Tag Heuer – The 2006 Design and Know-How Testing Process Awards

The brand that became the leader in designing prestigious chronographs, and that is operating on the watch market since 1860, received two new awards that will enrich the already full collection of various trophies. Today the name Tag Heuer means the brand that sets the world-wide standards of wrist chronographs. January 13 is the day when the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (SFIIP) awarded the Swiss watchmaking leader with “Swiss Patent No CH 695 197 A5”. It bestows the tested equipment at the laboratories of Tag Heuer, situated in a Swiss town La Chaux-de-Fonds, the official patent status.

Later, on February 12, for developing TAG Heuer Calibre 360 Concept Chronograph – considered to be the most precise mechanical timepiece ever created, Tag Heuer received the 2006 Red Dot Product Design Award – one of the most prestigious awards.

The Red Dot Product Design Award is the award that represents an international seal of quality which is awarded for a distinguishing design. This award is considered one of the most appreciated and desired industrial design awards. It has over 4000 entries from 40 countries and it rates among the largest competitions worldwide where the main aspect of a wrist watch is considered its design. Tag Heuer never seemed to stop receiving awards. Thus even in the 21st century the brand was awarded for its “Physics” Sport Vision eyewear, won in 2002, and later in 2005 the award for belt-driven MONACO V4 Concept Watch considered to be revolutionary in its class. This year was not an exception for Tag Heuer, its winner is the TAG Heuer Calibre 360 Concept Chronograph. This masterpiece represents truly a revolution, and it made a big step in mechanical watchmaking accuracy.

This first mechanical chronograph ever made is able to measure and display 1/100th of a second. The remarkable feature of this creation was achieved due to the exceptional high frequency of the balanced wheal of the chronograph. This wheal vibrates at 360,000 per hour beats. In the history of wrist chronograph making this is the first of its kind, oscillating ten times faster than any other.

As concerning SFIIP, it is the federal office for patents, trademarks, designs and copyrights. It is considered the international center for intellectual property. The official watch quality testing patent, possessing the name of "Procédé de Qualification de Montres", and granted to Tag Heuer, represents a prestigious way to recognize the company's know-how testing process of its products.

The FIIP, through granting the quality control and tooling facilities of Tag Heuer an official status, acknowledged the brand and officialized its means of Quality Insurance. These means include the simulations of sport activities and even the testing of mechanical constraint and chemical testing.

Today Tag Heuer continues to write some of the most remarkable pages in the history of chronograph making, setting new standard through its technological innovations. The latest awards proved the valor of this brand, and once again Tag Heuer's know-how affirms its uniqueness.