Tag Heuer created another cutting-edge timepiece with its first tourbillon ever, proving itself as a high-end manufacturer of ultra-accurate and innovative chronograph watches. As a matter of fact, it is a double tourbillon which is a part of a “Mikro” platform – a dual-frequency mechanism with two barrels. TAG Heuer MikrotourbillonS has been announced a few months ago, during Baselworld show. Finally, we can totally enjoy the complete review of this stunning watch.
If someone could bet about a decade ago that Tag Heuer would be able to develop one of the most delicate complications in the haute horology, he or she would have earned a lot of money. However, after two incredible years for the Swiss watchmaker, followed by a series of revolutionary products ( Mikrograph, Mikrotimer and Mikrogirder), an announcement of the brand’s first tourbillon watch does not surprise Tag Heuer’s fans anymore. They are not surprised, but they have to be impressed with the new masterpiece, completely made in-house, at La Chaux-de-Fonds.
As the little trick with spelling the name MikrotourbillonS suggests, this watch has two tourbillons, one to regulate time and another to regulate the chronograph. For a regulation of its Mikro platforms, Tag Heuer used different kinds of technologies. This time, it is a classic complication that is still highly valuable.
Besides two tourbillons, the MikrotourbillonS also has two escapements and two barrels, which is the characteristic of all other Mikro mechanisms. An escapement for the watch oscillates at the standard frequency of 28,000 vibrations per hour (4hz), while a Chronograph escapement vibrates at 360,000 beats per hour (50hz). The tourbillon that regulates the timekeeping escapement rotates once every minute, while the one that ensures consistency of the chronograph makes a rotation every 5 seconds and this is the world’s fastest tourbillon that provides the superb 1/ 100th of a second accuracy. Power reserve for the watch goes up to 45 hours, while the chronograph can work 60 minutes when it is fully wound. The mechanism comprises 439 parts (437 of them are made in-house).
TAG Heuer MikrotourbillonS Chronograph Watch 4Hz Tourbillon
TAG Heuer MikrotourbillonS Chronograph Watch 50Hz Tourbillon
A half-opened dial that reveals a beautiful inner-work makes a standard 45mm Carrera case unique. It is crafted in rose gold, while the bezel part is made of a black metal called Tantalum that is often used in the capacitors of many modern electronics thanks to its anti-corrosive effect. The right side of the dial has a nice anthracite Côtes de Genève pattern. It features the 30 minutes counter at the 3 o’clock position, while the chrono seconds sub-dial takes the 6 o’clock position. The power-reserve indicator is located at the 12 o’clock position. The Central flying hand tracks elepased time with 1/10th and 1/100th of a second accuracy.
The TAG Heuer MikrotourbillonS Chronograph watches will be available in the forth quarter of the 2012, only to those who have previously ordered them. Although the price of the brand’s new masterpiece will be breathtakingly high (around CHF 220,000), Tag Heuer has already received a great number of orders.
