more.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 1887, caliber, in-house, movement, Seiko, Tag Heuer, TagHeuer, watch

TAG Heuer Brings Back the Silverstone Chronograph

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Back in 1974, Heuer launched the Silverstone, featuring the first automatic chronograph movement on the market. It became an instant favorite around the Formula One grid, whose drivers wore Heuer chronographs with pride. Thirty-five years later, TAG Heuer has announced it is re-issuing the classic in limited quantities.

The re-released Silverstone will be available in brown or blue with a perforated alligator leather strap. It features TAG Heuer's Calibre 11 movement with Dubois-Depraz module, date window at 6 o'clock and anti-glare sapphire crystal front and back. Only 1500 examples will be offered, with an asking price at $6,500 apiece.

Gallery: TAG Heuer Silverstone Chronograph

Tags: heuer, heuer silverstone, HeuerSilverstone, silverstone, silverstone chronograph, SilverstoneChronograph, tag, tag heuer, tag heuer silverstone, tag heuer silverstone chronograph, TagHeuer, TagHeuerSilverstone, TagHeuerSilverstoneChronograph

Triumph and TAG Heuer Honor Steve McQueen With Special Bonneville

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos

Triumph Bonneville Heuer - Click above for high-res image gallery

Triumph and TAG Heuer have joined forces to create a one-of-a-kind Bonneville Heuer motorcycle. Inspired by Steve McQueen and the Porsche 917k that the famous actor, racecar driver and motorcycle rider piloted in the classic film Le Mans, the Bonneville Heuer is painted up in the classic Gulf Oil blue and orange scheme and will be used for promotional purposes.

McQueen famously wore a Heuer Monaco watch in the aforementioned race film and was a renowned Triumph enthusiast. Says Neil Morley, Triumph's Head of Brand Communications:

We are delighted to play our part in this exciting project. The Triumph Bonneville and TAG Heuer Monaco are both timeless masterpieces, celebrating their respective 50th and 40th anniversaries this year. We also both have a natural connection with Steve McQueen, who famously wore a Monaco watch in the film Le Mans and was renowned for his love of our bikes, making this a very natural collaboration.

As much as we'd like to tell you this will be an optional color choice for the production Bonneville, that's not currently the case. If you like it as much as we do, perhaps a phone call to your local Triumph dealer is in order.

Gallery: Triumph Bonneville Heuer

[Source: Triumph]

Tags: bonneville, bonneville heuer, BonnevilleHeuer, heuer, steve mcqueen, SteveMcqueen, tag heuer, TagHeuer, triumph, triumph bonneville, triumph bonneville heuer, TriumphBonneville, TriumphBonnevilleHeuer

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TAG Heuer Presents Limited-Edition Meridiist Automobili Lamborghini

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Luxury Cars & Autos

Vertu has been hard at work cornering the niche automotive-inspired luxury phone market, but they're not going to have it all to themselves. Because TAG Heuer, creators of the Meridiist mobile, have strong ties running deep in the automotive industry that have included collaborations with Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and McLaren to name just a few. And have now teamed up with Lamborghini for an even more exclusive edition of the Meridiist.

The TAG Heuer Meridiist Automobili Lamborghini boasts a chassis made of stainless steel, coated in black titanium carbide and packed with all the bells and whistles you could expect. It'll only be made in a limited edition of 1963 examples, honoring the year which the Italian sportscar-maker started business, available exclusively from Lamborghini and TAG Heuer retailers.

Gallery: TAG Heuer Meridiist Automobili Lamborghini

Tags: Automobili Lamborghini, AutomobiliLamborghini, heuer, Meridiist, tag, tag heuer, TAG Heuer Meridiist, TAG Heuer Meridiist Lamborghini, TagHeuer, TagHeuerMeridiist, TagHeuerMeridiistLamborghini

The Watch Galley Store Website Now With 360 Degree Watch Views

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Choosing your new watch online just got easier. The days of messing with snobby retailers and hard sells are no longer a requirement of indulging in your beloved passion for watches. The Watch Gallery website has been steadily using its special camera to take 360 degree photo shoots of their watches. I checked out their handiwork on some Tag Heuer watches and was pleased with the results. No more mere marketing shots and the wrong angles. Now you get views of the actual watch from front to back, and side to side. This is a big help to give you a good idea of what you've never see looks like in reality. Marketing images are often touched up quite a bit, and it is not always possible to understand how light actually makes the watches we love look. Not all of their watches have this special view, but they are increasing the number of high quality 360 degree images they offer. Hopefully they will allow you to zoom in as well. You can see other Tag Heuer watches photographed like this here. Other brands get this photo treatment as well.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 360 images, 360Images, tag heuer, TagHeuer, the watch gallery, TheWatchGallery, thewatchgallery.co.uk

Tag Heuer Monaco V4 Limited Edition Watch - $80,000

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

It is the timepiece that you never thought Tag Heuer would make - but they did. As a limited edition of just 150 watches the Monaco V4 is a great looking watch that is as fun to watch in operation as it is to show off. Plus, it is the only Tag Heuer watch I know of made from platinum (170 grams of it). Aside from the unique look of the watch and the modern styling, there are two major points of interest in the watch.

First, the watch movement uses a series of transmission belts instead of pinions. The belts are the smallest made anywhere and still have a thin steel wire in them for strength. Basically, instead of smaller gears connecting some of the larger gears, there are the belts that do it. Second is the use of a liner weight for the automatic movement. The idea is meant to resemble a piston in a engine. Instead of an oscillating weight moving around in a circle, the linear weight moves up and down to power the movement. Power is stored in four barrels that are seen in the rear of the watch (hence the V4 name). The power reserve is 52 hours, and the watch is actually very accurate at about plus or minus 4 seconds a day.

