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Centro Relojero Pedro Izquierdo

50 years of the Tag Heuer Carrera, 50 years of research and innovation.

pifpaf

New member
1963. A pivotal year in horology history. It is the year that undoubtedly marks the last great epoch of the “utilitarian” mechanical horology. At this time is created the legendary chronograph Heuer Carrera.

Jack Heuer transcends the Helvetic neo-classicism of the 50s to introduce functionalism into the chronograph. The reason behind this decision? Mechanical sports.

The connivances between mechanical sports and Tag Heuer are old and intimately linked to the La Chaux-de-Fonds’ brand history. This adventure began before the Great War. In 1963, Tag had already been manufacturing pocket watches dedicated to sports timing for more than fifty years. For instance, the “Mikrographe” vintage was manufactured at the start of the 20th Century or, some years before the Carrera, the “Rally Master”, a dashboard chronograph.
As an opposition to what the neophyte may presume, the Carrera name is not linked to Porsche; it was rather inspired by the mythical race of the 50s, the Carrera Panamericana AKA “Pan Am”. What can be seen as an astonishing paradox is that before 1963, this event had not occurred since 1955, following a decision of Mexican authorities. This interruption was the result of the psychological trauma caused by the tragic accident of the Mercedes 300 SLR at the 24H of the Mans 1955… However, Jack Heuer turned out to be a visionary by betting on the resurrection of this anthology race... The event is back on track since 1988.
It is this vision, this intuition, this understanding which are the forging factors of the Carrera history…


Heuer Carrera 45 Dato "Cobra Shelby" 3147


Likely to be seen as something minor nowadays, one was aware that even the most minor detail was relevant in performance research at the time.
Heuer applied the solutions giving a maximum readability to military watches of the interwar period to sports watches: greater aperture and black dial for a maximum of contrast.
The first reference of the Carrera is the 2447. Bicompax, panda or full black, it is a round watch of 36mm (which was relatively big for the time). Animated by a Valjoux 72, a standard movement during the after-war; its frequency is at 18000 vph for 45 hours of power reserve.

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It presents numerous similarities with the Rolex “Pré-Daytona” ref. 6238: the calibre, the dial and the push-pieces. What is even better is that the future 6239, just like the Carrera, will adopt the name of an automobile event across the Atlantic: Daytona.
However, even if the Daytona and the Carrera started off at almost the same point (in the 60s, the products were less “identity-oriented” than today) and were presented in the same year (the Daytona also celebrates its 50 years this year), they had diametrically opposed destinies.
On the one hand, the Daytona evolved very little, as much in terms of motorization as aesthetics, since Rolex privileged reliability and durability above all.
On the other hand, the Carrera became a permanent, aesthetic and technical laboratory.


Here, we have to make reference to the Heuer Carrera 45 Dato « Cobra Shelby » 3147. In fact, in 1963, it was rare to have “branded” watches (the 70s and 80s were the Golden Age of the “branded” watches).
It is thus due to the logo of the British constructor that the 3147 will be of more interest to us than the 2447.
Despite the legitimacy and the explosive potential of a partnership between the AC Cobra and Tag Heuer niche constructor, the Dato 45 was not a commercial watch.
In the 60s, Carol Shelby, ex-racing driver (he won the 24h du Mans in 1959 Mans with Aston Martin), decided to create the American racing car; he turned to Ford, which was able to supply the motor and the money and was helped by AC, a British constructor which owned the European know-how in terms of chassis.

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The AC Cobra was born; it would know a qualified success: sales during the 60s did not exceed 1000 copies, divided into diverse versions.
The car is too early and too pointed, it precedes the Muscle Cars era; however, the latter will aim higher in the objective set by the Cobra Shelby: be as powerful as the GTs of the moment for much less money.
Shelby had opted for a compromise between the dynamic qualities of the automobile and its cost. The Muscle Cars would be much more radical, leaving behind all equilibrium in terms of behavior, in favor of atmospherics V8s under steroids, at dumped prices…

To motivate sales forces, the Ford group asked Jack Heuer to manufacture its Dato 45, declined into two series : the first (1966-67), Bicompax and the second (1968-69) more radical, Monocompax, the latter consisting of the AC Cobra initials.

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It is obviously this version which will be of interest here since it prefigures various heavy trends through its aesthetics. First and foremost, the automobile/horology partners which are henceforth the forgotten passage of any large-scale watchmaking firm.
The dial is decorated with an automobile brand’s logo (a first?!) And what a logo! AC’s Cobra is incredibly aggressive and perfectly corresponds to Shelby’s sports vocation: combine the best of European and American automobile.
Then, the watch proposes a big date and a big white timer of graduated minutes up to 45. Obviously, everything is done in the scope of a maximum readability: with its great aperture at the dial, the watch cuts more than the announced 36mm.
The case is the embodiment of simplicity; its horns are very long which is logical given its size. Besides, the current Carreras will conserve this characteristic but with a greater-sized case.
Furthermore, the watch is motored by an unusual caliber (in the Carreras only; it was relatively common at the time) of manual chronograph: the Landeron 189, 31mm in diameter for 6.85mm in width. It has a frequency of 18000 vibrations per hour for 42 hours of power reserve.

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It is to be noted that the steel case resonates quite a lot and that the sound characteristic of 2.5Hz is quite audible for such a small watch.
If the Heuer Carrera 45 Dato “Cobra Shelby” is almost impossible to find by chance, you may find a 45 Dato without logo for approximately 3’500 CHF…
Which is much less expensive than an original Cobra Shelby, because let’s admit it, it is much more simple (and economic!) to wear a vintage watch than to drive an appropriate car.


Heuer Skipper 7754 « Skipperera »


Another model which is slightly off-beat but very much iconic of the creative medium that defines this series is the Skipperera. The Skippers are a bit difficult to classify in the Heuer lines, as they are sometimes Autavia and sometimes Carrera. Experts air varying opinions about it…


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As far as the aptly named “Skiperrera” presents a Carrera case, one can consider that it is a full Carrera.
The interest of this watch lies in its aesthetics. It neither distinguishes itself by its case, which is the standard version of the Carreras, neither by its calibre, a Valjoux 7730.
However, before focusing on the dial, it is useful to linger on this calibre a bit. The Valjoux 7730 is a calibre of manual chronograph having a frequency of 18000 vibrations per hour for 45 hours of power reserve, it measures 31mm on 6, that is, almost the same dimensions as the Landeron 189.

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One will note that at the time, the size ratio of the caliber/size of the case was different from that of today. Back then, like sports cars’ motors, big calibers were cased up in small cases, at shoehorn.
What makes the particularity of this 7730 (which is probably the reason for his choosing this Skipper) is that it offered the possibility to display 30 or 45 minutes on the sub-dial at the 3 o’clock position. And here, Heuer had driven this function into a corner: by modifying a wheel, it was possible to display only 15 minutes by thirty jumps of thirty seconds.
Why is that? The answer is, as always, that it was for this famous countdown of the regatta launching. One will equally note that the minutes’ timer is graduated in the inverted direction: it is launched 15 minutes before the regattas start, the last third indicating the “warm-up” of the event.

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However, the main interest of the watch does not concern the above but rather the dial, which is one of the most beautiful that I have ever held. The dials from that epoch are of a great quality and are no less appealing than the current productions. The reliefs are qualitative, the textures very clean and above all they grow old in a very good way, of which the good quality of the epoch’s lacquer is proof.
The colour scheme of this Carrera 7754 is perfect: night blue, almond green, orange, in ideal proportions. In a visionary way, it synthesises everything that was best made in sports and summer dials of the next 40 years. Night blue for looking good, orange for relaxation and almond green for nostalgia.

Moreover, the very streamlined context of the Carrera (white railroad, index and simple hands) further highlights the colour scheme.
The collectors are not wrong; it is approximately quoted the double of a Carrera from that time, often as from 7’000 CHF.

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Heuer Carrera « Automatic 70’ » 110.253, Côte de Genève


Directly moving on to the year 1978, we will interest ourselves with the Heuer Carrera 110.253 since the latter joins numerous emblematic elements of the 70s’ Carrera.
The first major change was the case: it became barrel, was enlarged by 2mm and lost its long horns, very characteristic of the 70s. For the purists, it is undoubtedly slightly shocking; so much as this model distanced itself from the 60s’ models. However, in opposition to a Daytona, which is monolithic by vocation, it is a laboratory; it is thus legitimate that its creators attempted to change the shape of its case.

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From a personal point of view, I prefer the 60s’ case due to the fact that its streamlining seems completely achieved to me. Here, the case is very sympathetic, very funky but slightly clumsier than the one from the 60s. While the 60s’ case was the avatar of Jack Heuer’s modernism passion, the 70s’ case ensued from a simplification wish of a case already very streamlined, of postmodernism all in all… Consequently, the case called “automatic 70’” has two advantages: its more solid horns and its superior diameter; as a result, these Carreras seem much bigger on the wrist than their predecessors.

It seems that Tag Heuer has made the same choice for its contemporary watches, in preserving the 60s’ case shape (this will further be developed at the end of the article).

If the case has been named «Automatic 70’», it must be known that a good deal of the watches it equips are manual!

In fact, the 70s are the time at which automatic chronographs appeared right in the middle of the quartz crisis… Between financial and suppliers problems, reliability issues of the automatic chronographs, a great deal of the Carreras from the 70s were equipped with manual movement.

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However, this is not the case for this 110.253, which is equipped with a variant of the legendary Heuer Buren Calibre 11: the vintage calibre 12.

The calibre 12 is thus an automatic chronograph with 21600 vibrations per hour, contrary to the vintage calibre 11, with an intermediary frequency of 19800 vibrations per hour. The caliber has a 42-hour power reserve and measures 31mm for 7.7 in width.

It has been nicknamed «Chronomatic» and the oscillating mass will not be visible on the photos: which is normal since it has been hidden by the chronograph’s mechanism.
Like the Calibre 11, the vintage calibre 12 is a Buren 1281 with a Dubois Depraz 8510 chronograph module.
Nevertheless, if it is more classic in its frequency, it is also more legitimate: a six jumps per seconds basis is the most legitimate in a sexagesimal time system.

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Last detail, the crown has been fitted at the 9 o’clock position but the push-buttons (less protruding than that of the 60s’ models, alas) are in their usual position, namely at the right of the case. The contrary might have been more ergonomic, it seems more instinctive to activate a chronograph with the right hand’s thumb rather than with the index…

On the dial’s side, like the other vintage Carreras, it is sportive classicism with a touch of madness, the whole served by an execution level which is no less appealing than the most beautiful current productions.
Proof of this? The dial is crossed by three big blue Côtes de Genève, very well made, the black sub counters almost break its harmony. In fact, the latters are flat and matt with white indexes. However, despite the beauty of its dial, this Carrera 110.253 is a tool watch, thus the functional aspect prevails.

Besides, the whole of the index/hands remains very classic, polished steel, streamlined design. Priority is given to efficiency.

It is not very hard to find one at approximately 2’500 CHF, which isn’t much if the dial’s execution quality and the embedded legendary movement are taken into consideration.


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Heuer Carrera « Automatic » 510.511, military aviation.


Just like the Skipperera, the 510.511 is a rarity, outside the Carrera series. So why is this piece being described?

Contrary to the Skipperera, it is not the most beautiful of the Carreras, but its technical interest is enormous.

As an introduction, it is worth knowing that this watch has a false twin, the 510.513, identical with a dial presenting blue Côtes de Genève arranged horizontally. Unfortunately, this piece was not available at the Tag Heuer museum where the photos of this reporting have been taken.

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The watch exists in two versions: one in steel (ref 510.523), and one in PVD steel, this latter finish reinforcing its military aspect. The case takes up the design of the « Automatics 70’ » (even if the watch dates from 1984), but it is slightly bigger, with 40mm in diameter. The watch is water resistant to 100 meters and the push-pieces are of the right size.

This watch’s interest resides in its caliber: back then, Lemania was not in the Swatch Group circle (Lemania’s industrial tool served to build the Breguet firm) and produced numerous watches and calibers to the destination of armed forces.

Thus, the legendary Lemania 5100 which equips this Carrera 510.511 is an automatic chronograph mechanism of second generation intended for military aviation, including fighter pilots. It is why this movement presents an extraordinary resistance to the accelerating forces (11G) and to strong decelerations (7G).

It may be used for several years without service and is exceptionally robust. Its construction is unusual, the movement is structured around pillars, like a building and has some nylon pieces (which was trendy at the time…)

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It has a frequency of 28800 vibrations per hour for 48 hours of power reserve and measures 31mm for 8.2, thus slightly bigger than a 7750.
Many wrote that it is not very beautiful. It is certainly not the incarnation of sex-appeal, but apart from the El Primero (Calibre 36 at Tag Heuer), the automatic chronographs’ movements from the years 70-80 were much less beautiful than the manual chronographs’ calibers of the after-war.

Moreover, this movement has several functions. The most noteworthy and playful is the central minutes’ timer, materialized by the aeroplane-shaped orange hand. The watch has four hands which pass through the central cannon: hour, minute, chrono second and chrono minute.
In addition to the 60 seconds and minutes at the center, the chronograph indicates the twelve hours cumulated at the 6 o’clock position, the 24h time at the 12 o’clock position, the small second at the 9 o’clock position and finally the date at the 3 o’clock position. Even if it is relatively charged, it is no less readable.

A relatively rare and totally mythical watch, which can be found at approximately 3’500 CHF, which is completely correct given the product’s quality. I cannot advise strongly enough the 510.513 if you bear it an interest, less military-aviation in its look and more Funky-Carrera.


Tag Heuer Carrera Calibre 36 ref: CAR2B11.BA0799


Beware, we are focusing on BaselWorld 2013 without transition since the Carrera series still exists and innovation remains present in this mythical model’s 50th anniversary year. You will find that at each generation, the references become more complex… By making an almost 30-year jump (including a long ten-year interruption, from the mid-80s to 1996), the 6-number reference has been transformed into this type of reference: CAR2B11.BA0799. Phew.

Before getting into the details of this Calibre 36, which particularly seduced me, two other models deserve a special mention on the occasion of this anniversary year.

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It is thus obviously, the anniversary model, the Jack Heuer Carrera declined into two versions, which correspond to two founding decades of the Carrera series.

The first model is thus the Jack Heuer Calibre 17, 80th anniversary (Jack Heuer’s) which is the direct descendant of the 2446 evoked at the start of this article, 41mmsteel, Calibre 17, it even takes up the panda dial! Consequently, it virtually resembles the first Carrera, in a more modern format. Perennially fashionable, efficient.

