BaselWorld 2011 had all the excitement and the buzz that was expected but the climax was the best. The event closed with a rather eye-catching press conference by TAG Heuer. More often than not they have brought interesting concept models to the prestigious event over the years. Some of the designs may not have been commercially viable but the concepts have always been revolutionary. Last year it was the pendulum concept that sought to replace the spring in the watch with a set of interacting magnets.
This year the revolutionary concept they brought to the event is the Apollo Mikrotimer Flying 1000. The new concept model has managed to break barriers successfully. TAG Heuer along with Zenith uses movement with high oscillating frequencies to enable the watch to measure time with greater accuracy. Zenith’s El Primero movement can measure up to one tenth of a second. TAG Heuer’s Mikrograph Genesis is capable of measuring up to one hundredth of a second.
The Apollo Mikrotimer Flying 1000 takes this concept to a different level altogether. The watch operates at two different frequencies. A slower one of 4 hertz for the regular watch and a high speed one of 500hertz for the Mikrotimer. To put it in perspective for a layman, it translates into 3,600,000 vibrations per hour. Their research and development work on this concept has resulted in 12 patent applications. JC Babin, their CEO even said that it was watch making’s equivalent to going to the Mars. The promotional video they played at the press conference had to be replayed on popular demand and both the times it ended with explosive applause.
Via: perpetuelle