The watch also uses mini ball bearings instead of "rubies" that are commonly used in watches for low friction between gears and palettes. Tag Heuer says that the ball bearings provide even less friction than the commonly used synthetic rubies. The watch functions include the time and a power reserve indicator. It is a new style of skeletonized watch, and very Tag Heuer in character. Price is $80,000 for each piece in the limited edition (save for the first piece that is being auctioned off for charity).

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Tag Heuer Monaco V4 Limited Edition Watch

Tags: limited edition, LimitedEdition, monaco, platinum, tag heuer, TagHeuer, v4, watch

Tag Heuer Carrera Caliber 5 Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

While the Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph watch was getting bigger (up to about 44mm wide now I think) someone must have thought it was too big and too much. So here comes a three-hand version of the classic looking Tag Heuer Carrera with the Caliber 5 movement that has made its way into other Tag Heuer timepieces such as the Aquaracer. This Caliber 5 based Carrera is now 39mm wide and in steel.

Most of the watch is what we know and love about the Carrera save for the smaller size and more simple looking face. To help keep the dial from looking too bare, the designers added Clous de Paris texture (just a series of square boxes pattern) on the face, and gave it one of those "open" date windows that I am loathing more each time I see them. In my humble opinion, the watch would have looked better minus the half-banana shaped eye-sore of a date window. To preserve symmetry, would not have something smaller at 6 o'clock made a better choice? An interesting design point are the spelled out hours next to the hour markers. Look closely and you can see them spelled out, "ten," "three," five," etc...

Instead of the tachymetric scale on the aluminum bezel, there are now minute markers such as on a rotating diver's bezel, however I don't think this bezel rotates. The watch is available in the pictured brown color dial and (of course) black. Both are handsome in tone. The watches will be available soon and for a price that is likely a bit less than the Aquaracer automatic with the steel bracelet.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: black, brown, caliber 5, Caliber5, carrera, tag heuer, TagHeuer, timepiece, watch, WV211M.BA0787, WV211N.BA0787

Bamford Adds TAG Heuer Monaco To Bespoke Line Of Timepieces

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Some companies make things. Others make things better. Take for example the Bamford Watch Department. They don't make their own watches. Probably because they know there are enough companies out there making excellent timepieces. What's lacking, in the eyes of the British purveyor of luxury items, is customization options. So they offer a line of Rolex wristwatches – like their PVD-coated Daytona Cosmograph – with a seemingly endless array of color combinations. The watches can be customized right on their website (not unlike premium automakers' configurators on which we've wasted countless hours), and now Bamford has added another model to their portfolio: the TAG Heuer Monaco.

Now celebrating its fortieth anniversary, the square-cased Monaco is one of the most iconic wristwatches of all time. But while TAG Heuer has released some special anniversary editions in various color combinations, Bamford lets you specify everything, from the dial color and strap stitching to the date window and chronograph indices. The privilege will cost you around ￡5,000, but there's no cost for toying around with the online customization interface.

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Tags: bamford, bamford monaco, bamford tag heuer, bamford tag heuer monaco, bamford watch department, BamfordMonaco, BamfordTagHeuer, BamfordTagHeuerMonaco, BamfordWatchDepartment, heuer, monaco, tag, tag heuer, tag heuer monaco, TagHeuer, TagHeuerMonaco

Tag Heuer Introduces Intensive HD lenses For Land-Loving Activities

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Sports

Of course you've those expensive Italian sunglasses for water skiing afternoons in Vis. But what do you cover your eyes with during a round of links in Scottsdale when it's essential to detect all of the greens on the green? For those land-lubbing sports Tag Heuer eyewear has created its Intensive HD lenses.

The vermillion-hued shades are photochromic and go from translucent in mild light to a mirrored, "silver flash" reflective when things get bright. They're the first lenses to be able shift from semi-transparent to fully mirrored, as well as maintain all of the dimensional detail you need when putting or pigeon shooting. And that means all you'll need is two minutes in the sun to channel your inner Erik Estrada -- or Angelina Jolie.

The polycarbonate protect against UV-A and UV-B, will be available in Zenith, Club, and 27° frame styles, and are priced from $310 to $420.

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Tags: glasses, lenses, sunglasses, tag heuer, TagHeuer

Tag Heuer Monaco LS Chronograph Calibre 12 Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

From concept to reality - sort of. I got excited seeing some of the Tag Heuer Monaco watch concepts shown at Baselworld the last few years. Instead of any of those watches really making it to production (with some exceptions) we have this Monaco LS Chronograph Calibre 12 watch model, that is like the "eventual production model of a concept car" that itself was too impracticable for production. Alas, this Monaco LS Chronograph Calibre 12 watch is "based" on the Tag Heuer Monaco 360 concept watch.

Underneath the designer dial, is a basic array of subdial discs, save for the dial and hand for the chronograph hours located at 6 o'clock. For the most part the dial is just a series of visual tricks to make it look more complicated than it really is. For example, take the "linear" seconds counter located at 3 o'clock. It looks like a horizontally laid out linear gauge, but in reality it is just the appearance of that with a disc bearing a spiral red line underneath that looks like it travels across the linear dial. The same goes for the chic looking counters at 12 and 9 o'clock - nothing that special and more gimmicky.

Powering the watch is Dubois Depraz automatic mechanical chronograph movement inside of the 40.5mm wide steel case that is WR to 100 meters. Style of course refers to the "futuristic" concept Monaco watches that some of you have lusted for, but for me this Monaco LS Chronograph watch is simply not that satisfying a consolation prize to those interesting concepts which are not available. Not a bad watch, but certainly underwhelming once the initial novelty of the style wears off.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: calibre 12, Calibre12, chronograph, LS, monaco, tag heuer, TagHeuer, timeiece, watch