You beat me to the punch
I just heard about this last night over dinner.
To summarise for readers of this forum, TAG Heuer recently unveiled an automatic, column wheel controlled chronograph calibre which it initially claimed was in-house. But folks on internet forums quickly caught on to the aesthetic similarities with an automatic Seiko chronograph movement, forcing TAG Heuer to recant. Its CEO even posted an explanation on several internet forums. TAG Heuer bought the rights to manufacture the movement in Switzerland with some modifications, so it is made by TAG Heuer, even if the design is Seiko.
- SJX
This message has been edited by SJX on 2009-12-08 18:59:35
A similar thing happened to Hublot a few years back
when they learned that "made in-house" does not mean "in-house". There's no way to tell, but I wonder if the fact that it is a Japanese design will cause a more negative reaction in the industry then the various other companies that have bought a design over the years....
A
Its a tad like
golf clubs.... for all the big brands, the components are almost always made in china BUT.... assembled in USA or Japan for example and although ut is stated as "Assembled in USA" for example... some people still mistake it as being made in the US.
To me, the issue isn't the origins of the movement...
...after all the 6S37 seems to me a fine movement. Where it's made is also no big deal to me.
The big issue is that TAG-Heuer made press statements about searching for a suitable movement and, finding none, developed their own over several years. Which is less than the full story.
Now why would TAG-Heuer want to pretend they designed their own movement?.... oh. 
What BS!
Sorry for even having to use the initials of a curse on this forum but oh my god!
One of my all time fav watches is the Heuer Monaco. I toyed with buying a vintage, toyed too long when the price was low and now cannot justify the high price (with other options in the price range- new and old), but I always had the idea that I could pick up a TAG Monaco.
I was always close to pulling the trigger for one at the right price- a few reviews of the moment held me back i.e. this would be a "fashion" purchase rather than anything of watch-making interest.
I would be proud for this watch to be fitted with a seiko movement (who I respect). I would be happy to wear it full in the knowledge that TAG had chosen this movement honestly and proudly.
If they are not proud of their work and decisions how could I be proud in wearing them- this would surely be continuing the lie. More power to watch-makers like Chronoswiss & Sinn who are proud of their origins. Shame on TAG.