TAG Heuer joins the FHH club

La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland — TAG Heuer has become a member of the exclusive Swiss watchmaking club, the Foundation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), joining the ranks of the Richmond heavyweights such as Cartier, Jaeger Le-Coultre and Audemars Piguet.

For TAG Heuer, the membership became official Oct. 1, capping off "a 150-year history dedicated to the pursuit of ultimate precision and inspired by a constant quest for innovation," the brand said in a press release issued earlier this week.


As part of its association, TAG Heuer will showcase the "Grand Carrera Calibre 8 RS Grande Date GMT," part of the Grand Carrera series of 2007, at two of this season's most important watch fairs: the Munich Time show, set for Oct. 30 through Nov. 2, 2008, in Munich, Germany, and the Salon Belles Montres in Paris, set to take place Nov. 28-30.

Established in Geneva in 2005 to celebrate the heritage and values of fine watchmaking, the FHH promotes Swiss watchmaking culture and tradition by communicating the professional and ethical values of authenticity, creativity and innovation on which the industry's legitimacy is founded.

"The FHH has gained the respect and admiration of the fine watchmaking industry as a whole," Jean-Christophe Babin, president and chief executive officer of TAG Heuer said in a press release issued Monday. "We are extremely proud to become an active member and thus demonstrate our commitment to the founding values of haute horlogerie."

More details can be found on the official FHH Web site.

I welcome their addition so hopefully at a future event we'll finally get to see the much talked about yet maligned in both delivery & execution - the Monaco V4 concept.

SIHH 2008 Preview: Cartier Ballon bleu de Cartier

Cartier opens the watchmaking year at SIHH 2008 with a new version of the Ballon bleu de Cartier, this time with a masculine touch. Still the quintessential dandy watch, Cartier displays its peerless design savvy with the soft curves that typify this model.


Actually, that is an understatement. Present are the usual ball-like shape, the quirky crown (with a blue sapphire cabochon) and winding mechanism and the distorting glass however this time Cartier introduces a leather strap. The Ballon bleu de Cartier watch is round on the top and underneath, but upon closer inspection the shape is somewhat more complex: a watch that seems to fit the wrist weightlessly, as if the two were already acquainted. Cartier plays with the shapes and challenges your mind in the view of aesthetics. Perhaps masculine, perhaps feminine?


The winding mechanism is decorated with a sapphire cabochon, around which the dial orbits, and is more imposing than ever before due to a precious metal protective arch. Pictures cannot fully convey the unusual personality of the watch. Surely, the serious watch lover can pause to admire the audacity of the piece – and the audacity of its owner.


Although Ballon Bleu is available in 3 different sizes (28.5mm, 36.5mm, and 42mm) the last larger size is the one displayed in in pink gold. Available in different metals (WG, RG) as well in SS the automatic watch can also serve up the time – hours, minutes and seconds – in a very peculiar and distinguished way. The new Cartier Ballon Bleu watches range from $4,950 to $46,000, and there is even a limited edition version the sells for $950,000.

Specification:

* 18 carat rhodium-plated white gold case (also available in pink gold and SS).
* Hour, minute, second and date functions.
* 18 carat rhodium-plated white gold fluted crown decorated with a blue sapphire
cabochon.
* Varnished silvered opaline guilloche dial, black Roman numerals, date window at
3 o’clock.
* Blued steel sword-shaped hands.
* Crystal sapphire.
* 18 carat rhodium-plated white gold bracelet (also available in pink gold and
SS).
* 18 carat rhodium-plated white gold safety clasp(also available in pink gold and
SS).
* Cartier calibre 049 automatic movement.
* Water resistant to 30m/100ft.

Info via Cartier, Watch Tribune and Watch Quote.

Cartier joins a select group of watch manufactures to display the Geneva Seal

Article published by: JCK-Jewelers Circular Keystone

The House of Cartier has joined a select group of watch manufactures certified to display the Geneva Seal. This stamp seals the installation of Cartier Watch-Making in Geneva, where its master craftsmen have developed and crafted the caliber 9452 MC* that now bears this certification.


Created in the 19th century by a guild plagued by counterfeit products, the Geneva Seal is currently considered to be the symbol of watch-making perfection.

Enacted into law in 1886, the Geneva Seal is probably one of the oldest professional labels, recognized both as an indication of independent origin and a guarantee of superior quality.

Three prerequisites determine the award of the Geneva Seal:

* The movement must be mechanical and, at a minimum, assembled and adjusted in the canton of Geneva.

* Each caliber must meet twelve technical and aesthetic criteria outlined in the regulations, which have a bearing on its design and characteristics as well as the quality of the manufacture and finishes.

* The caliber must be approved and officially recognized by the Office for the Voluntary Inspection of Watches from Geneva (Bureau de Contrôle Facultatif des Montres de l'Etat de Genève). This Office is supervised by a sworn-in commission composed of members that have been appointed by the government of the canton.

"For Cartier, winning the Geneva Seal certification for this new caliber confirms its priority to uphold the most prestigious watch-making tradition of all," the company said in a statement.