By using a linear oscillator within the chronograph TAG Heuer achieved a precision of 5/10’000th of a second.
To achieve ultra-high frequencies never before dreamed possible TAG Heuer in early 2012 made a radical decision: The R&D team started from a blank page, forgetting all they knew about the classical hairspring and the balance wheel. By using the mechanistic theory of Christian Huygens’ extraordinary accomplishment of 1657 the R&D-team reinvented the mechanical watch regulation. The TAG Heuer Carrera Mikrogirder uses the 3-centuries-old Christiaan Huygens system: Instead of a spiral shape in a classical hairspring, it uses a coupling blade/girder and excitatory blade/girder system working with a linear oscillator. The Mikrogirder system vibrates isochronously at a very small angle, as opposed to a traditional watch, which vibrates at an angle of up to 320 degrees. The advantages are numerous. In a classic spiral hairspring system, the effect of gravity due to mass is a dominant issue. With the Mikrogirder, the problem no longer exists. There is no loss of amplitude and the movement’s frequency can be modulated on a very large spectrum of frequency without overburdening the power supply. The result is a significant increase in precision (division of time) and performance (frequency accuracy and stability).
The movement:
339 components
Total diameter: 35.8 mm (15 3/4’’’)
Total height: 7.96mm
46 jewels
5/10’000th of a second chronograph function
1 balance wheel on the watch
1 linear oscillator on the chronograph
Automatic bi-directional rewinding movement
42 hours watch power reserve
3 minutes chronograph power reserve
Its frequency´s:
Watch: 28’800 A/h = 4 Hz
Chronograph: 1 linear oscillator : 7’200’000 A/h = 1000 hertz
What you see on the dial:
Hours
Minutes
Central hand 5/10’000th of a second chronograph
1/100th of a second chronograph at 3 o’clock, chronograph second at 12 o’clock
Photos taken with the chronograph ON
Thanks for the great report and fantastic pictures of a truly outstanding watch!!!