Horological Meandering

TAG Heuer continues in its quest to rethink out of the box with another 'under the nose reinvention', after substituting the traditional pinion and gear transmission with a belt-driven mechanical transmission (which many thought it could not be achieved when it was announced in 2004, and started shipping last November)  with "the first mechanical movement without hairspring".

To celebrate its 150th anniversary this year, TAG Heuer announced a rework of the regulation system which was nearly unchanged since the creation of the Galileo-inspired hairspring by Christiaan Huygens in 1675, and a material improvement (Invar and Elinvar) reducing thermal sensitivity by Charles-Edouard Guillaume, winning him the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1920.

Though this regulation system with the hairspring/spiral and balance wheel is still being used till today, it is understood to have inherent isochronal issues.

The alternative 6-Hz (43,200 VPH) regulation system of the TAG Heuer Pendulum Concept intends to tackle the typical regulation system challenges by removing the hairspring which is the lynchpin of every movements and also the controlling component which most watch companies have yet to be able to manufacture.

Instead of the hairspring, the replacement is with a 'virtual spring' derived from magnets.  A flash of the Seiko's Tri-synchro regulator (for more information, please click here) with electromagnetic braking is inevitable. 

However, upon watching the video, the TAG Heuer Pendulum Concept is without any electronics! 



The schematic of the Pendulum Concept Regulation unit


Extracted from the press material :

" ...The complete device forms a harmonic oscillator. The magnetic field, generated by means of 4 high-performance magnets and controlled in 3D through complex geometric calculations, provides the linear restoring torque necessary for the alternative oscillations of the balance wheel. The oscillating period of the TAG Heuer Pendulum Concept is resistant to changes from perturbing forces, which is what makes it an exceptionally good timekeeping device. The movement built with this revolutionary oscillator is fully mechanical and does not contain any electronics or driven actuators..."


The above statements are closely related to the topic of 'Q factor' of oscillator. 

A well written article by  Velociphile , touched on  the 'Q-factor' and also about  increased accuracy of high beat escapements on isochronism improvement , is a good read and relevant to the above concept.

The issue facing the Pendulum concept which TAG Heuer admitted is the magnet is sensitive to temperature.  The company will continue their R&D work with Integrated Actuators Laboratory, part of the Microtechnics Institute of Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), hopefully to discover the magnetic equivalent of invar-elinvar.

This project will take the combined efforts of material scientists, engineers and watchmakers ....and I am eager to see TAG Heuer finalizing the alternative regulating system in the coming years.

For now, here are some pictures and videos of the prototype TAG Heuer Pendulum Concept Watch.

Enjoy!

Kong




A filmlet illustrating the alternative regulating system.  Please allow like 7 to 10 seconds to load.




Diameter was not in the specification, however TAG Heuer replied the diameter is 47mm.


 

 


The magnetic 'balance' at rest.  The small second at 4 o'clock location.































The steel case design remains faithful to the GRAND CARRERA with polished angled edges ....


and curved facetted horns.





Have a look on the movement side ....


A pretty sizeable manual movement with diameter at 40.00 mm and height of  6.30mm. 







High frequency of 6 Hz or 43,200 VPH. 
The power reserve is 30 hours, and hopefully the production piece may have a power reserve indicator to alert owner.





















Rubber straps with  folding clasp.




Wrist-shots ...

















This message has been edited by Kong on 2010-06-06 11:27:15

i don't like the size. 48mm diameter is huge and if it goes into production it would put me off buying such a piece. It is possible the finished product will have a smaller case at all?

thanks
darren

Hi Darren

Hopefully it was not my small wrist that blow the watch out of proportion.   Must get a more macho wrist next round

Likewise I felt it would be nicer if it can be kept at 44mm, however, the movement diameter is already at 40mm.

Kong

Would love to see this "thing" working properly, and being reliable soon.

 

Vte

This message has been edited by VMM on 2010-05-31 01:38:00

many will have more faith with TAG Heuer after they started delivery of V4 last November, which many doubted would happen.

We shall see, what the material scientists/engineers could do in next few years.

Kong

report, thank you for such detailed photographs!

I like the watch very much but I also think it's too large, it might be a necessity for this movement though.

Hi Amvox

Thanks for viewing.

It would be challenging to reduce from current 47mm as the movement itself is at 40mm.

Kong

Interestingly, the new concept of pendulum works like tourbilion and more meaningful.

I hope TH will manufacture this watch with smaller diameter (not more than 42mm) and longer power reserve (at least 40 hours and above).

Any constraint faced by TH?

Thanks for the report, Kong. I like the first video which has the effect of "transformer".

Regards

Ling

at the moment, mentioned is the magnets still sensitive to temperature and at the moment may not keep tight rate.

