WATCHMAKING KNOW-HOW – MATERIALS

Hello everyone,

As you know, TAG Heuer watches are made from the finest materials. This course will tell
you all about them!

[STAINLESS STEEL]

The stainless steel used for our bracelets and cases is one of the best available: the 316L
alloy, made of iron combined with carbon, chrome, nickel and molybdenum. It’s known as
“surgical steel” for its hypoallergenic properties.

[GOLD]

We of course use Gold for our most prestigious models. In watchmaking, the “18-karat” term
is replaced by “gold 750”, designating alloys with a minimum of 75% of pure gold. The
remaining 25% are additional metals used to create different colors and to add hardness. At
TAG Heuer, we use the yellow 2N gold, and the rose-colored 5N gold.

[DIAMONDS]

What’s even more precious than gold? Diamonds! Made of naturally crystalized carbon, their
value is determined by four criteria: weight in carats, color, clarity and cut. TAG Heuer uses
Top Wesselton diamonds, featuring an extra white color.

[CERAMIC]

Ceramic is a high-tech material used for cases, bracelets and decorative elements. It’s
extremely resistant, nearly impossible to scratch, light and resistant to corrosion, and of
course also hypoallergenic. Its finish, whether shiny or finely brushed, makes it the perfect
match for steel.

[CARBON MATRIX COMPOSITE]

A true gift of technology, our “Carbon Matrix Composite” is made of carbon fibers held
together by epoxy resin, creating a very light and incredibly strong material. The
arrangement of the fibers is random, meaning that every product is unique, like a snowflake!

[SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL]

As for the synthetic sapphire crystal that equips all our watches, it’s created by the
crystallization of aluminum oxide, and offers great scratch-resistance, however, sensitive to
shocks. They can be scratched only by another sapphire or a diamond. Furthermore,
majority of our crystals have an anti-reflective coating for optimum readability.
[TITANIUM]

We also use titanium. This nonmagnetic grey metal is also hypoallergenic and resistant to
corrosion, while 50% lighter than stainless steel. TAG Heuer uses grade 2 titanium (for the
TAG Heuer Connected) and grade 5 for the Carrera Heuer 02T, the only titanium alloy that
can be polished.

[STRAPS: LEATHER, RUBBER & NATO]

We use several types of leather: calfskin, barenia and alligator. Our alligator leathers come
exclusively from breeding farms that respect CITES regulations, and are assembled, sewn,
cut and padded by highly qualified craftsmen.

We also make extremely comfortable rubber straps. They have a silky finish, with specific
treatments (particularly anti-UV) that give them better wear-resistance than leather. Rubber
can also be designed to perfectly fit the case, like Formula 1 tires.

Finally, our NATO straps are made of synthetic woven fabric, derived from military
technology. We use it for sporty and cool straps.

Thank you and see you soon!

Watchmaking Know-How – Materials