TAG Heuer Announces Carbonspring Breakthrough, a Decade in Progress
LA CHAUX-DE-FONDS, SWITZERLAND - TAG Heuer today unveiled the Carbonspring, a new hairspring material developed entirely in-house, representing a significant advancement in watchmaking and a potential disruption to the industry’s reliance on imported alloys. The breakthrough,a culmination of ten years of research and development at the TAG heuer LAB,promises enhanced performance and greater independence for the Swiss watchmaker.
The Carbonspring hairspring is poised to address a critical vulnerability in the watch industry: the limited number of suppliers for hairsprings, a vital component governing a watch’s accuracy. Currently, most manufacturers depend on a handful of companies for this key element. TAG Heuer’s innovation allows for complete vertical integration of hairspring production,safeguarding supply chains and enabling further innovation in movement design. The new material is a composite,incorporating carbon atoms into a crystalline structure,resulting in increased resistance to temperature variations,shocks,and magnetic fields – factors that traditionally impact a watch’s precision.
“This is a game-changer for TAG Heuer and for the Swiss watch industry,” stated Frédéric Arnault, CEO of TAG Heuer, in a press release. “For too long, we’ve been reliant on external suppliers for a critical component. With Carbonspring, we’re taking control of our destiny and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in high-end watchmaking.”
The development process, undertaken at TAG Heuer’s dedicated research facility, involved overcoming significant materials science challenges. Traditional hairsprings are typically made from alloys like Nivarox, requiring precise composition and heat treatment. The Carbonspring material necessitated entirely new manufacturing techniques and quality control protocols.The initial application of the Carbonspring hairspring will be within the Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport TH-Carbonspring, a limited-edition timepiece showcasing the material’s capabilities. The watch features a 45mm case crafted from lightweight carbon fiber and a skeletonized dial revealing the intricate movement within. Pricing for the Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport TH-Carbonspring starts at approximately $25,000 USD.
TAG Heuer anticipates expanding the use of Carbonspring technology across its product lines in the coming years, potentially impacting the broader luxury watch market by offering increased supply chain security and opening doors for further advancements in precision timekeeping.