The second model is the Jack Heuer calibre 1887, in the Bull-head format! This layout results from a 90° rotation, where the push-pieces are at the 11 and 1 o’clock positions and the crown at the 12 o’clock position.

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It is the most emblematic chronograph configuration of the 70s, directly inspired from the Stopwatches (Heuer in particular) buttons’ layout, typical of Olympic stadiums as well as 70s’ EPS courses!
Surprisingly, against all expectations, there was no Heuer Carrera with this type of configuration at the time. It almost seems like Heuer wants to make up for this oversight by introducing such an emblematic watch. The case measures 45mm in diameter, it is in steel and DLC titanium at the level of the bezel, and is equipped with the calibre 1887. This watch deserves a long review, so that its historical, technical and cultural aspects may be examined…

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Back to the Calibre 36, it is equipped with a bi-coloured dial and this watch is exciting at several levels. It is a synthetic watch of the trends which have passed at Tag.
Before embarking upon the analysis of its aesthetics, the focus needs to be put on its motor. The watch is equipped with a Calibre 36, that is, a Zenith El Primero modified for Tag Heuer.
Today, Zenith and Tag Heuer work together in the midst of the LMVH group. However, this has not always been the case: at the end of the 60s, these brands had launched themselves in a technological course, to know which would first introduce an automatic chronograph.
Without any suspense, with its longevity as proof, the El Primero hit two birds with one stone: on the one hand, it had been introduced some weeks before the 1969 Calibre 11; but it had above all turned out to be a better solution in terms of frequency, reliability and even aesthetics: it was the most beautiful automatic chronograph caliber from that time.

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No one is perfect, the central timers are too close to one another and due to its high frequency the power reserve is often slightly short according to the type of barrel spring that the EP embeds…

In this recent version, Tag Heuer has nevertheless done the necessary modification work: the 36-hour power reserve has been increased to 50 hours, which is sufficient to set the watch down for the week-end. As a reminder, the EP/Calibre 36 is rhymed at 5Hz/36000 vibrations per hour, measures 30mm in diameter and is fitted with 31 rubies.

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Likewise, a trick has been employed to propose an aesthetic giving sense to the too close sub-timers. This Calibre 36 of 43mm in diameter takes up the aesthetics of the vintage stopwatches, pocket watches above all intended for sports timing. The big railway justifies the sub-timers drawn together.

Obviously, we had already seen this dial with the outdated charm on the Mikrograph and Mikrogirder of 2011-2012; besides, one of the watch’s forces was to make a mechanism stemming from aerospace cohabit with neo-classical external parts.

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Here, owing to cost issues, the mechanism is evidently less innovative. However, the calibre 36 is nevertheless very beautiful and is in accordance with this two-toned dial. Moreover, it is one of the most qualitative watches introduced by Tag Heuer: the white lacquer does not excessively shine; the central grey satiny gives discreet but warm reflections off and the hands/index whole is in conformity with the vintage Carreras.

The latters’ case is less heavy than the 43mm in diameter one, but the watch is not too large according to the current criteria.

It is to be noted that this CAR2B11.BA0799 has elicited unanimity with the profession, almost all of our journalist and blogger colleagues having succumbed to this piece’s charm… Its price is in the average range of the market for equivalent products, that is, approximately 8000CHF.


Carrera MikroPendulum.


You got it, the Carrera watches are a dynamic history made of innovations and research. Yet, in these past years, Tag Heuer has been the most innovating mass brand, very much ahead its direct competitors…
The innovations are centered around two principal axes: the very high frequency (more than 5Hz) and magnetism. It is advisable to remember that, as per the rules of quantum mechanics, magnetism is one of the four forces which govern the universe, the others being the strong interaction (which maintains atoms’ cohesion), weak interaction (initiating radioactivity) and gravitation.

Electromagnetism is particularly the force which animates the photons, the one which is the daily light provider and harvest grower… Additionally, it also maintains the shopping list on the refrigerator .

In short, this major force of the universe has paradoxically always been disputed by the watchmakers, which have tried everything, with a certain success margin, to discard horology movements from it (non-magnetic watches, low-magnetic watches, etc.), the most critical point being the escapement unit. The vintage balance-springs were very sensitve to magnetic fields and even today, magnetic balance-springs are a frequent cause of after-sales service return.


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Anyway, in a mechanical watch, magnetism, such as water, was evil incarnated. Until the arrival of the Pendulum by Tag Heuer.

This design watch introduced in 2010 proposed a technical revolution never seen before: the disappearance of the balance-spring in favour of a double pair of magnets generating a pendulum effect through the attraction/repulsion of opposed magnetic poles. You remember magnets, which repelled each other from your childhood? It is this phenomenon at work in the Pendulum. The aim is to replace the mechanic torque of the balance-spring by the Pendulum’s magnetic torque.

Before continuing the explanation, it is advisable to review the Seiko Spring-Drive compared to the Mikropendulum system. As you are aware, Seiko is one of the watchmaking partners of the La Chaux-de-Fonds brand, particularly through the assortments and centring supply.

This could cause confusion. However, there is no link between the Spring-Drive and the Pendulum.

The Spring-Drive is a mechanical watch regulated by quartz commanding a magnetic brake.

The Mikropendulum is a pure mechanical watch, without quartz, of which the balance-spring is uniquely, drove by the interaction of magnets.

Besides, the MikroPendulum movement construction is very classic; apart from the absence of the balance-spring, the rest resembles what we know and love in a mechanical watch.

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A Pendulum is equipped with a classical balance. On the other hand, below the latter is a balance-spring point. You need to search at the level of the plate, which is situated at the foot of the balance’s rod, plate which is linked to the pallets.

This is no ordinary plate: it is equipped with two magnets each occupying 180° of the plate; one is positive whereas the other is negative. Here and there of the plate, there is a ring which includes two other magnets (each occupying 90° of the circumference, there are two 90° neutral zones), once again a positive and a negative.

The principle is finally very simple, of a great fluidity and on top of that enables the slight diminishing of the frictions… The energy unwinds through the barrel in a classical way but the magnetic forces, which are opposed in the magnets, will regulate this energy instead of the balance-spring’s elasticity phenomenon.

Before looking into the problematic that this may generate, it is appropriate to ask oneself about the added value?

The classical balance-spring has a maximum precision of +/-1 second per day. This limitation is due to manufacturing procedures that do not enable going below 0.1 micrometer. This conditions an average precision of approximately 0.99 second per day, at best (great diffusion calibers are generally very precise, thanks to the super industrialization of the escapement unit’s manufacturing process).

To extend the relatively vague boundaries of precision in a mechanical watch, a new type of regulating organ is thus needed; which uniquely calls on mechanical principles, else it would be called the Spring Drive… Silicon is a solution because the manufacturing margin is even lesser than the one of the Elinvar and company balance-springs. However, if silicon is an innovation in terms of material, it does not question the balance-spring’s principle. Besides, in this environment, silicon is potentially more fragile than the Elinvar.

Anyway, this material is not segmenting enough to create a true technical revolution. This may be considered as an answer to the subject dedicated to the use of silicon in horology… ;)

The Pendulum (named in tribute to a Huygens pendulum, modern horology theorist at the 17th Century) enables extending some boundaries of traditional mechanical horology, as much in terms of precision as shock resistance, or even, to some extent, resistance to magnetic fields.

During its presentation in 2010, it was regulated at 6Hz and while it was functional (which is rare enough in the dream watches world to be pointed out), its stability was not ensured.

Thus, the MikroPendulum will demonstrate that henceforth this magnetic regulation functions.

This watch takes up the aesthetics and even a share of the technology implemented in the Mikros series. Here, reference is obviously being made to a modern Carrera case, inspired by the 60s. The watch is in grade 5 titanium and measures 45mm; the case presents a quite successful alternation of polished and sanded surfaces, which is difficult to concretize on such a hard variety of titanium. If the finish is perfect, one can ask how a more streamlined and more vintage Carrera case from the 60s would be depicted on this model…

On the level of the dial, it is the MikroTourbillonS style which is taken up, in however a colder aspect: while the latter was two-toned, the MikroPendulum presents a grey on anthracite with an ash-coated point. It is cutting-edge technology, it is serious.

The finishes are at the level of the MikroTourbillonS, thus excellent, but one must not expect classical Haute Horlogerie (of the Parmigiani, Lange type), no engaging angles, no subtly sprinkled dial or rural engravings, despite the beautiful finishes (CF the tourbillon bridges), it is cutting-edge technology, one is not here for fun, the Swiss classicism does not at all reign in this watch.

The pit between the brushed side of the dial and the side consisting of the Côtes de Genève is very successful. The latter are evidently an allusion to the numerous vintage Carrera dials and their Geneva waves.

The power reserve is displayed at the 12 o’clock position, the second’s totalizer at the 6 o’clock position (because the chronograph hand makes one turn of the dial per second).

The major innovation concerns the movement. While the watch takes up the Carrera case in the MikroTourbillonS version, it uses the Mikrograph’s architecture adorned with a high-speed magnetic regulating organ.

Remember the Mikrograph, a magnificent special version which had been sold at the 2011 Only Watch and which had had an article dedicated to it.

This base movement consists of two escapements, one traditional with an Elinvar balance-spring, with 28800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) for the hour/minute/second. Added to that, another Pendulum regulating organ, thus a magnetic regulator of 50Hz for the chronograph (that is 360.000 vibrations per hour). The chronograph hand thus makes a turn of the dial per second, which is very very fast. The railway is equipped with 100 graduations, to give the hundredth of a second. A classical chronograph seems totally torpid and outdated when you have had the chance to play with a Mikros… I have a preference for the 1/100, because if it is not the fastest frequency developed by Tag, it is the one presenting the best visibility/speed compromise.

If you are ever lucky enough to hold the watch in your hand, observe the Pendulum balance (thus the one visible at the 9 o’clock position at the dial side), there is a very slight inertia time at the moment the watch stops. Really bluffing.

When one sees watches all year long, one becomes a bit jaded, which is regrettable; but the « Mikros » series is the type of technical slap which immediately puts one back on the right track of horology passion.

The automatic movement measures 15 lignes ¾, that is, 35.8mm for 9.79 mm in width. It is thus a big calibre of which the important thickness has not been well managed: the watch does not seem any thicker than the average. It is obviously a complex watch, with 371 components and 58 rubies. The Pendulum with a frequency of 50Hz owns 90 minutes of power reserve, which is normally enough in everyday use. The HMS movement turns at 4Hz for 42 hours’ use. The unique system of energy regulation enables the COSC certification of the watch side as well as the chronograph side; for the moment, only Tag Heuer owns a technology level necessary to the COSC certification of a functioning chronograph.

What is surprising with this watch is that such an important innovation has not been manufactured by a visionary watchmaker, working for an independent firm and developing his work in a lost barn at the depth of a bucolic valley. No, here it is a great brand supposed to be conservative, even unadventurous just like its colleagues, which is presenting such an innovation!

What it is more impressive but ultimately logical, given Tag Heuer’s reasonable tariff positioning, is the price. The MikroPendulum is sold at 35’000 CHF, the price of a sports chronograph of Haute Horlogerie (it is common knowledge that this notion is very vague). Tag has the impudence to propose a product with an analogue finish level, but with an embedded technology making numerous recent innovations obsolete…

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Whereas during the MikroTourbillonS essay, I knew that the elitist tariff did not even allow me to dream buying it, here, at the announcement of the price, I immediately called my banker to create a MikroPendulum-savings account.

At a deeper level, it is a watch that is fully successful where the 1969 Calibre 11 was subdued. This time, Tag Heuer gets the award for innovation and the supremacy of this innovation.



Carrera MikroPendulumS concept.



Before examining this design-watch in detail, let’s have a flashback of 2010, when the first design Pendulum rhymed at 6Hz had been presented. You have noted above that the implementation stage of this first prototype has been relatively long (3 years).

If the problematic caused by the first Pendulum introduced in 2010 is examined in detail, one will get close enough to the problematic encountered by the blued steel paleo-balance-springs (18th and 19th Century), namely:

• Resistance to magnetic fields.
• Stability on the thermal amplitude range.
• Torque’s linearity all along the power reserve.

In addition to this classical problematic, another layer of problems linked to the pendulum’s magnets’ materials is further added. Moreover, contrary to traditional horology, it is almost-impossible to mask an average quality of alloys through an excellent pairing and regulating work.

The problematic is so new and so far-off hammer blows that one had to go to the atom’s heart to develop the MikroPendulum.

For the amateurs, the ferromagnetic used is of the «hard» type; meaning that they are strongly charged with energy, presenting a great stability in time and have to yield to an electromagnetic charge at least equivalent to the one laid up during the manufacturing to be neutralized.

The alloy of magnets constitutes Cobalt, Samarium and Gadolinium (these two last materials are referred to as «rare earth»).

The Samarium-Cobalt complex is well-known in the magnetism world. It is currently the alloy enabling obtaining the highest resistance to magnetic fields. It is used in all fields: IT, military, aeronautics as well as, in a more astonishing way, in the medical field: pacemaker projects consisting of Co-Sm magnets exist.

The Co-Sm alloy thus enables solving the major problematic of the parasitic magnetism; it may be referred to as the equivalent of the Invar for the classical balance-springs. However, as it is, the temperature alterations pitfall determines a precision of +/- 45 seconds per day…

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To counter the thermal amplitude effects, one had to add another element, which was much more specific: the Gadolinium. During a rise in temperature, while the materials were expanding, the magnetic fields tend to increase their influence zone. As the magnetism effect is exponential as one gets closer to the source, the expansion effect is disastrous on the isochronism. It is at this moment that the Gadolinium intervenes: this metal has the propriety of being an atomic «sponge»; it absorbs the surplus of particles generated by other chemical elements and thus enables the neutralization of the thermal amplitude effects.

To solve the linearity problems of the torque, the Co-Sa-Gd magnets have been subject to a more watchmaking-oriented work, with a regulation of the elements’ geometry.

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With the solution to this problem found, the Pendulum’s « v1.0 » enables obtaining a precision of +-1/sec per day, the best which can be obtained with an Elinvar balance-spring.

It is necessary to understand that it is a « v1.0 » and that with the feedbacks of the alloys’ (the Gadolinium proportion in particular) refinement experience and the improvement of the geometry, the system should improve in precision in the coming years.
This is so as the Tag Heuer research is characterized by a permanent laboratory aspect, a prototype chasses another prototype and the last innovation is immediately integrated in a commercial watch… All this happened very very quickly: we thus went from a MikroGirder of 1/2000 seconds during the 2012 SIHH to a MikroGirder at 1/10.000th of a second at BaselWorld 2012, that is, a multiplication by five in three months’ time.

