Ceo Speech

CEO speech

It was indeed in 1911 that Charles-Auguste Heuer, the Company’s founder son, patented and started manufacturing the famous "Time of Trip", the first ever stopwatch specially designed for sports and racing cars. Ever since, and thanks to its unique mastership of the ultimate precision in timing instruments and wrist chronographs, TAG Heuer has been associated with the most prestigious motor racing events, legendary drivers and sportscar brands ever; from Le Mans 24 Hours to Formula 1 or Indy 500; from Juan-Manuel Fangio to Jenson Button; from Scuderia Ferrari in the 1970’s to McLaren, Mercedes, Audi Sport or Tesla Motors nowadays. These unique partnerships in the world of speed, precision and performance have inspired TAG Heuer watchmasters to craft highly innovative, accurate and reliable timepieces, especially in mechanical chronographs with icons such as the TAG Heuer Carrera, Monaco or Grand CARRERA.

Our leadership and 150 years contribution to the glory of high-end Swiss watchmaking is demonstrated by a stunning array of patents, breakthroughs in mechanical watches like the "Pendulum Concept Watch" or the "Monaco V4", as well as unique mechanical chronograph movements. This includes besides the Calibre 360, the first and only wrist timepiece that mechanically measures and displays 1/100th of a second, our new in-house integrated chronograph, the Calibre 1887 with oscillating pinion and column wheel. With its key parts manufactured in our Cornol workshop and assembled in our La Chaux-de-Fonds factory, the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 1887 is the epitome of superlative chronographs balancing sophisticated technology with timeless refined design. We see these inspiring developments as an invitation to honor our heroes and inspirers.

At TAG Heuer our constant pursuit of excellence and innovation maintains a strong link between the company of today and the people who have shaped its history. The legends of TAG Heuer past and present: Edouard Heuer and Steve McQueen, Ayrton Senna and Leonardo DiCaprio, Jenson Button and Shah Rukh Khan, Maria Sharapova, all have a common sense of social responsibility and a steely determination to achieve their ultimate goals, pushing back the limits of what is possible through hard work and mental toughness. These passions are shared by our master watchmakers.

We continue to challenge the present. There is no finish line. There is always a new barrier to break: a new movement, a new design, a new material, a new level of precision and even greater excellence and innovation. Nothing better epitomizes TAG Heuer’s DN A and unique innovative and epic spirit than the "TAG Heuer Odyssey of Pioneers 2010"; the first round-the-world trip in a 100% electric GT car developed specifically for TAG Heuer by Tesla Motors, and conveying like an Olympic flame the brand history, the present collection, and our responsible and imaginative vision of the future to 15 cities across the world. TAG Heuer is proud to present this new catalog with an unrivalled range of the most beautiful Chronographs and Watches ever crafted in our 150 years of existence.

Jean-Christophe Babin and Jack Heuer
President & Chief Executive Officer Honorary Chairman