Reducing to 42mm, may not be possible as the movement is already at 40mm. 

Kong

but looks utterly ridiculous at that size. No offense.

The size is crazy and the name 'Graaaaaand'  Carrera is a dealkiller. Just my O. I guess a watch brand best known for sport and entry level nice watches should  not use a word like Graaaaand, as if an English aristocrat is the target? It always irked me and seemed out of plac. Name matters! However no one can deny this is groundbreaking and worthy of taking Tag to a new level of .... respect.

appropriate naming is important! 

Kong

Reminds me a bit of the inventiveness and imagination behind the Spring Drive from Seiko and, of course, the co-axial technology escapement from Dr. George Daniels.  I think Audemars Piguet has a revolutionary movement also, right?  The hairspring and escapement is of a revolutionary design and materials.  And probably many other manufactures in their inventiveness and so forth.  When you think about it, the back and forth of the balance wheel is pendulum-like, correct?  So perhaps this Tag Heuer runs along traditional lines to a certain extent, but it will be interesting to see how it progresses and maintains accuracy and precision over the years.

Ah, horology!   HAGW!  =:^D

I would say. 

Yes indeed it reminded about the Spring Drive with the tri-synchro regulator.

Most companies can conceptualize, develop and manufacture their movements.  However, few can manufacture their own hairspring/spiral, which is the one of the most critical and controlling components in  mechanical watches.  It is a good alternative, just in case one day, the major supplier of hairspring, Nivarox, considers reducing supply to the watch industry.

Wait a few years till the scientists could master the monopole.

Kong


PS : For AP, I think they adopted the Robin Escapement.
This message has been edited by Kong on 2010-06-06 22:00:19

If i have to demagnetized it.... will the virtual hair spring lost its magnetism?

btw great report! thx

magnet will be detrimental to this alternative regulator.   Any upset of balance of the magnetic field in any of the four magnets, doubt the balance wheel will oscillate properly.

I like your pictures, they are nice!

Kong
 

I think the situation is same as spring drive as well...and i asked the agent from seiko HK before about the effect on magnetism of spring drive. They gave me an uncertain answer, but i still believe it works unless you bring them into a lab or near some machines....

I love your pic as well and admire you have much time and opportunity to shot many exquisite timepieces.

Hi Ogygia

Based on my understanding (till someone willing to loan one to test ) , even Spring Drive, it should be affected when near to any strong magnet as the electromagnetic field of the 'braking & release' would be interrupted, affecting the constant rotation of the glide wheel.  If it is quick, and non of the nearby components are being magnetised, it should recover fast as the IC still continue to emit  constant signals. 

Spring Drive is a marvelous innovation!
More readings at:
1) global.epson.com m

and

2) www.thepurists.net l


As for TAG Heuer Pendulum Concept, guessed it could be sort of permanent magnet with  Neodymium.  Subjecting it to external magnet , may not be a good idea as it may cause permanent change to the polarization and flux density.   We could only wait for the scientists for breakthrough.


Kong

PS : My pics, thanks for the kind words.  Typically shot at either the boutiques or brand offices, so do not have any setup as need to shoot quickly to avoid disturbing others' activities. Will be great if you are here, can learn from you lighting techniques on watches, especially the highly reflective black surface.

lol....I think no watch owner willing try, but a scientist...as you said...

I love the seiko spring drive...especially the smooth motion of the second hand. It really tells the flow of time. I believe I will love this TAG when i meet it...since they are some breakthrough timepiece in horological.

One more question I can't find in internet...is about the deviation of this escapement....better than hair spring's?
I would like to see if there is a manufacturer use magnetic to suspend the escapement wheel...hehe...

Elvis

PS: Thatz why I think your pic is very good already under limited tools and time! It really hard to have a portable studio...IMHO, the mini white tent only let the watches look flatted and lost their depth of finishing... Must find some ways to solve it...

even in TAG Heuer's press materials. 

It is an 'alternative' without any electronics (like an integrated circuit, IC) so it is different from Spring Drive.

Kong

PS : Thanks Elvis for the kind words.  Actually each time, I go to a new venue, I hope there is a white room - ceiling and walls, so I can be encompassed inside a big white tent   .... if you can find a way, that will be fantastic!

This is a piece i have been keeping tabs on.Awesome and i have to agree with most here..kinda big.Cheers

challenge, as most of us felt the same.

Thanks for viewing.

Kong

What does it sound like?
A

escapement as the escape-wheel and pallets are still being used.

The environment was not quiet enough for me to record.

Kong

Very nice project!!!

But i realy don't know how they adjust/keep the frequency?  Isochronism problems?

Some one might explain me?