TAG Heuer's Brilliance Shines Through With New Formula 1 Ceramic and Steel Pave Timepiece

SPRINGFIELD, N.J., Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Capturing the sophistication and radiance of the Art Deco era – a time of superlative design in architecture, arts and fashion that captured the imagination of generations to come – TAG Heuer today revealed the exquisite Formula 1 Ceramic and Steel Pave watch, a beautiful and transcendent timepiece that richly marries unsurpassed watchmaking and fine jewelry. Boasting modern, feminine curves and luminous, intricately cut Wesselton diamonds totaling 0.65 carats, this elegant watch is idyllic for women seeking the ultimate in refinery.  

The hallmark of the new Formula 1 is its distinct use of brilliant-cut pave diamonds; 84 stones enhance the bezel, while 54 diamonds radiate from the dial's center and 10 stones demarcate the hours.  The dramatic sparkle of these 148 diamonds creates an eye-catching effect that turns up the volume on any outfit, from a little black dress for a business meeting or cocktail party, to jeans and T-shirt for a casual weekend.

The diamond-laced 37mm dial is as much a technical masterpiece as it is the embodiment of sports and glamour. The stones are set with four stainless steel beads, each painstakingly closed by hand by master watchmakers.  Additionally, each jeweled part of the Formula 1 Ceramic and Steel Pave watch is carefully polished to deliver the ultimate shine, a time-intensive process requiring the highest level of expertise to ensure none of the diamonds are loosened. This attention to detail underscores TAG Heuer's grand watchmaking tradition and its commitment to creating timepieces that meet exacting standards of quality.

Rendered in sophisticated black ceramic, this new Formula 1 model is as robust as it is elegant, meeting the demand of today's modern woman. Born from aerospace technology and baked to 1,800 degrees, the TAG Heuer ceramic is both a biocompatible and a scratch-resistant material, allowing women to wear the Formula 1 Ceramic and Steel Pave watch on a daily basis without fear of damaging it. Glamorously high tech, ceramic represents TAG Heuer's dedication to continuous innovation of the Formula 1 series.

The Formula 1 Ceramic and Steel Pave piece boasts other inimitable features of TAG Heuer timepieces, including water resistance to 200 meters, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a date window at 3 o'clock and luminescent markers and hands.  Moreover, the ceramic and polished stainless steel bracelet is enhanced with a stainless steel butterfly-folding clasp, designed for effortless opening and closing.

The Formula 1 Steel and Ceramic Pave will retail for approximately $4,500 in the U.S. and Canada.

About TAG Heuer

TAG Heuer celebrates "150 years of Motor Racing" in 2011. Founded in Saint-Imier in 1860 by Edouard Heuer, TAG Heuer has set many major milestones of high-end watchmaking, especially in the field of chronographs and ultimate precision. Today, one of the largest and most desired brands in the luxury watch industry, the Swiss legend draws upon its active engagement in the world of sports to create the most accurate timing instruments and watches in the world. TAG Heuer is the first watchmaker to master luxury chronographs with an unsurpassed precision of 1/10th, 1/100th, 1/1,000th and 1/10,000 of a second. From the Olympic Games in the 1920s to its role as official timekeeper for Formula One in the 90s and the legendary Indy 500 race today, TAG Heuer, in a constant quest for innovation, excellence, performance and prestige, continues to aim ever higher. This is reflected in its partnerships with F1 team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and its World Champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, Audi Sport in the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race, and the Automobile Club de Monaco and its full roster of prestigious racing events. Now actively engaged in the Monaco Grand Prix, the Le Mans 24 and the Indy 500, TAG Heuer is ''Mastering Speed'' on motorsport's 3 most iconic racetracks. More than ever, the brand epitomizes prestige and performance through active partnerships with Hollywood icon Leonardo DiCaprio, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, LPGA star Suzann Pettersen and WTA tennis champion Maria Sharapova. TAG Heuer is a privileged member of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), the most exclusive club in the Swiss watchmaking industry. The newest additions to the TAG Heuer legacy are: the Calibre 1887, an in-house, Swiss manufactured, integrated column-wheel chronograph movement that pays tribute to the original Heuer oscillating pinion of 1887, one of the brand's first patents and a major benchmark in modern watchmaking; and the Heuer Carrera Mikrograph 1/100th Second Chronograph, the first ever column wheel integrated mechanical chronograph with 1/100th of a second display by a central hand, which pays tribute to the legendary Heuer Mikrograph stopwatch of 1916.

The TAG HEUER CARRERA 1887 CHRONOGRAPH has been named the 2010 Swiss Watch of the Year in the Grand Prix de l'Horlogerie de Genève's prestigious "La Petite Aiguille" ("Small Hand") category.

TAG Heuer's "150 Years of Mastering Speed" celebrations in 2011 commemorate the brand's unrivalled heritage in motor sports, which include such historic contributions as the 1911 patent for 'Time of Trip', the world's first dashboard chronograph. As part of the celebrations, a unique exhibition showcasing TAG Heuer's greatest racing partners and motorsport-inspired timepieces will tour major cities and racing capitals. Four-time F1 World Champion Alain Prost, a friend of the brand since the 1980s, is the "Mastering Speed" Special Ambassador.

SOURCE TAG Heuer