TAG Heuer Innovation with Guy Semon

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KIH reports on "Justice with Guy Semon," an insightful lecture and discussion in Tokyo where Guy Semon, a physicist and former fighter jet test pilot, detailed his contributions to TAG Heuer's innovative watchmaking. The event highlighted Semon's unconventional approach to horology, focusing on the Monaco V4, Micro series, and Pendulum concept.

"Justice with Guy Semon" - TAG Heuer's challenge to the uncharted water

The title is admittedly a bit too much, but it is the faithful translation of the event which was held in cooperation of TAG Heuer and Chronos Japan, and of course took from "Justice with Michael Sandel"

The event is not about "justice" but really a heated discussion and lecture about what M. Guy Semon has done and accomplished since he joined TAG Heuer. It was really like a lecture or a class by professor Semon. M. Semon came from the aeronautic industry. To be precise, a fighter jet test pilot as well as the physicist. Yes, he is a physicist with no background of watchmaking when he joined TAG Heuer.

At Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo, Presidential Suite...

About 40 students....

Mr. Guy Semon with Mr. Antoine Pin (TAG Heuer Japan, General Manager)

As always, the moderator is Mr. Hirota.
Mr. Hirota introduces Mr. Semon as "Einstein of horology"

Today's class menu from Monaco V4 to Carrera Cheonographs, and Pendulam

Getting ready for the class....

What he had done or aimed to do may seem so complex but actually very simple... - Three pillars from left to right: High to generate or store the power, Transmission of torque, Control of Torque. And on top of all three pillars - Material.

Class 1. Monaco V4 (Belt Drive)

Now we are in the first class - Monaco V4 - the first Belt Drive watch, announced at 2004 Basel. Although he joined in the middle of the project, he played a key role in the belt material.

He started drawing the concept envisioned and implemented.
Power is transmitted via belt, NOT gear train.

Mr. Semon ("GS"): There are two parts in the watch - winding parts and watch parts. There is a weight in the center and by the movement of the arm, this weight goes up and down and winds the barrel. And the power is transmitted via belts - Polyether Block Amide, the thickness is just 0.6mm and there is titanium core in the center of it.

Q: How long does the best last?

GS: If you service it, then the bests will be replaced, but I have been using this since 2005 and it's been 8 years without servicing and there is no problem at all.

Now the dial side.

GS: There are gears but the power is transmitted via another special type of polymer - the thickness is equal to human hair, with 660 teeth.

Q: The prototype announced at Basel 2004 had many more belts or full of belts, but the final product has less - what happened?

GS: Well, the prototype is the prototype. I mean, it was intended to show the design and concept. After many tests and trails and errors, it became what you see today.

Q: What is so great about belt drive?

Mr. Hirota ("MH"): With belt as a device to transmit the power, parts can be farther apart, which mean the dial layout can be fairly flexible. But there is another question - is it really efficient way to transmit the power?

GS: The efficiency is exactly the same as the conventional gear transmission. The same friction characteristics. But against the shock, belt drive is far stronger. We have six patents for this model and movement, but it doesn't mean much because, look at the market, nobody else can mimic and make it work - except the one I saw in XXXXX which apparently the painted dial and belts, and did not even have the movement inside, though

Q: How do the belt behave against the change of the temperature?

GS: The belt bahaves in the same manner between -20C to 80C. About the durability, see my answer above - guaranteed for 5 years, but it actually works much longer.

Q: The belt drive is quite unique and pretty advanced, in a way, in the market or industry, but it still has "normal" escapement and such - any plan to improve these functions, too?

GS: You are so demanding! Regulator and escapement are the most difficult and challenging functions in the watch. And they are worth trying on the different models.

MH: And those are "Micro" series and "Pendulum" series in the next classes....

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To be continued......
This message has been edited by KIH on 2013-06-20 18:49:13 This message has been edited by AndrewD on 2013-06-24 14:41:21

Key Points from the Discussion

Semon's approach to achieving micro-series chronographs involved using two separate movements within one watch: one for timekeeping and another high-frequency movement for the chronograph, allowing for measurements up to 1/2000th of a second.
The Pendulum concept replaces the traditional hairspring with magnets, pushing beyond the theoretical limits of hairspring-based systems. Semon explained the simple yet revolutionary placement of magnets to achieve this.
The Monaco V4's belts, made of Polyether Block Amide with a titanium core, are designed for durability, with Semon noting his own prototype had functioned for 8 years without servicing.
The initial Monaco V4 prototype had more belts than the final product; Semon clarified that prototypes are for concept demonstration, and the final design evolved through extensive testing and refinement.
The Microtimer, despite being a technological breakthrough, had very limited production (only 10-11 units), raising questions about its availability compared to other Micro series watches like the Mikrograph.
TAG Heuer's new direction in haute horology, characterized by pushing technological boundaries with innovations like belt drives, magnetic escapements, and high-frequency movements, is significantly changing perceptions of the brand.

The Discussion

KIH

Jun 20, 2013

Class 2 - Micro series: Challenges to 1/100, 1/1000, and 1/2000 sec. MH: How did Mr. Semon achieve these micro series mechanism to measure such a small fraction of second? The idea was simple. The "normal" chronograph has one movement which moves both watch and stopwatch. Mr. Semon simply thought "why one does two functions? Who not two?" and he just put two movements in one watch, one being for the watch, and another being for the chronograph. Carrera Micrograph 1/100th For the watch, 28,800 vp

KIH

Jun 20, 2013

Class 3 - Pendulum: Balance Wheel without hair spring MH: So, now you went on to another new possibility, balance wheel without hair spring. As you said earlier, the physical and theoretical limit for the system based on hair spring would be 600 Hz - so you thought "why not get rid of the hair spring, then?". Now the mechanism of this "Pendulum" - this uses magnets to replace the hair spring, will you explain a bit more? GS: It's very simple. We put two magnets on the base and two magnets on the

KIH

Jun 20, 2013

Here are some of the live photos and videos ofl Micro series as well as MicroPendulum series. Micrograph Video Micropendulum (MicroTourbillons) Video Another Micropendulum Video Mr. Antoine Pin, General Manager of TAG Heuer Japan. Very heated Q&A session after the class. Special thanks goes to, of course: Mr. Guy Semon Mr. Antoine Pin TAG Heuer Japan Chronos Japan Mr. Matsuzaki Mr. Hirota Thank you again and I hope you all enjoyed this brain stimulating report. Best, Ken

Ed. W

Jun 20, 2013

the micro series is nowhere near production or sale, rumored to only run for one minute during the grand prix test. Is there any indication of commercializing this?

Ronald Held

Jun 20, 2013

The chronographs and not the timekeeping for the watch?

KIH

Jun 20, 2013

... I saw one on the wrist of watch friend of mine. Ken

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