Which naturally brings us to the latest Tag Heuer prototype, the MikroPendulumS. It is basically a MikroTourbillonS (described in this article LINK), with the Pendulums instead of the balance-springs.

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On the visual level, the MikroPendulumS brings three major modifications with regards to the MikroTourbillonS. The abandoning of the Côtes de Genève for brushing like the ones found on the MikroGirder, a 90° movement rotation and a modification of the tourbillon bridges, the indications and functions keeping the status-quo. This implies a « Bullhead » configuration of the push-pieces, which can be found at the 11, 12 and 1 o’clock positions. This year, this configuration has obviously been reviewed on the Jack Heuer. The MikrotourbillonS or the Mikropendulum (without the « S ») configuration, seems more harmonious and is more consistent with the Carrera history.

However, the main question is the technique; and here, just like with the advent of a new prototype, the Tag Heuer laboratory extends the boundaries of the possible.

If henceforth the case’s design is known, the same cannot be said of its material. Here, reference is being made to a Chrome-Cobalt alloy, usually used in «aeronautics», for the turbines’ blades. The volumic mass of the Cr-Co is equivalent to that of steel and bronze, that is, slightly less than 9 times water’s mass.

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If there is no significant mass gain, the gain is made on the proprieties’ side: this alloy is more resistant to all types of constraints, more lasting and harder, 530 Vickers, that is the double of the majority of steel alloys used in horology.

The Cr-Cro is manufactured by laser sintering, which is the industrial technique from which the 3D printers are inspired: a powder is fused layer by layer at 1300°C, which enables obtaining finish shapes and levels inaccessible to the traditional CNC… Will this open the door to new possibilities in the movement outlines field?

For the time being, the metals used in the automatic movement of the MikropendulumS are more common. However, it is not the case for its architecture. The calibre measures 15 ¾ (that is, 35.8mm), for 9.84mm in width; it is composed of 454 pieces and 75 rubies.

The escapement unit reserved to time count is equipped with a Pendulum tourbillon of 12Hz (that is, 86400 vibrations per hour) for a 24-hour power reserve (the more the frequency is high, the more the autonomy diminishes) and its frame makes 3 turns per minute (thus it is a 20 seconds tourbillon).

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The escapement unit reserved for the chronograph is a Pendulum tourbillon of 50Hz (360000 vibrations per hour) and its tourbillon frame makes 12 rotations per minute (it is thus a 5-seconds tourbillon) for a 60-minutes power reserve (it is less than the Mikropendulum, a tourbillon consumes a lot of energy).


Like the MikrotourbillonS, the MikropendulumS tourbillon chronograph launching is remarkable, it goes like a ground-to-ground missile, or rather like a sports car equipped with an integral transmission and of the launch control. It goes right down, immediately and very quickly. Once again, the MikrotourbillonS is slightly more demonstrative. In any case, we are in a post –horology field.

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Conclusion:


Initially, the Carrera, sports chronograph, was barely derived from classical watches of the 50s. This Swiss style of the 50s, functionalist-but-elegant, was still influenced by the 30s’ modern art; Swiss people, with their proverbial precaution, are often lagging behind on trends.

Thus, the first Carreras were streamlined; however, in the course of the 60s, these chronographs will rapidly run wild, integrating more and more exotic movements following display needs. Indeed, one of the particularities of the Carrera series is indeed to have adapted displays and movements to the needs of the final users.

Thus, instead of just producing railways or bezels dedicated to a specific usage, Heuer has often reviewed the whole mechanics to better adapt to needs.

To that effect, Heuer’s quest was to adapt the tool to one need, rather than asking the human to adapt themselves to one tool. Nowadays, it would be termed as « user-friendly ».

The dials equally benefitted from a great variety of finishes and styles, always in view of adapting oneself to the final users’ needs. However, it is also in the will to adapt oneself to another human need: the taste of beauty.

This aesthetic will is also found in the cases; the first case of the 60s unquestionably remains the purest: at the time when one knew how to make cases, which appeared very fine while the movements were relatively thick. Later on, aesthetics was given privilege over fashion; today, solidity is privileged…

The Carrera history is so rich and complex that it merits a book. These watches consist of an almost-exhaustive catalogue of mechanical sports timing in these past 50 years. Thus, obviously, this history is a bit chaotic and the connecting thread is not as evident as it is for other mythical watches. But this chaotic aspect is what precisely constitutes the Carrera range richness, an original soup, an Amazonian forest, a horology culture medium, the founding watchmaking chaos.

Despite the purchases, the hand changes and even the integration in a big luxury group, the successive CEOs of Heuer, then TAG Heuer, have continued to believe in innovation and even daily applying the TAG from the 80s: Technique d’Avant-Garde.

The current team, directed for a long time by Jean-Claude Babin (recently replaced by Stéphane Linder) needs a special acclaim since it has had the courage to give carte blanche to the team directed by Guy Sémon to maintain a high innovative level.

It is in no way easy for a great horology brand to maintain a high level of research and development. Inertia and feebleness are colossal in the great watchmaking firms; they prefer investing enormous amounts of money in institutional communication rather than giving money to the laboratory. And even if the R&D services are well equipped, the innovations end up in a drawer, the industrial will for risk-taking being absent.

On the one hand, this can be explained, as you know, by the Heuer innovation tradition, but equally by the bureaucratic structure of Tag Heuer: the firm is directed like an SME, the administrative, commercial and marketing departments all in all count approximately 50 collaborators. As a contrast, the R&D department consists of 45 persons and there are millions of employees in the various manufacturing subsidiaries which manufacture watches…

Eventually, this creativity is reflected in patents about high frequency: today the La Chaux-de-Fonds brand has got a head start by introducing various major advances in the space of a handful of years. This constitutes a historical revenge for Heuer since in its days, the Calibre 11 had progressively been distanced by its competitors.

Today, the Mikropendulum distances the competition in a flash, while having the cheek to be sold at an ultra-aggressive tariff with regard to its exceptional mechanics. Quite like the Muscle Cars design .

If the Carrera’s 50 years assessment is made, the bet initially launched by Jack Heuer has incontestably won.
 

gnomo72

Well-known member
1963. A pivotal year in horology history. It is the year that undoubtedly marks the last great epoch of the “utilitarian” mechanical horology. At this time is created the legendary chronograph Heuer Carrera.

Jack Heuer transcends the Helvetic neo-classicism of the 50s to introduce functionalism into the chronograph. The reason behind this decision? Mechanical sports.

The connivances between mechanical sports and Tag Heuer are old and intimately linked to the La Chaux-de-Fonds’ brand history. This adventure began before the Great War. In 1963, Tag had already been manufacturing pocket watches dedicated to sports timing for more than fifty years. For instance, the “Mikrographe” vintage was manufactured at the start of the 20th Century or, some years before the Carrera, the “Rally Master”, a dashboard chronograph.
As an opposition to what the neophyte may presume, the Carrera name is not linked to Porsche; it was rather inspired by the mythical race of the 50s, the Carrera Panamericana AKA “Pan Am”. What can be seen as an astonishing paradox is that before 1963, this event had not occurred since 1955, following a decision of Mexican authorities. This interruption was the result of the psychological trauma caused by the tragic accident of the Mercedes 300 SLR at the 24H of the Mans 1955… However, Jack Heuer turned out to be a visionary by betting on the resurrection of this anthology race... The event is back on track since 1988.
It is this vision, this intuition, this understanding which are the forging factors of the Carrera history…


Heuer Carrera 45 Dato "Cobra Shelby" 3147


Likely to be seen as something minor nowadays, one was aware that even the most minor detail was relevant in performance research at the time.
Heuer applied the solutions giving a maximum readability to military watches of the interwar period to sports watches: greater aperture and black dial for a maximum of contrast.
The first reference of the Carrera is the 2447. Bicompax, panda or full black, it is a round watch of 36mm (which was relatively big for the time). Animated by a Valjoux 72, a standard movement during the after-war; its frequency is at 18000 vph for 45 hours of power reserve.

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It presents numerous similarities with the Rolex “Pré-Daytona” ref. 6238: the calibre, the dial and the push-pieces. What is even better is that the future 6239, just like the Carrera, will adopt the name of an automobile event across the Atlantic: Daytona.
However, even if the Daytona and the Carrera started off at almost the same point (in the 60s, the products were less “identity-oriented” than today) and were presented in the same year (the Daytona also celebrates its 50 years this year), they had diametrically opposed destinies.
On the one hand, the Daytona evolved very little, as much in terms of motorization as aesthetics, since Rolex privileged reliability and durability above all.
On the other hand, the Carrera became a permanent, aesthetic and technical laboratory.


Here, we have to make reference to the Heuer Carrera 45 Dato « Cobra Shelby » 3147. In fact, in 1963, it was rare to have “branded” watches (the 70s and 80s were the Golden Age of the “branded” watches).
It is thus due to the logo of the British constructor that the 3147 will be of more interest to us than the 2447.
Despite the legitimacy and the explosive potential of a partnership between the AC Cobra and Tag Heuer niche constructor, the Dato 45 was not a commercial watch.
In the 60s, Carol Shelby, ex-racing driver (he won the 24h du Mans in 1959 Mans with Aston Martin), decided to create the American racing car; he turned to Ford, which was able to supply the motor and the money and was helped by AC, a British constructor which owned the European know-how in terms of chassis.

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The AC Cobra was born; it would know a qualified success: sales during the 60s did not exceed 1000 copies, divided into diverse versions.
The car is too early and too pointed, it precedes the Muscle Cars era; however, the latter will aim higher in the objective set by the Cobra Shelby: be as powerful as the GTs of the moment for much less money.
Shelby had opted for a compromise between the dynamic qualities of the automobile and its cost. The Muscle Cars would be much more radical, leaving behind all equilibrium in terms of behavior, in favor of atmospherics V8s under steroids, at dumped prices…

To motivate sales forces, the Ford group asked Jack Heuer to manufacture its Dato 45, declined into two series : the first (1966-67), Bicompax and the second (1968-69) more radical, Monocompax, the latter consisting of the AC Cobra initials.

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It is obviously this version which will be of interest here since it prefigures various heavy trends through its aesthetics. First and foremost, the automobile/horology partners which are henceforth the forgotten passage of any large-scale watchmaking firm.
The dial is decorated with an automobile brand’s logo (a first?!) And what a logo! AC’s Cobra is incredibly aggressive and perfectly corresponds to Shelby’s sports vocation: combine the best of European and American automobile.
Then, the watch proposes a big date and a big white timer of graduated minutes up to 45. Obviously, everything is done in the scope of a maximum readability: with its great aperture at the dial, the watch cuts more than the announced 36mm.
The case is the embodiment of simplicity; its horns are very long which is logical given its size. Besides, the current Carreras will conserve this characteristic but with a greater-sized case.
Furthermore, the watch is motored by an unusual caliber (in the Carreras only; it was relatively common at the time) of manual chronograph: the Landeron 189, 31mm in diameter for 6.85mm in width. It has a frequency of 18000 vibrations per hour for 42 hours of power reserve.

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It is to be noted that the steel case resonates quite a lot and that the sound characteristic of 2.5Hz is quite audible for such a small watch.
If the Heuer Carrera 45 Dato “Cobra Shelby” is almost impossible to find by chance, you may find a 45 Dato without logo for approximately 3’500 CHF…
Which is much less expensive than an original Cobra Shelby, because let’s admit it, it is much more simple (and economic!) to wear a vintage watch than to drive an appropriate car.


Heuer Skipper 7754 « Skipperera »


Another model which is slightly off-beat but very much iconic of the creative medium that defines this series is the Skipperera. The Skippers are a bit difficult to classify in the Heuer lines, as they are sometimes Autavia and sometimes Carrera. Experts air varying opinions about it…


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As far as the aptly named “Skiperrera” presents a Carrera case, one can consider that it is a full Carrera.
The interest of this watch lies in its aesthetics. It neither distinguishes itself by its case, which is the standard version of the Carreras, neither by its calibre, a Valjoux 7730.
However, before focusing on the dial, it is useful to linger on this calibre a bit. The Valjoux 7730 is a calibre of manual chronograph having a frequency of 18000 vibrations per hour for 45 hours of power reserve, it measures 31mm on 6, that is, almost the same dimensions as the Landeron 189.

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One will note that at the time, the size ratio of the caliber/size of the case was different from that of today. Back then, like sports cars’ motors, big calibers were cased up in small cases, at shoehorn.
What makes the particularity of this 7730 (which is probably the reason for his choosing this Skipper) is that it offered the possibility to display 30 or 45 minutes on the sub-dial at the 3 o’clock position. And here, Heuer had driven this function into a corner: by modifying a wheel, it was possible to display only 15 minutes by thirty jumps of thirty seconds.
Why is that? The answer is, as always, that it was for this famous countdown of the regatta launching. One will equally note that the minutes’ timer is graduated in the inverted direction: it is launched 15 minutes before the regattas start, the last third indicating the “warm-up” of the event.

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However, the main interest of the watch does not concern the above but rather the dial, which is one of the most beautiful that I have ever held. The dials from that epoch are of a great quality and are no less appealing than the current productions. The reliefs are qualitative, the textures very clean and above all they grow old in a very good way, of which the good quality of the epoch’s lacquer is proof.
The colour scheme of this Carrera 7754 is perfect: night blue, almond green, orange, in ideal proportions. In a visionary way, it synthesises everything that was best made in sports and summer dials of the next 40 years. Night blue for looking good, orange for relaxation and almond green for nostalgia.

Moreover, the very streamlined context of the Carrera (white railroad, index and simple hands) further highlights the colour scheme.
The collectors are not wrong; it is approximately quoted the double of a Carrera from that time, often as from 7’000 CHF.

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Heuer Carrera « Automatic 70’ » 110.253, Côte de Genève


Directly moving on to the year 1978, we will interest ourselves with the Heuer Carrera 110.253 since the latter joins numerous emblematic elements of the 70s’ Carrera.
The first major change was the case: it became barrel, was enlarged by 2mm and lost its long horns, very characteristic of the 70s. For the purists, it is undoubtedly slightly shocking; so much as this model distanced itself from the 60s’ models. However, in opposition to a Daytona, which is monolithic by vocation, it is a laboratory; it is thus legitimate that its creators attempted to change the shape of its case.

