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TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 360 LS Concept Chronograph (LS standing for Linear second) has won the longed for iF product design award for 2007. The chronograph reflects the evolution process of the 1/100th of a second chronograph technology. The novelty model features a linear second counter distinguished by an absolutely new architecture based upon the remarkable timekeeping technology.

Design Award Winning

The winner has been voted for by the International Forum Design jury, one of the most prestigious panels worldwide. The jury is composed of the most experienced design experts coming from many countries of the world.

The iF award ceremony was initiated by the International Forum Design Hannover GMBH based in Hanover, Germany. Being introduced in 1953 , over time the award has become a superlative trademark to reflect the most innovative and avant-garde achievements in product design. The notable designs awards are related to a number of disciplines, including the horology field.

The Tag Heuer Monaco Calibre 360 LS Concept Chronograph distinguished for being accurate to the 1/100th of a second, received the award in the Leisure/Lifestyle category. Among the timepiece’s competitors there were more than 2,200 items presented by 35 countries.

It should be mentioned that Tag Heuer is the only watch producer that develops 1/10th, 1/100th, 1/1000th of a second at the same time in chronographs to be worn on the wrist. Being the leading producer of sports timepieces, Tag Heuer maintains continuous research process and introduces new Concept Watches. To give the precise definition of a Concept Watch, it is enough to say that it serves as a prototype uniting principal techniques and/or novelty designs.

In fact, it is the second time in the period of two years that a TAG Heuer timekeeping creation has been given the celebrated award. The Monaco Caliber followed the success of the brand’s Professional Golf Watch that gained the iF Design Award for 2006, also in the Leisure/Lifestyle category. It is noteworthy that the award-winner was designed in close cooperation with Tiger Woods.

The iF Design Award is not the only victory recently achieved by Tag Heuer. In November, 2006 the Carrera Calibre 360 Limited Edition, featuring accuracy at the 1/100th of a second, won the coveted Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Geneve in the category Sports Watch. The both awards have once again strengthened Tag Heuer’s prestigious status of the brand highly appreciated for creative avant-garde design decisions. The brand keep devoted to its well-known motto - ‘Swiss Avant-Garde since 1860′.

Tag Heuer’s Concept Chronograph

The matchless Monaco Calibre 360 LS Concept Chronograph was initially launched into the horology world at BaselWorld in April, 2006. The timepiece reflects the new step in the evolution of the brand’s Calibre 360 chronograph movement. The mechanical movement, a genius mechanism, has become the first ever to enter the horology history as a timekeeping device that guarantees absolute precision of 1/100th of a second. The timepiece is also distinguished due to another world innovation - a Linear Second for the permanent second.

The idea of elaborating the Concept Chronograph has been suggested by the brand’s ground-breaking Monaco V4 that caused a real sensation at BaselWorld-2004. The watch is equipped with V4 movement where a number of toothed drive belts replaced the pinions of the traditional movement. An automatic watch usually applies the oscillating weight for its winding. However, V4 movement features a linear oscillating weight moving along a track between the four spring barrels of the watch. The barrels are paired and united by a V-shaped bridge. A gear system employs a cog before transforming the linear movement into a rotating one. The rotating parts use not common synthetic rubies but ceramic roller bearings.

The Monaco Calibre 360 LS features a square-shaped case. The chronograph reveals thoroughly hand-finished engine bridges finished by hand. The unconventional dial offering supreme readability exposes the major peculiarities of the overall construction:

- a quite big-sized 1/100th of a second chronograph counter outer to the chronograph engine featured at 6 o’clock;
- an embedded in the engine 15-minute chronograph counter at 9 o’clock;
- an embedded 100-minute power reserve indicator placed at 12 o’clock;
- an embedded linear second indicator placed at 3 o’clock.

The Monaco Calibre 360 LS catches the eye with its distinctively contemporary look. The timepiece is housed in a perfectly faceted steel case characterized by refined polishing. The dial is presented under an arched sapphire crystal glass with facets linked to the case.

The watch is supplied with some other one-of-a-kind details. The chronograph push buttons are provided with protective sleeves. The black rubber strap with big folding buckle is integrated into the case. The case back featuring two square-shaped sapphire crystal windows reveals a magnificent view on the movement.

Everyone interested to see Tag Heuer’s award-winning Monaco Calibre 360 LS Concept chronograph and lucky enough to find oneself not far away from the German city of Hanover, is invited to visit the iF design exhibition 2007 to take place in the period of March 15 - August, 2007.

At present day Tag Heuer is considered to be the most successful watch producer in transforming revolutionary horological ideas into the most accurate chronographs. The Monaco Calibre 360 LS is one more step in constant research and development work performed by the brand’s specialists day after day.