Tag Heuer is a well-known Swiss watchmaker with a long history. A brand that began as a timekeeper for motor racing and has evolved into a luxury watch brand that people appreciate. Tag Heuer would be considered a middle-tier luxury Swiss watchmaker. Tag Heuer has always been on top of its game when it comes to timekeeping, serving as the official timekeepers of the Olympic Games since 1920 and owning a variety of great timepieces.
Edouard Heuer founded the company in 1887 and specialized in precision chronographs, thus it was only a matter of time before they created an icon. TAG Heuer is a brand with a rich history, much like any other. With such a long history, there are a lot of stories, some of which are true and others which are just rumors. The following are some of the most popular TAG Heuer misconceptions.
The Top Myths About TAG Heuer
TAG Heuer is a major watch choice. The TAG Heuer watch brand has an array of tempting yet inexpensive timepieces. Its unique watches have adorned the wrists of the world’s elite over the years. Famous aficionados include Matt Damon and Barack Obama, both of whom have been seen wearing a TAG Heuer timepiece on many occasions. TAG Heuer has also received many prestigious awards for various innovations and developments in watchmaking, including the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix Award, Alta Relojeria Mexico Award, Fortune China Design Award, German Red Dot Design Award, Popular Science Magazine Award, If Product Design Award, and Wallpaper Design Award.
The Heuer Watch Company was started in 1860 by a young man named Edouard Heuer, who was only 20 years old at the time. TAG Heuer was founded in 1985 when TAG (Techniques d’Avant Garde), a manufacturer of high-tech equipment such as ceramic turbochargers for Formula 1 vehicles, and British industrialist Ron Dennis bought Heuer. TAG Heuer is an acronym for “Techniques d’Avant Garde” and the surname of the company’s creator. The #DontCrackUnderPressure is more than a slogan: it’s a way of thinking.
Tag Heuer became more than a status symbol among luxury brands by sponsoring sailing, golf, tennis, and, of course, auto racing. Over the years, some myths about this luxury timepiece have surfaced, which individuals without in-depth information are likely to believe. Here are a few of these myths that may be useful to someone looking to purchase a Tag Heuer timepiece.
Myth 1: The first watch in space was the Tag Heuer “Stopwatch.”
The Poljot Sturmanskie, not the TAG Heuer Stopwatch, was the first watch in space. The TAG Heuer Stopwatch, on the other hand, was the first Swiss watch in space and the first to round the earth at least once. On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space. The Gagarin is powered by the Poljot manual winding caliber 2609 with 17 jewels and shock protection, which has been proven to be reliable.
While on the US Friendship 7 Flight in February 1962, John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, wore his own Heuer stopwatch, which he tied over his space suit with large, improvised elastic bands. This makes Heuer ‘the first Swiss watch was worn by a man in space,’ according to the company.
Myth 2: Steve McQueen wore a Heuer Monaco in private.
Steve McQueen made the Heuer Monaco popular in the cult film Le Mans. Even now, it is the most well-known quadratic watch in the world, and it is inextricably linked to the title of “King of Cool.” Steve McQueen, on the other hand, nearly exclusively wore his Rolex Submariner No Date Ref. 5512 in his private life.
Myth 3: TAG Heuer is responsible for the chronograph’s invention.
Even though TAG Heuer is known for producing high-quality chronographs, it was not the first to do so. Louis Moinet invented the first chronograph in 1816, almost half a century before Heuer was founded. Because of Edouard Heuer’s discovery of the first oscillating pinion, it served as a form of clutch for the halted second, with two distinct sprockets, and is still widely used today.
Myth 4: Other than Monaco, the Calibre 11 has never been used for any other model.
The Calibre 11 is frequently associated with the TAG Heuer Monaco, leading some to believe that the caliber was not used in other TAG Heuer models. In truth, this iconic movement is found in several Autavias and early Carreras. Those released after the first deployment of the Calibre 11 are the most sought for by collectors. These have the Chronomatic logo on them and were soon after branded with Automatic Chronograph.
Myth 5: The early Carrera models used radium as a luminous source.
Even before the development of both Luminova and SuperLuminova, luminescent timepieces were labeled with the letter “T” for tritium. In comparison to other Swiss watch models, this was a substantial difference. Because the early Carrera versions don’t have any “T” branding, it’s commonly considered that radium was utilized as a luminous substance instead of tritium. Today, most people think that the missing “T” isn’t a sign of radium, but rather of a lack of luminous labeling, which didn’t exist at the time.
Takeaway
TAG Heuer boasts more than 150 years of watchmaking experience, and as you can expect, there have been many advancements and improvements along the way. The brand is constantly pushing limits and developing itself and its products, modernizing while maintaining the first-class design and manufacturing quality for which it is renowned and appreciated.
TAG Heuer timepieces are always well-received since they are created with high-quality craftsmanship for precise timekeeping. TAG Heuer’s inventive and avant-garde attitude can be seen not only in the uniqueness of its designs but also in the way they’re made and assembled. Quality, perfect timing, and lasting elegance are ensured by combining manual workmanship with cutting-edge technology. Some TAG Heuer watches have stood out and become genuinely famous over the years. Tag Heuer continues to deliver its collections of well-deserved timepieces, despite these myths.