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From a personal point of view, I prefer the 60s’ case due to the fact that its streamlining seems completely achieved to me. Here, the case is very sympathetic, very funky but slightly clumsier than the one from the 60s. While the 60s’ case was the avatar of Jack Heuer’s modernism passion, the 70s’ case ensued from a simplification wish of a case already very streamlined, of postmodernism all in all… Consequently, the case called “automatic 70’” has two advantages: its more solid horns and its superior diameter; as a result, these Carreras seem much bigger on the wrist than their predecessors.

It seems that Tag Heuer has made the same choice for its contemporary watches, in preserving the 60s’ case shape (this will further be developed at the end of the article).

If the case has been named «Automatic 70’», it must be known that a good deal of the watches it equips are manual!

In fact, the 70s are the time at which automatic chronographs appeared right in the middle of the quartz crisis… Between financial and suppliers problems, reliability issues of the automatic chronographs, a great deal of the Carreras from the 70s were equipped with manual movement.

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However, this is not the case for this 110.253, which is equipped with a variant of the legendary Heuer Buren Calibre 11: the vintage calibre 12.

The calibre 12 is thus an automatic chronograph with 21600 vibrations per hour, contrary to the vintage calibre 11, with an intermediary frequency of 19800 vibrations per hour. The caliber has a 42-hour power reserve and measures 31mm for 7.7 in width.

It has been nicknamed «Chronomatic» and the oscillating mass will not be visible on the photos: which is normal since it has been hidden by the chronograph’s mechanism.
Like the Calibre 11, the vintage calibre 12 is a Buren 1281 with a Dubois Depraz 8510 chronograph module.
Nevertheless, if it is more classic in its frequency, it is also more legitimate: a six jumps per seconds basis is the most legitimate in a sexagesimal time system.

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Last detail, the crown has been fitted at the 9 o’clock position but the push-buttons (less protruding than that of the 60s’ models, alas) are in their usual position, namely at the right of the case. The contrary might have been more ergonomic, it seems more instinctive to activate a chronograph with the right hand’s thumb rather than with the index…

On the dial’s side, like the other vintage Carreras, it is sportive classicism with a touch of madness, the whole served by an execution level which is no less appealing than the most beautiful current productions.
Proof of this? The dial is crossed by three big blue Côtes de Genève, very well made, the black sub counters almost break its harmony. In fact, the latters are flat and matt with white indexes. However, despite the beauty of its dial, this Carrera 110.253 is a tool watch, thus the functional aspect prevails.

Besides, the whole of the index/hands remains very classic, polished steel, streamlined design. Priority is given to efficiency.

It is not very hard to find one at approximately 2’500 CHF, which isn’t much if the dial’s execution quality and the embedded legendary movement are taken into consideration.


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Heuer Carrera « Automatic » 510.511, military aviation.


Just like the Skipperera, the 510.511 is a rarity, outside the Carrera series. So why is this piece being described?

Contrary to the Skipperera, it is not the most beautiful of the Carreras, but its technical interest is enormous.

As an introduction, it is worth knowing that this watch has a false twin, the 510.513, identical with a dial presenting blue Côtes de Genève arranged horizontally. Unfortunately, this piece was not available at the Tag Heuer museum where the photos of this reporting have been taken.

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The watch exists in two versions: one in steel (ref 510.523), and one in PVD steel, this latter finish reinforcing its military aspect. The case takes up the design of the « Automatics 70’ » (even if the watch dates from 1984), but it is slightly bigger, with 40mm in diameter. The watch is water resistant to 100 meters and the push-pieces are of the right size.

This watch’s interest resides in its caliber: back then, Lemania was not in the Swatch Group circle (Lemania’s industrial tool served to build the Breguet firm) and produced numerous watches and calibers to the destination of armed forces.

Thus, the legendary Lemania 5100 which equips this Carrera 510.511 is an automatic chronograph mechanism of second generation intended for military aviation, including fighter pilots. It is why this movement presents an extraordinary resistance to the accelerating forces (11G) and to strong decelerations (7G).

It may be used for several years without service and is exceptionally robust. Its construction is unusual, the movement is structured around pillars, like a building and has some nylon pieces (which was trendy at the time…)

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It has a frequency of 28800 vibrations per hour for 48 hours of power reserve and measures 31mm for 8.2, thus slightly bigger than a 7750.
Many wrote that it is not very beautiful. It is certainly not the incarnation of sex-appeal, but apart from the El Primero (Calibre 36 at Tag Heuer), the automatic chronographs’ movements from the years 70-80 were much less beautiful than the manual chronographs’ calibers of the after-war.

Moreover, this movement has several functions. The most noteworthy and playful is the central minutes’ timer, materialized by the aeroplane-shaped orange hand. The watch has four hands which pass through the central cannon: hour, minute, chrono second and chrono minute.
In addition to the 60 seconds and minutes at the center, the chronograph indicates the twelve hours cumulated at the 6 o’clock position, the 24h time at the 12 o’clock position, the small second at the 9 o’clock position and finally the date at the 3 o’clock position. Even if it is relatively charged, it is no less readable.

A relatively rare and totally mythical watch, which can be found at approximately 3’500 CHF, which is completely correct given the product’s quality. I cannot advise strongly enough the 510.513 if you bear it an interest, less military-aviation in its look and more Funky-Carrera.


Tag Heuer Carrera Calibre 36 ref: CAR2B11.BA0799


Beware, we are focusing on BaselWorld 2013 without transition since the Carrera series still exists and innovation remains present in this mythical model’s 50th anniversary year. You will find that at each generation, the references become more complex… By making an almost 30-year jump (including a long ten-year interruption, from the mid-80s to 1996), the 6-number reference has been transformed into this type of reference: CAR2B11.BA0799. Phew.

Before getting into the details of this Calibre 36, which particularly seduced me, two other models deserve a special mention on the occasion of this anniversary year.

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It is thus obviously, the anniversary model, the Jack Heuer Carrera declined into two versions, which correspond to two founding decades of the Carrera series.

The first model is thus the Jack Heuer Calibre 17, 80th anniversary (Jack Heuer’s) which is the direct descendant of the 2446 evoked at the start of this article, 41mmsteel, Calibre 17, it even takes up the panda dial! Consequently, it virtually resembles the first Carrera, in a more modern format. Perennially fashionable, efficient.

The second model is the Jack Heuer calibre 1887, in the Bull-head format! This layout results from a 90° rotation, where the push-pieces are at the 11 and 1 o’clock positions and the crown at the 12 o’clock position.

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It is the most emblematic chronograph configuration of the 70s, directly inspired from the Stopwatches (Heuer in particular) buttons’ layout, typical of Olympic stadiums as well as 70s’ EPS courses!
Surprisingly, against all expectations, there was no Heuer Carrera with this type of configuration at the time. It almost seems like Heuer wants to make up for this oversight by introducing such an emblematic watch. The case measures 45mm in diameter, it is in steel and DLC titanium at the level of the bezel, and is equipped with the calibre 1887. This watch deserves a long review, so that its historical, technical and cultural aspects may be examined…

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Back to the Calibre 36, it is equipped with a bi-coloured dial and this watch is exciting at several levels. It is a synthetic watch of the trends which have passed at Tag.
Before embarking upon the analysis of its aesthetics, the focus needs to be put on its motor. The watch is equipped with a Calibre 36, that is, a Zenith El Primero modified for Tag Heuer.
Today, Zenith and Tag Heuer work together in the midst of the LMVH group. However, this has not always been the case: at the end of the 60s, these brands had launched themselves in a technological course, to know which would first introduce an automatic chronograph.
Without any suspense, with its longevity as proof, the El Primero hit two birds with one stone: on the one hand, it had been introduced some weeks before the 1969 Calibre 11; but it had above all turned out to be a better solution in terms of frequency, reliability and even aesthetics: it was the most beautiful automatic chronograph caliber from that time.

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No one is perfect, the central timers are too close to one another and due to its high frequency the power reserve is often slightly short according to the type of barrel spring that the EP embeds…

In this recent version, Tag Heuer has nevertheless done the necessary modification work: the 36-hour power reserve has been increased to 50 hours, which is sufficient to set the watch down for the week-end. As a reminder, the EP/Calibre 36 is rhymed at 5Hz/36000 vibrations per hour, measures 30mm in diameter and is fitted with 31 rubies.

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Likewise, a trick has been employed to propose an aesthetic giving sense to the too close sub-timers. This Calibre 36 of 43mm in diameter takes up the aesthetics of the vintage stopwatches, pocket watches above all intended for sports timing. The big railway justifies the sub-timers drawn together.

Obviously, we had already seen this dial with the outdated charm on the Mikrograph and Mikrogirder of 2011-2012; besides, one of the watch’s forces was to make a mechanism stemming from aerospace cohabit with neo-classical external parts.

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Here, owing to cost issues, the mechanism is evidently less innovative. However, the calibre 36 is nevertheless very beautiful and is in accordance with this two-toned dial. Moreover, it is one of the most qualitative watches introduced by Tag Heuer: the white lacquer does not excessively shine; the central grey satiny gives discreet but warm reflections off and the hands/index whole is in conformity with the vintage Carreras.

The latters’ case is less heavy than the 43mm in diameter one, but the watch is not too large according to the current criteria.

It is to be noted that this CAR2B11.BA0799 has elicited unanimity with the profession, almost all of our journalist and blogger colleagues having succumbed to this piece’s charm… Its price is in the average range of the market for equivalent products, that is, approximately 8000CHF.


Carrera MikroPendulum.


You got it, the Carrera watches are a dynamic history made of innovations and research. Yet, in these past years, Tag Heuer has been the most innovating mass brand, very much ahead its direct competitors…
The innovations are centered around two principal axes: the very high frequency (more than 5Hz) and magnetism. It is advisable to remember that, as per the rules of quantum mechanics, magnetism is one of the four forces which govern the universe, the others being the strong interaction (which maintains atoms’ cohesion), weak interaction (initiating radioactivity) and gravitation.

Electromagnetism is particularly the force which animates the photons, the one which is the daily light provider and harvest grower… Additionally, it also maintains the shopping list on the refrigerator .

In short, this major force of the universe has paradoxically always been disputed by the watchmakers, which have tried everything, with a certain success margin, to discard horology movements from it (non-magnetic watches, low-magnetic watches, etc.), the most critical point being the escapement unit. The vintage balance-springs were very sensitve to magnetic fields and even today, magnetic balance-springs are a frequent cause of after-sales service return.


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Anyway, in a mechanical watch, magnetism, such as water, was evil incarnated. Until the arrival of the Pendulum by Tag Heuer.

This design watch introduced in 2010 proposed a technical revolution never seen before: the disappearance of the balance-spring in favour of a double pair of magnets generating a pendulum effect through the attraction/repulsion of opposed magnetic poles. You remember magnets, which repelled each other from your childhood? It is this phenomenon at work in the Pendulum. The aim is to replace the mechanic torque of the balance-spring by the Pendulum’s magnetic torque.

Before continuing the explanation, it is advisable to review the Seiko Spring-Drive compared to the Mikropendulum system. As you are aware, Seiko is one of the watchmaking partners of the La Chaux-de-Fonds brand, particularly through the assortments and centring supply.

This could cause confusion. However, there is no link between the Spring-Drive and the Pendulum.

The Spring-Drive is a mechanical watch regulated by quartz commanding a magnetic brake.

The Mikropendulum is a pure mechanical watch, without quartz, of which the balance-spring is uniquely, drove by the interaction of magnets.

Besides, the MikroPendulum movement construction is very classic; apart from the absence of the balance-spring, the rest resembles what we know and love in a mechanical watch.

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A Pendulum is equipped with a classical balance. On the other hand, below the latter is a balance-spring point. You need to search at the level of the plate, which is situated at the foot of the balance’s rod, plate which is linked to the pallets.

This is no ordinary plate: it is equipped with two magnets each occupying 180° of the plate; one is positive whereas the other is negative. Here and there of the plate, there is a ring which includes two other magnets (each occupying 90° of the circumference, there are two 90° neutral zones), once again a positive and a negative.

The principle is finally very simple, of a great fluidity and on top of that enables the slight diminishing of the frictions… The energy unwinds through the barrel in a classical way but the magnetic forces, which are opposed in the magnets, will regulate this energy instead of the balance-spring’s elasticity phenomenon.

Before looking into the problematic that this may generate, it is appropriate to ask oneself about the added value?

The classical balance-spring has a maximum precision of +/-1 second per day. This limitation is due to manufacturing procedures that do not enable going below 0.1 micrometer. This conditions an average precision of approximately 0.99 second per day, at best (great diffusion calibers are generally very precise, thanks to the super industrialization of the escapement unit’s manufacturing process).

To extend the relatively vague boundaries of precision in a mechanical watch, a new type of regulating organ is thus needed; which uniquely calls on mechanical principles, else it would be called the Spring Drive… Silicon is a solution because the manufacturing margin is even lesser than the one of the Elinvar and company balance-springs. However, if silicon is an innovation in terms of material, it does not question the balance-spring’s principle. Besides, in this environment, silicon is potentially more fragile than the Elinvar.

Anyway, this material is not segmenting enough to create a true technical revolution. This may be considered as an answer to the subject dedicated to the use of silicon in horology… ;)

The Pendulum (named in tribute to a Huygens pendulum, modern horology theorist at the 17th Century) enables extending some boundaries of traditional mechanical horology, as much in terms of precision as shock resistance, or even, to some extent, resistance to magnetic fields.

During its presentation in 2010, it was regulated at 6Hz and while it was functional (which is rare enough in the dream watches world to be pointed out), its stability was not ensured.

Thus, the MikroPendulum will demonstrate that henceforth this magnetic regulation functions.

This watch takes up the aesthetics and even a share of the technology implemented in the Mikros series. Here, reference is obviously being made to a modern Carrera case, inspired by the 60s. The watch is in grade 5 titanium and measures 45mm; the case presents a quite successful alternation of polished and sanded surfaces, which is difficult to concretize on such a hard variety of titanium. If the finish is perfect, one can ask how a more streamlined and more vintage Carrera case from the 60s would be depicted on this model…

On the level of the dial, it is the MikroTourbillonS style which is taken up, in however a colder aspect: while the latter was two-toned, the MikroPendulum presents a grey on anthracite with an ash-coated point. It is cutting-edge technology, it is serious.

