TIME PIECES

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about 

Tag Heuer

1. Heuer Watch Company was founded in 1860 by Edouard Heuer

2. The first watchmaking shop of Edouard Heuer was situated in the Jura region in Switzerland

This can technically be referred to as the first TAG Heuer factory.

3. TAG Heuer is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland

4. In the 1920s, Heuer watches were used during the Olympics in Antwerp, Amsterdam, and Paris

5. TAG Heuer was the official timekeeper for three Olympics due to its high-precision timepieces. As a result, TAG Heuer gained a great reputation and established itself as an industry expert in timing sporting events. 

6. Heuer introduced its first wrist chronograph in 1914

Before this time, Heuer had just like all the brands, been all about pocket watches.

7. Edouard Heuer developed and patented the oscillating pinion in 1887

This is one of the most significant facts about TAG Heuer as it is an event of great importance for the whole watch industry, nonetheless for the Heuer brand.

The oscillating pinion is a movable shaft that is mounted with two sprockets. The first pinion is in constant engagement with the second wheel of the watch movement, while, at the same, time, the opposite pinion, after a short swing, grips into the chronograph center wheel. Through this, the connection is established and the chronograph starts running.

Pressing the other chronograph button causes the oscillating pinion to move away from the center wheel, and thus the Chronograph stops. 

This invention simplified the chronograph significantly, and still to this very day, the construction of the oscillating pinion is used by major movement manufacturers. Most importantly, this event made TAG Heuer synonymous with high-quality and precise chronograph watches – something that is, to a large extent still true today.

8. Heuer launched its Autavia model in 1933

This wasn’t the wristwatch you know as the Autavia, today, though. Instead, the first Autavia model was a dashboard stopwatch for race cars. Upon its launch, it was also the first dashboard stopwatch for race cars in the world.

9. Fact about TAG Heuer: the derivation of the Autavia name?

The Autavia collection is one of the most famous and important for the TAG Heuer brand, but where does the name derive from?

The name Autavia actually comes from “AUTos” and “AVIAtion”). Put these two together and you have Autavia.

10. Heuer received a patent for the first dashboard chronograph in 1911

Heuer received the patent for its “Time of Trip” dashboard chronograph.

11. TAG Heuer made the first watch able to measure 1/100th of a second

In 1916, TAG Heuer released the original Mikrograph. This timepiece was so precise and accurate that it was able to measure 1/100th of a second. In order to create such a watch, the movement used was beating at a rate of 360,000 vph. This is ten times faster than the 36,000 vph chronographs that are normally referred to as fast

It was also thanks to the extreme precision of the original Mikrograph that TAG Heuer became the official timekeeper during the Olympics as no other watchmaking competitor had produced a watch of such high precision.

12. Heuer was actually the first Swiss watch in space

TAG Heuer is not the first watch that comes to mind when you think about watches that have been to space.

But one of the most interesting facts about TAG Heuer which most people don’t know is that it was actually the first Swiss watch in space.

This event took place on February 20th, 1962 when John Glenn flew the Mercury “Friendship 7” mission. 

Glenn orbited the Earth three times, a with him, he wore a Heuer 2915A stopwatch on his wrist. The watch was placed on top of his spacesuit and fastened by a custom-made elastic strap. 

The watch is today found at the National Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

13. Heuer was acquired in 1985 by TAG Group Holdings S.A

14. The name TAG Heuer didn’t come about until 1985

As the Heuer watch company was acquired by TAG Group, TAG Group combined the names TAG and Heuer to create the TAG Heuer company we know today. This is the reason why the name TAG Heuer didn’t start appearing until this time, and why you’ll only see the name Heuer on older watches.

15. TAG is an abbreviation for Techniques d’Avant Garde

Avant Garde means pushing the boundaries of what is ”accepted as the norm or the status quo”, and this is something that was very true to the Heuer as it was acquired by TAG. It is also something that remains true to TAG Heuer today, and still, to this very day, TAG Heuer uses this as part of their marketing with their ”motto” ”Swiss Avant-garde since 1860”.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking