With so many innovative watches emerging from the TAG Heuer workshops over the last few years, one could become a little blasé. However, the brand’s constant search for perfecting precision timing in the world of sports, clearly places it apart from the vast array of watch manufacturers. In fact, the all-demanding consumer has made it known that TAG Heuer is one of the most demanded brands: one in nine of all watches purchased throughout the world is a TAG Heuer; it is the number two brand in the USA (second only to the inevitable Rolex!); over the last three years it has out-performed all other brands with the highest level of growth.
Two years ago at a special event in St Tropez, TAG Heuer presented a prototype of the Aquaracer Chrono Calibre S Regatta and thrilled the assembled watch journalists with a remarkable display of how this revolutionary timepiece would transform timing. The wait for the final version seemed a little long, but when you see how it performs and with what technology, the wait was worth it.
The watch is in stainless steel and is equipped with a remarkable Calibre S movement developed and patented by TAG Heuer. What it does is measure and display all watch and chronograph functions with the same hands. This unique and patented architecture, offers an eye-catching and simple means of measuring elapsed chronograph and countdown time for regattas. The Calibre S displays hours with the central hour hand in the Time mode and Chronograph mode; minutes are displayed with the central minute hand in the Time mode, Chronograph mode and Regatta countdown; and seconds are displayed with the central seconds hand in the Time mode, Chronograph mode and Regatta countdown. The semi-circular counter on the right of the dial displays tenths of a second in the Chronograph mode. Switching from Time mode to Chronograph mode or Regatta countdown mode, is achieved by simply pressing the crown once to access the Chronograph mode or twice to access the Regatta countdown mode; the chosen mode is clearly indicated on the semi-circular counter on the left of the dial.
In the Chronograph mode, you start, stop and reset it to zero using the pushbuttons as on a normal chronograph, but elapsed time is displayed on the large central hands of the watch. The hour hand displays the elapsed hours, the minute hand displays the elapsed minutes and the seconds’ hand displays the elapsed seconds. The right counter indicates tenths of a second. Returning to Time mode, the hands revert to the correct time.
The Calibre S movement is a marvel of technology requiring 230 components and 5 high-performance bi-directional motors capable of twice the torque of those in conventional timepieces. The movement has more components than most mechanical movements and has a built-in complexity close to a ‘Manufacture’ movement. The extraordinary synchronization of the central hands and their reset to zero in chronograph mode functions demand the highest level of precision, while the multi-tasking of the central hour, minute, second hands doubles the workload on the main motors. To achieve this revolutionary precision, meant maximizing the power source and engine efficiency; optimizing hand shapes, weights and inertia; and reducing gear tolerance in the power train to minimize friction. Designed as a competitive yachting timepiece, the Calibre S is water-resistant to 300 metres, has 1/10th of a second precision, a perpetual calendar using the combined indications on the two counters, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a fixed aluminium bezel with countdown scale for regatta races, luminescent hands and markers, hand-applied indexes and semi-circular counters. The triple-row steel bracelet with a double safety clasp and bracelet extension can be comfortably worn over a sailing suit. TAG Heuer is renowned for its rigid quality tests and controls and the Calibre S is no different; 12,000 hours of testing without losing 1 second. As TAG Heuer explains, the distinctive Aquaracer Calibre S is ‘easy to use and a breeze to read.
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