The finishes are at the level of the MikroTourbillonS, thus excellent, but one must not expect classical Haute Horlogerie (of the Parmigiani, Lange type), no engaging angles, no subtly sprinkled dial or rural engravings, despite the beautiful finishes (CF the tourbillon bridges), it is cutting-edge technology, one is not here for fun, the Swiss classicism does not at all reign in this watch.

The pit between the brushed side of the dial and the side consisting of the Côtes de Genève is very successful. The latter are evidently an allusion to the numerous vintage Carrera dials and their Geneva waves.

The power reserve is displayed at the 12 o’clock position, the second’s totalizer at the 6 o’clock position (because the chronograph hand makes one turn of the dial per second).

The major innovation concerns the movement. While the watch takes up the Carrera case in the MikroTourbillonS version, it uses the Mikrograph’s architecture adorned with a high-speed magnetic regulating organ.

Remember the Mikrograph, a magnificent special version which had been sold at the 2011 Only Watch and which had had an article dedicated to it.

This base movement consists of two escapements, one traditional with an Elinvar balance-spring, with 28800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) for the hour/minute/second. Added to that, another Pendulum regulating organ, thus a magnetic regulator of 50Hz for the chronograph (that is 360.000 vibrations per hour). The chronograph hand thus makes a turn of the dial per second, which is very very fast. The railway is equipped with 100 graduations, to give the hundredth of a second. A classical chronograph seems totally torpid and outdated when you have had the chance to play with a Mikros… I have a preference for the 1/100, because if it is not the fastest frequency developed by Tag, it is the one presenting the best visibility/speed compromise.

If you are ever lucky enough to hold the watch in your hand, observe the Pendulum balance (thus the one visible at the 9 o’clock position at the dial side), there is a very slight inertia time at the moment the watch stops. Really bluffing.

When one sees watches all year long, one becomes a bit jaded, which is regrettable; but the « Mikros » series is the type of technical slap which immediately puts one back on the right track of horology passion.

The automatic movement measures 15 lignes ¾, that is, 35.8mm for 9.79 mm in width. It is thus a big calibre of which the important thickness has not been well managed: the watch does not seem any thicker than the average. It is obviously a complex watch, with 371 components and 58 rubies. The Pendulum with a frequency of 50Hz owns 90 minutes of power reserve, which is normally enough in everyday use. The HMS movement turns at 4Hz for 42 hours’ use. The unique system of energy regulation enables the COSC certification of the watch side as well as the chronograph side; for the moment, only Tag Heuer owns a technology level necessary to the COSC certification of a functioning chronograph.

What is surprising with this watch is that such an important innovation has not been manufactured by a visionary watchmaker, working for an independent firm and developing his work in a lost barn at the depth of a bucolic valley. No, here it is a great brand supposed to be conservative, even unadventurous just like its colleagues, which is presenting such an innovation!

What it is more impressive but ultimately logical, given Tag Heuer’s reasonable tariff positioning, is the price. The MikroPendulum is sold at 35’000 CHF, the price of a sports chronograph of Haute Horlogerie (it is common knowledge that this notion is very vague). Tag has the impudence to propose a product with an analogue finish level, but with an embedded technology making numerous recent innovations obsolete…

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Whereas during the MikroTourbillonS essay, I knew that the elitist tariff did not even allow me to dream buying it, here, at the announcement of the price, I immediately called my banker to create a MikroPendulum-savings account.

At a deeper level, it is a watch that is fully successful where the 1969 Calibre 11 was subdued. This time, Tag Heuer gets the award for innovation and the supremacy of this innovation.



Carrera MikroPendulumS concept.



Before examining this design-watch in detail, let’s have a flashback of 2010, when the first design Pendulum rhymed at 6Hz had been presented. You have noted above that the implementation stage of this first prototype has been relatively long (3 years).

If the problematic caused by the first Pendulum introduced in 2010 is examined in detail, one will get close enough to the problematic encountered by the blued steel paleo-balance-springs (18th and 19th Century), namely:

• Resistance to magnetic fields.
• Stability on the thermal amplitude range.
• Torque’s linearity all along the power reserve.

In addition to this classical problematic, another layer of problems linked to the pendulum’s magnets’ materials is further added. Moreover, contrary to traditional horology, it is almost-impossible to mask an average quality of alloys through an excellent pairing and regulating work.

The problematic is so new and so far-off hammer blows that one had to go to the atom’s heart to develop the MikroPendulum.

For the amateurs, the ferromagnetic used is of the «hard» type; meaning that they are strongly charged with energy, presenting a great stability in time and have to yield to an electromagnetic charge at least equivalent to the one laid up during the manufacturing to be neutralized.

The alloy of magnets constitutes Cobalt, Samarium and Gadolinium (these two last materials are referred to as «rare earth»).

The Samarium-Cobalt complex is well-known in the magnetism world. It is currently the alloy enabling obtaining the highest resistance to magnetic fields. It is used in all fields: IT, military, aeronautics as well as, in a more astonishing way, in the medical field: pacemaker projects consisting of Co-Sm magnets exist.

The Co-Sm alloy thus enables solving the major problematic of the parasitic magnetism; it may be referred to as the equivalent of the Invar for the classical balance-springs. However, as it is, the temperature alterations pitfall determines a precision of +/- 45 seconds per day…

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To counter the thermal amplitude effects, one had to add another element, which was much more specific: the Gadolinium. During a rise in temperature, while the materials were expanding, the magnetic fields tend to increase their influence zone. As the magnetism effect is exponential as one gets closer to the source, the expansion effect is disastrous on the isochronism. It is at this moment that the Gadolinium intervenes: this metal has the propriety of being an atomic «sponge»; it absorbs the surplus of particles generated by other chemical elements and thus enables the neutralization of the thermal amplitude effects.

To solve the linearity problems of the torque, the Co-Sa-Gd magnets have been subject to a more watchmaking-oriented work, with a regulation of the elements’ geometry.

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With the solution to this problem found, the Pendulum’s « v1.0 » enables obtaining a precision of +-1/sec per day, the best which can be obtained with an Elinvar balance-spring.

It is necessary to understand that it is a « v1.0 » and that with the feedbacks of the alloys’ (the Gadolinium proportion in particular) refinement experience and the improvement of the geometry, the system should improve in precision in the coming years.
This is so as the Tag Heuer research is characterized by a permanent laboratory aspect, a prototype chasses another prototype and the last innovation is immediately integrated in a commercial watch… All this happened very very quickly: we thus went from a MikroGirder of 1/2000 seconds during the 2012 SIHH to a MikroGirder at 1/10.000th of a second at BaselWorld 2012, that is, a multiplication by five in three months’ time.

Which naturally brings us to the latest Tag Heuer prototype, the MikroPendulumS. It is basically a MikroTourbillonS (described in this article LINK), with the Pendulums instead of the balance-springs.

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On the visual level, the MikroPendulumS brings three major modifications with regards to the MikroTourbillonS. The abandoning of the Côtes de Genève for brushing like the ones found on the MikroGirder, a 90° movement rotation and a modification of the tourbillon bridges, the indications and functions keeping the status-quo. This implies a « Bullhead » configuration of the push-pieces, which can be found at the 11, 12 and 1 o’clock positions. This year, this configuration has obviously been reviewed on the Jack Heuer. The MikrotourbillonS or the Mikropendulum (without the « S ») configuration, seems more harmonious and is more consistent with the Carrera history.

However, the main question is the technique; and here, just like with the advent of a new prototype, the Tag Heuer laboratory extends the boundaries of the possible.

If henceforth the case’s design is known, the same cannot be said of its material. Here, reference is being made to a Chrome-Cobalt alloy, usually used in «aeronautics», for the turbines’ blades. The volumic mass of the Cr-Co is equivalent to that of steel and bronze, that is, slightly less than 9 times water’s mass.

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If there is no significant mass gain, the gain is made on the proprieties’ side: this alloy is more resistant to all types of constraints, more lasting and harder, 530 Vickers, that is the double of the majority of steel alloys used in horology.

The Cr-Cro is manufactured by laser sintering, which is the industrial technique from which the 3D printers are inspired: a powder is fused layer by layer at 1300°C, which enables obtaining finish shapes and levels inaccessible to the traditional CNC… Will this open the door to new possibilities in the movement outlines field?

For the time being, the metals used in the automatic movement of the MikropendulumS are more common. However, it is not the case for its architecture. The calibre measures 15 ¾ (that is, 35.8mm), for 9.84mm in width; it is composed of 454 pieces and 75 rubies.

The escapement unit reserved to time count is equipped with a Pendulum tourbillon of 12Hz (that is, 86400 vibrations per hour) for a 24-hour power reserve (the more the frequency is high, the more the autonomy diminishes) and its frame makes 3 turns per minute (thus it is a 20 seconds tourbillon).

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The escapement unit reserved for the chronograph is a Pendulum tourbillon of 50Hz (360000 vibrations per hour) and its tourbillon frame makes 12 rotations per minute (it is thus a 5-seconds tourbillon) for a 60-minutes power reserve (it is less than the Mikropendulum, a tourbillon consumes a lot of energy).


Like the MikrotourbillonS, the MikropendulumS tourbillon chronograph launching is remarkable, it goes like a ground-to-ground missile, or rather like a sports car equipped with an integral transmission and of the launch control. It goes right down, immediately and very quickly. Once again, the MikrotourbillonS is slightly more demonstrative. In any case, we are in a post –horology field.

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Conclusion:


Initially, the Carrera, sports chronograph, was barely derived from classical watches of the 50s. This Swiss style of the 50s, functionalist-but-elegant, was still influenced by the 30s’ modern art; Swiss people, with their proverbial precaution, are often lagging behind on trends.

Thus, the first Carreras were streamlined; however, in the course of the 60s, these chronographs will rapidly run wild, integrating more and more exotic movements following display needs. Indeed, one of the particularities of the Carrera series is indeed to have adapted displays and movements to the needs of the final users.

Thus, instead of just producing railways or bezels dedicated to a specific usage, Heuer has often reviewed the whole mechanics to better adapt to needs.

To that effect, Heuer’s quest was to adapt the tool to one need, rather than asking the human to adapt themselves to one tool. Nowadays, it would be termed as « user-friendly ».

The dials equally benefitted from a great variety of finishes and styles, always in view of adapting oneself to the final users’ needs. However, it is also in the will to adapt oneself to another human need: the taste of beauty.

This aesthetic will is also found in the cases; the first case of the 60s unquestionably remains the purest: at the time when one knew how to make cases, which appeared very fine while the movements were relatively thick. Later on, aesthetics was given privilege over fashion; today, solidity is privileged…

The Carrera history is so rich and complex that it merits a book. These watches consist of an almost-exhaustive catalogue of mechanical sports timing in these past 50 years. Thus, obviously, this history is a bit chaotic and the connecting thread is not as evident as it is for other mythical watches. But this chaotic aspect is what precisely constitutes the Carrera range richness, an original soup, an Amazonian forest, a horology culture medium, the founding watchmaking chaos.

Despite the purchases, the hand changes and even the integration in a big luxury group, the successive CEOs of Heuer, then TAG Heuer, have continued to believe in innovation and even daily applying the TAG from the 80s: Technique d’Avant-Garde.

The current team, directed for a long time by Jean-Claude Babin (recently replaced by Stéphane Linder) needs a special acclaim since it has had the courage to give carte blanche to the team directed by Guy Sémon to maintain a high innovative level.

It is in no way easy for a great horology brand to maintain a high level of research and development. Inertia and feebleness are colossal in the great watchmaking firms; they prefer investing enormous amounts of money in institutional communication rather than giving money to the laboratory. And even if the R&D services are well equipped, the innovations end up in a drawer, the industrial will for risk-taking being absent.

On the one hand, this can be explained, as you know, by the Heuer innovation tradition, but equally by the bureaucratic structure of Tag Heuer: the firm is directed like an SME, the administrative, commercial and marketing departments all in all count approximately 50 collaborators. As a contrast, the R&D department consists of 45 persons and there are millions of employees in the various manufacturing subsidiaries which manufacture watches…

Eventually, this creativity is reflected in patents about high frequency: today the La Chaux-de-Fonds brand has got a head start by introducing various major advances in the space of a handful of years. This constitutes a historical revenge for Heuer since in its days, the Calibre 11 had progressively been distanced by its competitors.

Today, the Mikropendulum distances the competition in a flash, while having the cheek to be sold at an ultra-aggressive tariff with regard to its exceptional mechanics. Quite like the Muscle Cars design .

If the Carrera’s 50 years assessment is made, the bet initially launched by Jack Heuer has incontestably won.

50 años del Tag Heuer Carrera , de 50 años de investigación e innovación .
1963 . Un año clave en la historia de la relojería . Es el año que sin duda marca la última gran época de la relojería mecánica " utilitarista " . En este momento se crea el legendario cronógrafo Heuer Carrera.

Jack Heuer trasciende la Helvética neoclasicismo de los años 50 para introducir el funcionalismo en el cronógrafo. La razón detrás de esta decisión? Deportes de motor .

Las connivencias entre los deportes mecánicos y Tag Heuer son viejos e íntimamente ligados a la historia de la marca de La Chaux -de- Fonds . Esta aventura comenzó antes de la Gran Guerra . En 1963 , ya había sido Tag relojes de bolsillo de fabricación dedicadas a cronometraje deportivo durante más de cincuenta años. Por ejemplo, el vintage " Mikrographe " fue fabricado a principios del siglo 20 y , unos años antes de la Carrera, el "Maestro Rally " , un cronógrafo de salpicadero.
Como oposición a lo que el neófito puede suponer , el nombre de Carrera no está vinculada a Porsche , sino que fue más bien inspirado en la mítica carrera de los años 50 , la Carrera Panamericana conocido como "Pan Am " . Lo que puede ser visto como una paradoja sorprendente es que antes de 1963 , este evento no había ocurrido desde 1955 , a raíz de una decisión de las autoridades mexicanas . Esta interrupción fue el resultado del trauma psicológico causado por el trágico accidente del Mercedes 300 SLR en el 24H del Mans 1955 ... Sin embargo , Jack Heuer resultó ser un visionario apostando a la resurrección de esta carrera antología ... El evento es nuevo en marcha desde 1988.
Es esta visión , la intuición, la comprensión , que son los factores de forja de la historia Carrera ...


