Tag Heuer opened the biggest watch show in the world with the revolutionary concept. Swiss watchmaker presented the TAG Heuer Mikrotimer Flying 1000 Concept Chronograph, world’s first mechanical wrist chronograph, which counts and shows 1/1,000th of a second.
A few weeks before the Baselworld 2011, Tag had started announcing its concept as a real technological breakthrough, but hardly any visitor of the live press conference in Basel expected to hear such a big news. Who would even think about it, just 2 mounts after the company had set new record in Geneva, with the TAG Heuer Mikrograph, the first mechanical chronograph which shows the 1/100th of a second.
The Mikrograph’s high frequency balance wheel for the stop-watch oscillates at 50 hertz, which is more than 10 times faster than most of mechanical chronographs in the world. This is revolutionary technology. But what can we say about the breath-taking 500hz frequency of the Mikrotimer, which is 3.6 million beats per hour?
Maybe the best possible answer to that question gave Jean Christophe Babin, CEO and president of Tag Heuer. “TAG Heuer Mikrotimer Flying 1000 Concept Chronograph is a watchmaking’s equivalent of man going to Mars”, said Babin on the press conference.
This amazing mechanism, without balance wheel, beats at two different frequencies – 4 hertz frequency (28,000 beats per hours) for the usual watch operations and, once again, 500 hertz for the Mikrotimer! This means that the central chrono hand makes 10 laps every second, providing the superb 1/1,000th of a second accuracy. The mechanism has 354 components, 53 jewels and separated storages of power that provide 43 hours of power reserve for the watch and 150 seconds for the chronograph.
The TAG Heuer Mikrotimer Flying 1000 Concept Chronograph is made of black titanium carbide and features modern sportive design. It has two central Chronograph hands. Bigger, green central hand counts the 1/100th and 1/1000th of a second on the outer rim’s scale. The smaller crono hand displays elapsed minutes and 1/12s of a minute, while the hronograph from the 5-second sub-dial at 6 o’clock, measures 1/ 10th of a second.
However, Tag didn’t announce a date of Mikrotimer’s release. What is certain, that will not be soon. As Babin said, that commercialization could last from 3 years to 10 years. Many things will form the price of this technological miracle, but it will definitely go over 50,000 CHF.
Amazing watch. That video commercial is revolution, as well as Tag’s mechanism. It shows everything. Speed, complications, brand’s creativity. I was shocked. Thank you Tag.
Wow. What’s next. I thought that couldn’t be produced something better than Mikrograph.
I have never seen a prettier men’s watch. It`s really remarkable. I like the design of the watch and the dial. It looks perfect in combination with a sporty black rubber. I don`t have experience with a mikrotimer mechanical chronograph, but that mechanism is very good, no doubt. The other problem is that I haven’t seen this watch at any watch store in my town, but if I don`t find it here, I will order one from Amazon.com.
Titanium carbide case of the watch is something best on this watch. I`m thrilled how it looks. It`s fantastic. Also, it looks great in combination with a black dial. This is the winning combination for sure!
I was in Baselworld 2011 and I must admit that this watch left the biggest impression on me. I was charmed when I first saw this nice dial and green hands inside of it. I also like the 5 sec/rev small sub dial which measures 1/ 10th of a second. My personal opinion is that this fine watch is one of the best from the last year’s Baselworld.