To most people, the name Tag Heuer is somewhat synonymous with two things; sports and technology. They sponsor many major athletes and are often the ones pushing the envelope when it comes to developing new technology and trying new things (check out our hands on look at the MikroPendulumS Tourbillon here if you're not sure what I'm talking about.) These are of course both good and noble causes and one applauds Tag Heuer for pursing them with such vigor.
To say the evening was fascinating will be a gross understatement. Rather than read from a set of prepared notes or present a boring slide show, Mr. Semon simply stood at the front of the room with a pen and some paper and began to talk.
The flip-side to this of course though is that many people simply assume that Tag Heuer is a relatively new brand with no real heritage so speak of, which is simply not the case. That's why personally I love when the brand delves into the archives to innovate something like the new Tourbillon Chronometer.

It was as though he was teaching an engineering class. Calling on his encyclopedic knowledge of the product and its lengthy development, he proceeded to explain step by step how everything worked (including illustrative sketches which he simply drew on the board). The layout is clean, simple and easy to read with just the right amount of contrast to make it stand out on the wrist a bit but without being obnoxious. 

He made jokes where appropriate (and sometimes where not) and provided a thoroughly entertaining insight into what many might view as a very technical (read: boring) topic. That's no mean feat by the way, given the incredible complexity of the new MikroPendulumS Tourbillon watch. The chronograph minutes counter is at 12 o'clock, chronograph seconds at 3, and the chronograph power reserve at 9. Designed as the final chapter of the Mikro story for Tag Heuer, this new hi-tech watch features not one but two tourbillon Pendulums and is the culmination of all Tag Heuer has learnt over the lifetime of the project. The fine-brushed anthracite dial provides the perfect muted backdrop for the two tourbillons to really stand out, and really contrasts beautifully with the solid 18k rose gold bridges.  link: www.lorenasredwagon.com
The case itself is forged from a revolutionary material, a chrome and cobalt alloy used in aviation and surgery.  The tourbillon on the left is for the watch, whilst the tourbillon on the right is for the chronograph and, as you will note, there is nary a hairspring to be found in the balance wheel of either. According to Tag Heuer it is fully biocompatible, harder than titanium, easier to shape and as luminous as white gold. That's because the MikroPendulumS Tourbillon features escapements that work with magnets instead of a traditional hairsprings, an advanced technology the brand first developed and showcased in their Carrera MikroPendulum Concept pieces back in 2020.

As you can see in the pictures below the two tourbillons are arranged side-by-side in the lower third of the dial, which itself has been cut away completely to allow uninterrupted views of the complex inner workings of the movement. Those familiar with the brand and the MIKRO collection will immediately note that the case design, with its stopwatch-like placement of the crown at 12 o'clock, is based on the 2012 Aiguille d'Or winner, the TAG Heuer Carrera Mikrogirder, and the Carrera 50 Year Anniversary Jack Heuer edition.
Finishing off the look is a hand-sewn anthracite gray alligator strap that is extremely comfortable on the wrist. The hand applied "100" at 12 o'clock is also in solid rose gold, whilst the 1/100th of a second scale appears on the silver flange. 
According to Semon this unusually high-frequency was necessary due to issues with consistency at lower speeds. Plus it looks really cool in action! The incredible speed of the chronograph tourbillon, the world's fastest, translates into 360,000 beats an hour, rotating 12 times every minute. Powered by a COSC-certified movement made up of some 454 working components and based on unique TAG Heuer-patented technology, the watch chain turns at 12Hz (with a 24 hour power reserve), whilst the chronograph chain turns at 50Hz (with a 60 minute power reserve).