Heuer Carrera 45 Dato "Cobra Shelby " 3147


Es probable que sea visto como algo de menor importancia en la actualidad, uno era consciente de que incluso el detalle más importancia era relevante en la investigación el rendimiento en el tiempo.
Heuer aplicado las soluciones que dan una lectura máxima de relojes militares del período de entreguerras hasta relojes deportivos : una mayor apertura y esfera de color negro para un máximo de contraste.
La primera referencia de la Carrera es el 2447 . Bicompax , panda o full negro , es un reloj redondo de 36mm (que era relativamente grande para la época) . Animados por un Valjoux 72 , un movimiento normal durante la post- guerra, su frecuencia es de 18.000 vph durante 45 horas de reserva de marcha .



Presenta numerosas similitudes con el Rolex ref " Pré - Daytona " . 6238 : el calibre , la esfera y los pulsadores . Lo que es aún mejor es que el futuro 6239 , al igual que el Carrera, adoptará el nombre de un evento de automóviles a través del Atlántico : Daytona.
Sin embargo, incluso si el Daytona y el Carrera se ubicó casi en el mismo punto ( en los años 60 , los productos eran menos " identitaria " de hoy) y se presentan en el mismo año ( el Daytona también celebra sus 50 años este año ) , se habían opuesto diametralmente destinos .
Por un lado , la Daytona evolucionado muy poco , tanto en términos de motorización como la estética , ya que Rolex privilegiada fiabilidad y durabilidad por encima de todo .
Por otro lado , el Carrera se convirtió en un laboratorio permanente , estética y técnica .


Aquí , hay que hacer referencia al Heuer Carrera 45 Dato « Cobra Shelby » 3147 . De hecho , en 1963 , era raro que los relojes " de marca " ( los años 70 y 80 fueron la edad de oro de los relojes " de marca " ) .
Por lo tanto, se debe a que el logotipo de la constructora británica que el 3147 va a ser de mayor interés para nosotros que el 2447 .
A pesar de la legitimidad y el potencial explosivo de una asociación entre el AC Cobra y Tag Heuer nicho constructor, el Dato 45 no era un reloj comercial.
En los años 60 , Carol Shelby, ex-piloto de carreras (ganó las 24h de Le Mans en 1959 Mans con Aston Martin) , decidió crear el coche de carreras americano , él se volvió hacia Ford , que era capaz de suministrar el motor y el dinero y fue ayudado por AC , un constructor británico, que poseía el know-how europeo en términos de chasis.



El AC Cobra nació ; conocería un éxito limitado : las ventas durante los años 60 no superaron los 1.000 ejemplares , distribuidos en diversas versiones .
El coche es demasiado pronto y demasiado acentuado, que precede a la Muscle Cars era , sin embargo , este último tendrá como objetivo mayor en el objetivo fijado por el Shelby Cobra : ser tan poderoso como los GTs del momento por mucho menos dinero.
Shelby había optado por una solución de compromiso entre las cualidades dinámicas del coche y su costo . Los coches del músculo sería mucho más radical , dejando atrás todo equilibrio en términos de comportamiento, a favor de los motores V8 atmosféricos menores de esteroides , a precios de dumping ...

Para motivar a la fuerza de ventas , el grupo Ford preguntó Jack Heuer para fabricar su Dato 45 , se redujo en dos series: la primera ( 1966-1967 ) , Bicompax y la segunda ( 1968-1969 ) más radical , Monocompax , este último compuesto por el AC iniciales Cobra .



Evidentemente, es esta versión que será de interés aquí, ya que prefigura diversas tendencias fuertes a través de su estética. En primer lugar , los socios de automóviles / relojería que son a partir de ahora el paso olvidada de cualquier empresa de relojería de gran escala.
La esfera está decorada con el logotipo de una marca de automóviles ( un primero ?) Y lo que es un logo! Cobra de la CA es muy agresivo y perfectamente corresponde a la vocación deportiva de Shelby : combinar lo mejor de automóviles de Europa y América .
Entonces , el reloj se propone una cita importante y un gran reloj blanco de minutos graduadas hasta 45 . Obviamente , todo lo que se realiza en el ámbito de aplicación de una legibilidad máxima : con su gran abertura en el dial , el reloj más corta que el 36mm anunciado .
El caso es la encarnación de la sencillez , sus cuernos son muy largas lo cual es lógico teniendo en cuenta su tamaño. Además , las Carreras actuales conservar esta característica , pero con una caja de mayor tamaño.
Por otra parte, el reloj se siguió en automóvil por un inusual calibre ( en sólo en las Carreras , era relativamente común en la época) de un manual cronógrafo : el Landeron 189 , 31 mm de diámetro de 6.85 mm de ancho. Tiene una frecuencia de 18.000 vibraciones por hora durante 42 horas de reserva de energía.



Es de señalar que la caja de acero resuena mucho y que la característica de sonido de 2,5 Hz es bastante audible para un pequeño reloj tal.
Si el Heuer Carrera 45 Dato "Cobra Shelby " es casi imposible de encontrar por casualidad , es posible a 45 sin logo Dato aproximadamente 3'500 CHF ...
Lo cual es mucho menos costoso que un Shelby Cobra original, porque admitámoslo , es mucho más sencillo (y económico !) Llevar un reloj de época que conducir un vehículo apropiado.


Heuer Skipper 7754 « Skipperera »


Otro modelo que es un poco fuera de ritmo pero muy icónica del medio creativo que define esta serie es la Skipperera . Los capitanes son un poco difíciles de clasificar en las líneas Heuer , ya que a veces son Autavia ya veces Carrera. Expertos de aire diferentes opiniones al respecto ...




En cuanto a la bien llamada " Skiperrera " presenta un caso de Carrera, se puede considerar que se trata de una Carrera completa.
El interés de este reloj se encuentra en su estética. Tampoco se distingue por su causa, que es la versión estándar de las Carreras, ni por su calibre , un Valjoux 7730 .
Sin embargo , antes de centrarse en el dial , es útil para quedarse en este calibre un poco . El Valjoux 7730 es un calibre de manual de cronógrafo con una frecuencia de 18.000 alternancias por hora durante 45 horas de reserva de marcha , mide 31 mm en 6 , es decir, casi las mismas dimensiones que el Landeron 189 .



Se tendrá en cuenta que en el momento , la proporción del tamaño de la talla / tamaño del caso era diferente a la de hoy. En aquel entonces , al igual que los motores de los coches deportivos " , grandes calibres fueron entubados en pequeños casos, a calzador .
Lo que hace la particularidad de este 7730 (que es probablemente la razón de su elección de este Skipper ) es que ofrece la posibilidad de mostrar 30 ó 45 minutos en el sub -dial en la posición de las 3 . Y aquí, Heuer ha impulsado esta función en una esquina : mediante la modificación de una rueda , es posible visualizar sólo 15 minutos a treinta saltos de treinta segundos.
¿Por qué es eso? La respuesta es , como siempre, que fue por esta famosa cuenta atrás del lanzamiento regata. Una de ellas será igualmente señalar que los minutos del temporizador se graduó en la dirección invertida : se puso en marcha 15 minutos antes del inicio de regatas , el último tercio que indica el " calentamiento" del evento.



Sin embargo , el principal interés de la guardia no se refiere a la anterior, pero en lugar de la esfera, que es uno de los más bonitos que he tenido nunca. Los diales de aquella época son de gran calidad y no son menos atractivas que las producciones actuales . Los relieves son cualitativos , las texturas muy limpio y sobre todo se hacen viejos en muy buena forma , de la que la buena calidad de la laca de la época es la prueba .
La combinación de colores de esta Carrera 7754 es perfecta: azul noche , verde almendra , naranja , en proporciones ideales. De manera visionaria , que sintetiza todo lo que se hace mejor en los deportes y los diales de verano de los próximos 40 años. Azul noche para estar guapa , naranja para la relajación y la almendra verde para la nostalgia .

Por otra parte, el contexto muy simplificada de la Carrera (Transporte blanco, índices y agujas simples) destaca aún más el esquema de color .
Los colectores no están mal , sino que se cotiza aproximadamente el doble de la Carrera a partir de ese momento , a menudo a partir de CHF 7'000 .




Heuer Carrera « Automatic 70 ' » 110.253 , Côte de Genève


Directamente de pasar al año 1978 , vamos a interesarnos con el Heuer Carrera 110,253 ya que este último se une a numerosos elementos emblemáticos de la Carrera de los años 70 ' .
El primer gran cambio fue el caso : se convirtió en barril, fue ampliada por 2 mm y perdió sus largos cuernos , muy característica de los años 70. Para los puristas , es sin duda un poco chocante , tanto como este modelo se distanció de los modelos de los años 60 ' . Sin embargo, en oposición a una Daytona , que es monolítica por vocación , es un laboratorio , es por lo tanto legítimo que sus creadores trataron de cambiar la forma de su caja.



Desde un punto de vista personal, yo prefiero el caso de los años 60 ' , debido al hecho de que la simplificación parece lograrse totalmente a Mí . Aquí, el caso es muy simpático, muy de moda , pero un poco más torpe que el de los años 60. Mientras que los años 60 ' el caso era el avatar de la modernidad pasión de Jack Heuer, los años 70 ' el caso se produjo a partir de una simplificación deseo de un caso ya muy simplificada , de la postmodernidad en general ... En consecuencia , el caso llamado "automático 70 " tiene dos ventajas: sus cuernos más sólidos y su diámetro superior, como resultado , estos Carreras parecen mucho más grande en la muñeca que sus predecesores .

Parece que Tag Heuer ha hecho la misma elección de sus relojes contemporáneos , en la preservación de forma de la caja de los años 60 ' (esto aún se desarrolló al final del artículo) .

Si el caso ha sido nombrado « Automatic 70 ' » , debe saber que una buena parte de los relojes que están equipa manual!

De hecho , los años 70 son el momento en que cronógrafos automáticos aparecieron justo en el medio de la crisis de cuarzo ... Entre los problemas financieros y proveedores , problemas de fiabilidad de la cronógrafos automática , una gran cantidad de los Carrera de los años 70 estaban equipados con movimiento manual .



Sin embargo , este no es el caso para este 110.253 , que está equipado con una variante de la leyenda Buren Heuer Calibre 11 : el calibre 12 de la vendimia .

El calibre 12 es, pues, un cronógrafo automático con 21.600 alternancias por hora , en contra de la talla 11 de la vendimia , con una frecuencia intermedia de 19.800 alternancias por hora . El calibre tiene una reserva de marcha de 42 horas y mide 31mm por 7.7 de ancho.

Se ha apodado « Chronomatic » y la masa oscilante no será visible en las fotos : que es normal, ya que se ha ocultado por el mecanismo del cronógrafo.
Al igual que el calibre 11 , calibre 12 de la vendimia es una Buren 1281 con un módulo de cronógrafo Depraz Dubois 8510 .
Sin embargo , si es más clásico en su frecuencia , sino que también es más legítimo : a seis saltos por segundo es la base más legítima en un sistema de tiempo sexagesimales .



Último detalle, la corona se ha instalado en la posición de las 9 , pero los botones de empuje (menos protuberante que la de los modelos de los años 60 ' , por desgracia ) se encuentran en su posición habitual , es decir, a la derecha de la caja. Lo contrario podría haber sido más ergonómico , parece más instintiva para activar un cronógrafo con el pulgar de la mano derecha en lugar de con el índice ...

Por el lado de la línea , al igual que el resto de Carreras de época , es deportivo clasicismo con un toque de locura , todo servido por un nivel de ejecución que no es menos atractivo que las más bellas producciones actuales .
Prueba de ello ? La esfera está atravesada por tres grandes azul Côtes de Genève , muy bien hecho , los sub fichas negras casi romper su armonía . De hecho , de estos últimos son plana y mate con índices blancos . Sin embargo , a pesar de la belleza de su línea , esta Carrera 110,253 es un reloj de la herramienta, por lo tanto el aspecto funcional prevalece.

Además , el conjunto del índice / manos sigue siendo muy clásico , de acero pulido , diseño aerodinámico . Se da prioridad a la eficiencia.

No es muy difícil de encontrar uno en aproximadamente 2'500 CHF , que no es mucho si la calidad de la ejecución de la línea y el movimiento legendario incrustado se toman en consideración .





Heuer Carrera « automática » 510.511 , la aviación militar.


Al igual que el Skipperera , el 510.511 es una rareza , fuera de la serie Carrera. ¿Por qué es esta pieza que se está describiendo ?

Contrariamente a la Skipperera , no es la más bella de las Carreras, pero su interés técnico es enorme.

A modo de introducción , vale la pena saber que este reloj tiene un doble falso, el 510.513 , idéntica con una esfera azul que presenta Côtes de Genève dispone horizontalmente . Por desgracia , esta pieza no estaba disponible en el museo TAG Heuer donde se han tomado las fotos de este informe.



El reloj existe en dos versiones : una en acero ( Ref. 510.523 ) , y uno en PVD de acero , este último acabado reforzar su aspecto militar . El caso toma el diseño de la « Automática 70 ' » ( incluso si el reloj data de 1984 ) , pero es un poco más grande , con 40 mm de diámetro . El reloj es resistente al agua hasta 100 metros y los pulsadores son del tamaño adecuado .

El interés de este reloj reside en su calibre : en ese entonces, Lemania no estaba en el círculo Grupo Swatch (herramienta industrial de Lemania sirvió para construir la firma Breguet ) y produjo numerosos relojes y calibres para el destino de las fuerzas armadas.

Por lo tanto , el legendario Lemania 5100 que equipa esta Carrera 510,511 es un mecanismo de cronógrafo automático de segunda generación destinados a la aviación militar, incluidos los pilotos de combate . Es por eso que este movimiento presenta una extraordinaria resistencia a las fuerzas de aceleración ( 11G ) y desaceleraciones fuertes ( 7G ) .

Puede ser utilizado durante varios años sin servicio y es excepcionalmente robusta . Su construcción es inusual, el movimiento está estructurado en torno a los pilares , como un edificio y tiene algunas piezas de nylon ( que estaba de moda en ese momento ... )



Tiene una frecuencia de 28.800 vibraciones por hora durante 48 horas de reserva de energía y las medidas de 31mm de 8,2 , por lo tanto ligeramente más grande que un 7750 .
Muchos escribieron que no es muy bonito . Ciertamente no es la encarnación del sex-appeal , pero aparte del El Primero ( Calibre 36 en Tag Heuer ) , los cronógrafos automáticos "movimientos de los años 70-80 eran mucho menos hermoso que los cronógrafos manuales ' calibres de la post- guerra.

