TAG Heuer has just unveiled a world-first for watchmaking. Featuring lab-grown diamonds, the all-new TAG-Heuer Carrera Plasma marks a major milestone in the 160-year history of the Swiss watch brand. TAG Heuer deems the new Carrera Plasma a technical disruption, and rightly so as the use of lab-grown diamonds provides boundless creativity.
The use of lab-grown diamonds is a huge step for TAG Heuer. The diamonds have the power to make a watch stand out, and offer a variety of design codes and versatility. The Carrera Plasma is a true testament to the Swiss watchmaker’s DNA of avant-garde innovation. Frédéric Arnault expands on the watchmaker’s thirst for innovation by stating that “Innovation and redefining frontiers is in our DNA. With the introduction of the TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma, we want to expand the possible palette and designs for diamond watches and diamonds in general, and create a new and breathtaking vision of mastering carbon and diamond design as well as cutting-edge light effects.”
The model chosen to carry this first lab-grown diamond design is one of the brand’s most iconic models; the Carrera. The Carrera model carries with it a prestigious history, beautiful design, aesthetic appeal, and the best modern technology that TAG has to offer. Lab-grown diamonds have been used to great effect on this Carrera Plasma model. A technology called Chemical Vapour deposition (CVD), or as TAG Heuer calls it ‘Diamant d’Avant-Garde’, allows the brand to create a beautiful timepiece where the diamonds have been created in unique shapes and textures.
Design:
TAG Heuer has given the Carrera Plasma a 44mm case which is made from sandblasted anodized aluminium. The case has a total of 48 lab-grown diamonds worth 4.2 ct in total embedded into the watch case. The anodized aluminium case which has a matte black colour appearance is matched with a black ceramic polished bezel. This black serves to highlight and contrast against the beautiful lab-grown diamonds placed throughout the timepiece.
TAG Heuer has also teamed up with the start-up diamond designer Capsoul to create a very special crown for this watch, made entirely from lab-grown diamond. The chronograph pushers have a black DLC coating so that it matches the case nicely.
One of the main talking points of this new Carrera Plasma is the polycrystalline diamond dial. TAG Heuer was able to produce this dial by growing the crystals as one. The brand states that “this represents another type of a rich CVD growth, where many diamonds create spectacular reflections and a diverse visual effect while still constituting a single diamond piece”. The 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock sub counters have been made from a black polycrystalline diamond plate (measuring 0.25ct each) and come with polished rhodium-plated hands. The hour indexes in white gold all come with lab-grown diamonds, with the 12 o’clock hour marker having double diamonds.
TAG Heuer has given the Carrera Plasma an elegant black leather strap with black stitching and black titanium grade 2 ADLC-treated clasp. The black strap blends nicely with the case and diverts all attention to the dial and the lab-grown diamonds.
Movement:
As stunning as the dial is, the movement powering this watch is just as impressive. TAG Heuer has used their in-house Heuer 02 automatic chronograph Nanograph movement. The movement carries TAG Heuer’s in-house carbon hairspring, which has been created using the same CVD method that was used to make the lab-grown diamonds. The carbon hairspring really does play an important role as it delivers exceptional levels of anti-magnetism, shock resistance, and stability across temperature ranges. The movement gives out a power reserve of approximately 65 hours.
Presented for Watches & Wonders 2022, TAG Heuer’s unveiling of the new Carrera Plasma opens a whole new world into avant-garde watch designs.
Reference: XCBN5A90.FC8315
Specification:
- Case: 44 mm
- Case Material: Sandblasted black anodised aluminium case set with 48 lab-grown diamonds (4.2 ct in total)
- Dial: Rhodium-plated brass base dial covered with a polycrystalline diamond plate (3.9 ct)
- Crystal: Sapphire Crystal
- Water resistance: 100 meters
- Movement: HEUER02 Tourbillon Nanograph, COSC-certified
- Power reserve: 80 Hours
- Strap: Rolled-up strap in black calfskin with black lining, Black sandblasted ardillon clasp in titanium grade 2 with ADLC treatment