Por otra parte , este movimiento tiene varias funciones . El más notable y juguetón es los minutos centrales de temporizador, materializado por la mano de color naranja con forma de avión . El reloj tiene cuatro manos que pasan por el centro de cañón : horas , minutos , segundos y crono crono minutos .
Además de los 60 segundos y los minutos en el centro, el cronógrafo indica las doce horas acumuladas en la posición 6 en punto, el tiempo de 24 horas a las 12 en punto , el pequeño segundo a las 9 en punto y, finalmente, la fecha a las 3 en punto . Incluso si está relativamente cargada, no es menos legible .

Un reloj relativamente raros y totalmente mítico, que se puede encontrar en aproximadamente 3'500 CHF , lo que es completamente correcto dada la calidad del producto . Yo no puedo aconsejar la fuerza suficiente el 510.513 si se tiene que un interés, menos militar de la aviación en su aspecto y más Funky- Carrera.


Tag Heuer Carrera Calibre 36 ref: CAR2B11.BA0799


Ten cuidado, nos estamos centrando en Baselworld 2013 , sin transición, ya que la serie Carrera todavía existe y la innovación sigue presente en el 50 aniversario de este mítico modelo . Usted encontrará que en cada generación, las referencias que se hacen más complejos ... Haciendo un salto de casi 30 años (incluyendo una larga interrupción de diez años , a partir de mediados de los 80 hasta 1996 ), la referencia 6 - número se ha transformado en este tipo de referencia : CAR2B11.BA0799 . Phew .

Antes de entrar en los detalles de este calibre 36, que sobre todo me sedujo , otros dos modelos merecen una mención especial con motivo de este aniversario.



Es por lo tanto evidente , el modelo de aniversario , el Jack Heuer Carrera se redujo en dos versiones , que corresponden a dos décadas fundadores de la serie Carrera .

El primer modelo es, pues, el Jack Heuer Calibre 17 , 80 años ( Jack Heuer ), que es el descendiente directo del 2446 evocado al principio de este artículo, 41mmsteel , Calibre 17 , aún ocupa el dial de panda ! Por consiguiente, prácticamente se asemeja a la primera Carrera , en un formato más moderno . Perenne moda , eficiente .

El segundo modelo es el Jack Heuer calibre 1887 , en el formato Bull- cabeza! Esta disposición resulta de una rotación de 90 ° , donde los pulsadores se encuentran en las posiciones 11 y uno y la corona en la posición de las 12 .



Es la configuración del cronógrafo más emblemático de los años 70 , inspirado directamente de los cronómetros ( Heuer en particular ) « diseño, típicos de los estadios olímpicos , así como los 70 'botones EPS cursos !
Sorprendentemente , en contra de todas las expectativas , no había Heuer Carrera con este tipo de configuración en el momento . Casi parece que Heuer quiere compensar esta omisión mediante la introducción de un reloj tan emblemático . La caja mide 45 mm de diámetro , que es de acero y DLC de titanio en el nivel de la cubierta , y está equipada con el calibre 1887 . Este reloj se merece una crítica largo , de modo que se pueden examinar los aspectos históricos , técnicos y culturales ...



Volver al Calibre 36 , que está equipado con una esfera de dos colores y este reloj es interesante en varios niveles. Es un reloj sintética de las tendencias que han pasado en el Tag .
Antes de entrar en el análisis de su estética , las necesidades de atención que poner en su motor. El reloj está equipado con un calibre 36 , es decir, un Zenith El Primero modificado para Tag Heuer .
Hoy en día, Zenith y Tag Heuer trabajan juntos en medio del grupo LMVH . Sin embargo, esto no siempre ha sido así : al final de los años 60 , estas marcas se habían lanzado en un curso tecnológico , para saber lo que primero introducir un cronógrafo automático .
Sin ningún tipo de suspense , con su longevidad como prueba , el El Primero golpeó a dos pájaros de un tiro : por un lado , se había introducido algunas semanas antes de que el 1969 Calibre 11 , pero tenía sobre todo resultó ser una mejor solución en términos de frecuencia, fiabilidad e incluso estética : era el más hermoso calibre cronógrafo automático a partir de entonces .



Nadie es perfecto , los contadores centrales están demasiado cerca uno del otro y debido a su alta frecuencia de la reserva de energía es a menudo un poco corto en función del tipo de muelle de barrilete que el PE incorpora ...

En esta reciente versión , Tag Heuer ha hecho sin embargo el trabajo de modificación necesaria : la reserva de marcha de 36 horas se ha aumentado a 50 horas , lo cual es suficiente para establecer el reloj hacia abajo para el fin de semana. Como recordatorio , el PE / Calibre 36 se rimaba en 5Hz/36000 alternancias por hora , mide 30 mm de diámetro y está equipado con 31 rubíes.




Del mismo modo , un truco se ha empleado para dar proponer un sentido estético a la demasiado cerca sub - temporizadores . Este calibre 36 de 43 mm de diámetro retoma la estética de los contadores de tiempo de la vendimia , relojes de bolsillo , sobre todo destinados a cronometraje deportivo . El gran ferrocarril justifica la sub -contadores de tiempo juntos dibujado .

Obviamente , ya habíamos visto esta línea con el encanto anticuado en el Mikrograph y Mikrogirder de 2011-2012 , además , una de las fuerzas del reloj era hacer un mecanismo derivado de la industria aeroespacial convivir con partes externas neo -clásica .



Aquí , debido a cuestiones de costes , el mecanismo es, evidentemente, menos innovadora . Sin embargo , el calibre 36 es sin embargo muy hermoso y está de acuerdo con esta línea de dos tonos. Además, es uno de los relojes más cualitativos introducidos por Tag Heuer : la laca blanca no brilla en exceso , la central de color gris satinado da reflejos discretos pero cálido fuera y las manos / enteros índice es de conformidad con las Carreras de época.

Caso de estos últimos es menos pesado que el de 43 mm de diámetro , pero el reloj no es demasiado grande , según los criterios actuales.

Es de señalar que esta CAR2B11.BA0799 ha suscitado la unanimidad con la profesión , casi todo nuestro periodista y blogger colegas haber sucumbido al encanto de esta pieza ... Su precio está en el rango promedio del mercado para productos equivalentes , es decir , aproximadamente el 8000CHF .


MikroPendulum Carrera.


Ya lo tienes, los relojes Carrera son una historia dinámica hecha de innovaciones e investigaciones . Sin embargo , en estos últimos años , Tag Heuer ha sido la marca más innovadora en masa, muy por delante de sus competidores directos ...
Las innovaciones se centran en torno a dos ejes principales: la muy alta frecuencia (más de 5 Hz) y el magnetismo. Es conveniente recordar que , de acuerdo con las reglas de la mecánica cuántica , el magnetismo es una de las cuatro fuerzas que gobiernan el universo , los otros son la interacción fuerte (que mantiene la cohesión átomos " ) , la debilidad de la interacción ( iniciar la radiactividad) y la gravitación .

El electromagnetismo es particularmente la fuerza que anima a los fotones , el que es el proveedor de la luz diaria y cultivador de la cosecha ... Además, también se mantiene la lista de la compra en el  refrigerador.

En resumen , este gran fuerza del universo paradójicamente siempre ha sido disputada por los relojeros , que han intentado todo, con un cierto margen de éxito , para descartar movimientos relojería de ella ( los relojes no magnéticos , relojes de baja magnéticos , etc ) , el punto más crítico es la unidad de escape . La balanza muelles época eran muy sensitve a los campos magnéticos y hasta hoy , la balanza resortes magnéticos son una causa frecuente de regreso el servicio post -venta.




De todos modos , en un reloj mecánico , el magnetismo , como el agua , era el mal encarnado . Hasta la llegada del Péndulo de Tag Heuer .

Este reloj de diseño introducido en 2010 propone una revolución técnica nunca visto antes : la desaparición de la balanza a favor del resorte de un doble par de imanes que generan un efecto de péndulo a través de la atracción / repulsión de los polos magnéticos opuestos . ¿Te acuerdas de imanes , que repelió los demás de tu infancia ? Es este fenómeno en el trabajo en el péndulo . El objetivo es sustituir el par mecánico de la balanza - resorte por par magnético del péndulo .

Antes de continuar la explicación , es conveniente revisar la primavera -Drive Seiko en comparación con el sistema de Mikropendulum . Como es de su conocimiento , Seiko es uno de los socios de la relojería de la marca La Chaux -de- Fonds , en particular a través de los surtidos y suministro de centrado .

Esto podría causar confusión. Sin embargo , no existe ninguna relación entre la primavera -Drive y el péndulo .

La Primavera- Drive es un reloj mecánico regulado por cuarzo al mando de un freno magnético .

El Mikropendulum es un reloj mecánico puro, sin cuarzo, de los cuales el saldo de la primavera de manera única , pasó por la interacción de los imanes.

Además , la construcción del movimiento MikroPendulum es muy clásico , además de la ausencia de la balanza de la primavera , el resto se asemeja a lo que conocemos y amamos en un reloj mecánico .



Un péndulo está equipado con un equilibrio clásico . Por otro lado , por debajo de este último es un punto de equilibrio de la primavera . Usted necesidad de buscar en el plano de la placa , que está situado a los pies de la barra de la balanza , la placa que está vinculada a las paletas.

Esto no es una placa ordinaria : que está equipado con dos imanes cada uno de ocupación 180 ° de la placa , uno es positivo mientras que el otro es negativo . Aquí y allá de la placa , hay un anillo que incluye otros dos imanes (cada uno de ocupación 90 ° de la circunferencia , hay dos zonas neutrales 90 ° ) , una vez más un positivo y un negativo .

El principio es muy simple , finalmente , de una gran fluidez y en la parte superior de la que permite la disminución leve de las fricciones ... La energía desenrolla a través del cañón de una manera clásica, pero las fuerzas magnéticas , que se oponen en los imanes , regulará esta energía en lugar del fenómeno elasticidad de la balanza de primavera.

Antes de investigar la problemática que esto puede generar , conviene preguntarse sobre el valor añadido?

El clásico equilibrio de la primavera tiene una precisión máxima de + / -1 segundo por día . Esta limitación se debe a los procedimientos de fabricación que no permiten ir por debajo de 0,1 micrómetros . Esto condiciona una precisión promedio de aproximadamente 0,99 segundos por día , en el mejor de ( grandes calibres de difusión son generalmente muy precisa , gracias a la súper industrialización del proceso de fabricación de la unidad de escape ) .

Para ampliar los límites relativamente vagas de precisión en un reloj mecánico, es, pues, necesario un nuevo tipo de regulación de órganos , lo que exige únicamente en principios mecánicos , de lo que se llamaría el Spring Drive ... Silicon es una solución porque el margen de fabricación es aún menor que el de la empresa y Elinvar balanza resortes. Sin embargo , si el silicio es una innovación en términos de material , que no pone en cuestión el principio del equilibrio de la primavera. Además , en este entorno , el silicio es potencialmente más frágil que el Elinvar .

De todos modos , este material no está segmentando suficiente para crear una verdadera revolución técnica . Esto puede ser considerado como una respuesta al tema dedicado a la utilización de silicio en la relojería ...

The Pendulum (nombrado en homenaje a un péndulo de Huygens , moderno teórico de la relojería en el siglo 17 ) permite extender algunos límites de la relojería mecánica tradicional , tanto en términos de precisión como la resistencia a los golpes , e incluso , hasta cierto punto , la resistencia a los campos magnéticos .

Durante su presentación en 2010, se regula a 6 Hz y aunque no era funcional ( que es bastante raro en los ojos del mundo para señalar el sueño ) , no se garantiza su estabilidad.

Por lo tanto , la MikroPendulum demostrará que en adelante esta funciones de regulación magnéticas .

Este reloj toma la estética e incluso una parte de la tecnología implementada en la serie Mikros . En este caso, se está haciendo evidente referencia a un caso Carrera moderna , inspirada en los años 60. El reloj está en titanio grado 5 y mide 45 mm , el caso presenta una alternancia bastante éxito de las superficies de pulido y lijado , lo cual es difícil de concretar en un disco variedad de titanio tal . Si el acabado es perfecto , uno puede preguntarse cómo un caso de Carrera más ágil y más vintage de los años 60 se representa en este modelo ...

En el plano de la esfera, es el estilo MikroTourbillonS que ha sido tomado , sin embargo , en un aspecto más frío : mientras que el segundo fue de dos tonos , el MikroPendulum presenta un gris antracita con un punto de ash- revestido. Es la tecnología más avanzada , es grave.

Los acabados están al nivel de los MikroTourbillonS , así excelente, pero uno no debe esperar clásica Alta Relojería ( del , tipo Lange Parmigiani ) , sin ángulos de acoplamiento, no sutilmente salpicada dial o grabados rurales, a pesar de los bellos acabados ( CF del tourbillon puentes) , es la tecnología más avanzada , no se trata aquí de diversión, clasicismo suizo no significa en absoluto reinado en este reloj .

El foso entre el lado cepillado de la esfera y la parte que consiste en la Côtes de Genève es un gran éxito . Estos últimos son evidentemente una alusión a los numerosos diales Carrera de época y sus olas de Ginebra.

La reserva de energía se muestra en la posición de las 12 en punto, totalizador de la segunda en la posición seis ( debido a que la aguja del cronógrafo hace una vuelta de la rueda por segundo) .

La innovación más importante se refiere al movimiento. Mientras el reloj toma el caso de Carrera en la versión MikroTourbillonS , utiliza la arquitectura de la Mikrograph adornado con un órgano regulador magnético de alta velocidad.

Recuerda el Mikrograph , un magnífico versión especial que había sido vendida a Only Watch 2011 y que había tenido un artículo dedicado a ella.

Este movimiento de base está formado por dos escapes , uno tradicional, con un balance de la primavera Elinvar , con 28.800 alternancias por hora ( 4 Hz) para la hora / minuto / segundo . Añadido a esto , otro péndulo regulación de órganos, por lo tanto un regulador magnético de 50 Hz para el cronógrafo ( que es 360.000 vibraciones por hora ) . El cronógrafo tanto, hace un giro de la esfera por segundo , que es muy, muy rápido. El tren está equipado con 100 graduaciones, para dar la centésima de segundo. Un cronógrafo clásico parece totalmente torpe y anticuado cuando usted ha tenido la oportunidad de jugar con un Mikros ... tengo una preferencia por la 1/100, porque si no es la frecuencia más rápida desarrollado por género , es el que presenta la mejor visibilidad compromiso / velocidad.

Si alguna vez la suerte de mantener el reloj en la mano , observe el equilibrio del péndulo (por lo tanto la visible en la posición de las 9 en el lado de la esfera ), hay un ligero momento de inercia en el momento en que el reloj se para . Realmente un farol.

Cuando uno ve los relojes de todo el año, se convierte en un poco obsoleta , lo cual es lamentable , pero el « Mikros » serie es el tipo de bofetada técnica que pone inmediatamente uno nuevo en el buen camino de la pasión relojería .

El movimiento automático mide 15 lignes ¾ , es decir, 35,8 mm de 9,79 mm de ancho . Es por lo tanto un gran calibre de los cuales el espesor importante no ha sido bien administrado: el reloj no parece cualquier más gruesa que la media . Evidentemente, es un reloj complejo , con 371 componentes y 58 rubíes . El péndulo con una frecuencia de 50 Hz es propietaria de 90 minutos de reserva de energía , que normalmente es suficiente en el uso diario . El movimiento HMS gira a 4 Hz para su uso 42 horas . El sistema único de regulación de la energía permite la certificación COSC del lado del reloj , así como el lado cronógrafo , por el momento, sólo Tag Heuer posee un nivel necesario para la certificación COSC cronógrafo de un funcionamiento de la tecnología.

Lo sorprendente de este reloj es que una innovación tan importante no ha sido fabricado por un relojero imaginativo, que trabaja para una firma independiente y el desarrollo de su trabajo en una granja perdida en la profundidad de un valle bucólico . No, aquí se trata de una gran marca supone que es conservador, incluso aventurado al igual que sus colegas , que se presenta como una innovación !

Lo que es más impresionante, pero en última instancia, lógico , dado el posicionamiento tarifa razonable de Tag Heuer, es el precio. El MikroPendulum se vende a 35'000 CHF , el precio de un cronógrafo de los deportes de la Alta Relojería ( todo el mundo sabe que esta noción es muy vaga ) . Tag tiene el descaro de proponer un producto con un nivel de acabado análogo , pero con una tecnología incorporada hacer numerosas innovaciones recientes obsoletas ...



Mientras que durante el ensayo MikroTourbillonS , sabía que la tarifa elitista ni siquiera me permite soñar comprarlo, aquí , ante el anuncio del precio , inmediatamente llamé a mi banco para crear una cuenta MikroPendulum - ahorro.

En un nivel más profundo, es un reloj que es un éxito total en el que se sometió a los 1.969 Calibre 11 . Esta vez , Tag Heuer recibe el premio a la innovación y la supremacía de esta innovación.



MikroPendulumS Carrera concepto .



Antes de examinar este diseño de pulsera en detalle , vamos a tener un flashback de 2010 , cuando se hubiese presentado la primera Pendulum diseño rimada a 6 Hz . Usted ha señalado antes que la etapa de ejecución de este primer prototipo ha sido relativamente largo ( 3 años).

Si la problemática causada por la primera Pendulum introducido en 2010 se examina en detalle , uno acercarse lo suficiente a la problemática encontrada por el acero azulado paleo - equilibrio - muelles ( Siglo 18 y 19 ), a saber :

• Resistencia a los campos magnéticos .
• Estabilidad en el rango de amplitud térmica.
• linealidad del par a lo largo de la reserva de marcha .

Además de esta problemática clásica , se añade además otra capa de problemas relacionados con los materiales de los imanes del péndulo . Por otra parte , en contra de la relojería tradicional, es casi imposible de ocultar una calidad media de las aleaciones a través de una excelente sincronización y regulación del trabajo .

La problemática es tan nuevo y así martillazos lejanos que uno tenía que ir al corazón del átomo para desarrollar el MikroPendulum .

Para los aficionados , el ferromagnético utilizado es el de la « duro » tipo , lo que significa que están fuertemente cargado de energía , que presenta una gran estabilidad en el tiempo y tienen que ceder el paso a una carga electromagnética , al menos, equivalente a la establecida durante la fabricación a ser neutralizado .

La aleación de imanes constituye cobalto , samario y gadolinio ( estos dos últimos materiales se conocen como « tierras raras » ) .

El complejo de samario - cobalto es bien conocido en el mundo magnetismo . Actualmente, es la aleación que permite obtener la máxima resistencia a los campos magnéticos . Se utiliza en todos los campos : TI , militar , aeronáutica , así como , de una manera más sorprendente , en el campo médico : proyectos marcapasos que consiste en Co - Sm imanes existe.

Así pues, la aleación de Co - Sm permite resolver la problemática importante del magnetismo parasitarias , sino que puede ser denominado como el equivalente de la invar para la balanza resortes clásicos . Sin embargo , ya que es , las alteraciones de temperatura de caída determina una precisión de + / - 45 segundos por día ...




Para contrarrestar los efectos de amplitud térmica , había que añadir otro elemento, que era mucho más específico: el gadolinio . Durante un aumento de la temperatura , mientras que los materiales se estaban expandiendo , los campos magnéticos tienden a aumentar su zona de influencia . Como el efecto del magnetismo es exponencial medida que se acerca a la fuente , el efecto de expansión es desastroso en el isocronismo . Es en este momento cuando interviene el gadolinio : Este metal tiene la propiedad de ser un atómica « esponja » , sino que absorbe el exceso de partículas generadas por otros elementos químicos y por lo tanto permite la neutralización de los efectos de amplitud térmica.

Para resolver los problemas de linealidad del par, la Co- Sa -Gd imanes han sido objeto de un trabajo más orientado a la relojería , con una regulación de la geometría de los elementos " .



Con la solución a este problema se ha encontrado , el péndulo de « v1.0 » permite obtener una precisión de + -1/sec por día , el mejor que se puede obtener con un equilibrio de la primavera Elinvar .

Es necesario entender que se trata de un « v1.0 » y que con las evaluaciones de las aleaciones ' ( la proporción de gadolinio en particular) experiencia perfeccionamiento y la mejora de la geometría , el sistema debe mejorar la precisión en los próximos años .
Esto es así como la investigación Tag Heuer se caracteriza por un aspecto permanente de laboratorio , un prototipo chasses otro prototipo y la última innovación se integra inmediatamente en un reloj comercial ... Todo esto ocurrió muy muy rápidamente : por lo tanto pasamos de una MikroGirder de 1/2000 segundo durante el SIHH 2012 a un MikroGirder en 1/10.000th de un segundo en Baselworld 2012 , es decir, una multiplicación por cinco en un plazo de tres meses .

Lo que naturalmente nos lleva al último prototipo de Tag Heuer , los MikroPendulumS . Se trata básicamente de un MikroTourbillonS ( descrito en este artículo LINK) , con los péndulos en lugar de la balanza resortes.



En el plano visual, los MikroPendulumS trae tres modificaciones importantes con respecto a los MikroTourbillonS . El abandono de las Côtes de Genève para el cepillado como los que se encuentran en la MikroGirder , una rotación de 90 ° movimiento y una modificación de los puentes tourbillon , las indicaciones y las funciones de mantenimiento del statu quo. Esto implica una « Bullhead » configuración de los pulsadores , que se pueden encontrar en los 11 , 12 y una posición . Este año , esta configuración , evidentemente, ha sido revisada en el Jack Heuer . Los MikrotourbillonS o Mikropendulum ( sin la "S" ) de configuración, parece más armonioso y es más coherente con la historia de Carrera.

Sin embargo , la cuestión principal es la técnica , y aquí , al igual que con la llegada de un nuevo prototipo, el Tag Heuer laboratorio amplía los límites de lo posible .

Si se sabe que a partir de ahora el diseño del caso, lo mismo no puede decirse de su material. Aquí , se está haciendo referencia a una aleación de cromo - cobalto , por lo general utilizado en « aeronáutica » , para las palas de las turbinas . La masa volúmica del Cr - Co es equivalente a la del acero y bronce , es decir, un poco menos de 9 veces la masa de agua .



Si no hay ganancia de masa significativa , la ganancia se hace en el lado de las propiedades ' : esta aleación es más resistente a todos los tipos de restricciones , más duraderas y más difícil , 530 Vickers , que es el doble de la mayoría de las aleaciones de acero utilizadas en la relojería .

El Cr - Cro es fabricado por sinterización por láser , que es la técnica industrial de la que se inspiran las impresoras 3D : un polvo se funde capa por capa a 1300 ° C, la cual permite la obtención de formas de acabado y los niveles inaccesibles a la tradicional CNC ... Will esta abrir la puerta a nuevas posibilidades en el campo de contornos movimiento?

Por el momento , los metales usados ​​en el movimiento automático de los MikropendulumS son más comunes . Sin embargo , no es el caso de su arquitectura . Las medidas de calibre 15 ¾ ( es decir, 35,8 mm ) , de 9.84mm de ancho , que se compone de 454 piezas y 75 rubíes .

La unidad de escape reservada a cuenta del tiempo está equipado con un tourbillon péndulo de 12 Hz ( es decir, 86.400 alternancias por hora ) para una reserva de marcha de 24 horas ( la más alta es la frecuencia , más disminuye la autonomía ) y su marco hace 3 revoluciones por minuto ( lo que es un segundo tourbillon 20 ) .



La unidad de escape reservado para el cronógrafo es un tourbillon Péndulo de 50Hz ( 360.000 alternancias por hora ) y su marco tourbillon hace 12 rotaciones por minuto ( que es lo que a 5 segundos tourbillon ) para una reserva de marcha de 60 minutos ( que es menos de el Mikropendulum , un tourbillon consume mucha energía ) .


Al igual que los MikrotourbillonS , el MikropendulumS tourbillon cronógrafo lanzamiento es notable , va como un misil tierra- tierra, o más bien como un coche deportivo equipado con una transmisión integral y del control de lanzamiento . Se va a la derecha abajo, inmediatamente y con gran rapidez. Una vez más , los MikrotourbillonS es ligeramente más demostrativo . En cualquier caso , estamos en un campo después de la relojería .




conclusión :


Inicialmente, la Carrera , cronógrafo deportivo , apenas se deriva de los relojes clásicos de los años 50. Este estilo suizo de los años 50 , funcionalista -pero- elegante, todavía influenciado por el arte moderno de los años 30 ' , los suizos , con su proverbial precaución , a menudo a la zaga de las tendencias .

Así, los primeros Carreras se simplificaron , sin embargo , en el curso de los años 60 , estos cronógrafos será rápidamente funcionar salvaje , integrando cada vez más exóticos movimientos siguiendo las necesidades de visualización. De hecho , una de las particularidades de la serie Carrera es de hecho muestra que se han adaptado y movimientos a las necesidades de los usuarios finales.

Por lo tanto , en lugar de producir ferrocarriles o biseles dedicados a un uso específico , Heuer ha menudo revisado toda la mecánica de adaptarse mejor a las necesidades .

A tal efecto , la búsqueda de Heuer fue adaptar la herramienta a una necesidad , en lugar de pedir el ser humano para adaptarse a una herramienta. Hoy en día , que se denomina como « fácil de usar » .

Las esferas igualmente se beneficiaron de una gran variedad de acabados y estilos, siempre teniendo en cuenta adaptándose a las necesidades de los usuarios finales. Sin embargo, también está en la voluntad de adaptarse a sí mismo a otra necesidad humana : el sabor de la belleza .

Esta voluntad estética también se encuentra en los casos , el primer caso de los años 60 , sin duda, sigue siendo la más pura : en el momento en que se sabía cómo hacer que los casos , que parecían muy bien , mientras que los movimientos eran relativamente gruesa . Más tarde , la estética se le dio privilegio sobre la moda , hoy en día , la solidez es privilegiada ...

La historia de Carrera es tan rica y compleja que merece un libro. Estos relojes se componen de un catálogo de casi exhaustiva de cronometraje deportivo mecánica en estos últimos 50 años. Por lo tanto , obviamente , esta historia es un poco caótico y el hilo conductor no es tan evidente como lo es para otros relojes míticos. Pero este aspecto caótico es lo que constituye precisamente la riqueza Carrera gama , una sopa original, una selva amazónica , un medio de cultivo de la relojería , el caos relojería fundación .

A pesar de las compras , los cambios de mano e incluso la integración en un grupo grande de lujo , los directores generales sucesivos de Heuer TAG Heuer , entonces , han seguido creyendo en la innovación e incluso la aplicación diaria del TAG de los años 80 : Technique d' Avant -Garde .

El equipo actual , dirigido por un largo tiempo por Jean -Claude Babin ( recientemente sustituido por Stéphane Linder ) necesita un reconocimiento especial, ya que ha tenido el valor de dar carta blanca para que el equipo dirigido por Guy Semon para mantener un alto nivel de innovación.

No es de ninguna manera fácil para una gran marca de relojería para mantener un alto nivel de investigación y desarrollo. La inercia y la debilidad son colosales en las grandes firmas relojeras , prefieren invertir enormes cantidades de dinero en la comunicación institucional en lugar de dar dinero para el laboratorio. E incluso si los servicios de I + D están bien equipadas, las innovaciones terminan en un cajón, la voluntad industrial para la toma de riesgos de estar ausente .

Por un lado , esto se puede explicar , como usted sabe , por la tradición de innovación Heuer, pero igualmente por la estructura burocrática de Tag Heuer : la empresa se ​​dirige como una PYME, los departamentos administrativos , comerciales y de marketing , todo en todos cuentan aproximadamente 50 colaboradores . Como contraste , el departamento de I + D formado por 45 personas y hay millones de empleados en las distintas filiales manufactureras que fabrican relojes ...

Con el tiempo , esta creatividad se refleja en las patentes sobre alta frecuencia : hoy la marca de La Chaux -de- Fonds tiene una ventaja mediante la introducción de varios avances importantes en el espacio de unos pocos años . Esto constituye una venganza histórica de Heuer ya que en sus días , el Calibre 11 progresivamente se había distanciado de sus competidores .

Hoy en día, las distancias Mikropendulum la competencia en un instante, mientras que tener la audacia de ser vendido a una tarifa muy agresivo en cuanto a su mecánica excepcionales . Muy parecido al diseño de los coches del músculo  .

Si se hace 50 años la evaluación de la Carrera, la apuesta inicialmente lanzada por Jack Heuer ha ganado indiscutiblemente .
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Alphonse P.

Supermoderator,
TagHeuer is not my favorite brand... But an excelent watch.:yes::yes:
As allways your photos are superb and the information you bring us is priceless!!!
Thank you for sharing pifpaf!!!:great::great:

Best regards!!!

Traduccion:
TagHeuer no es mi marca favorita... Pero es un excelente reloj:yes::yes:
Como siempre tus fotos son soberbias y la información que nos traes es invaluable!!!
Gracias por compartir pifpaf!!!:great::great:

Saludos!!!
 
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