“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” If I may paraphrase Neil Armstrong, I would describe the TAG Heuer Evergraph experience, after testing it at TAG’s headquarters in La Chaux-de-Fonds, as follows: “That’s one small push for measuring time, one giant leap for chronographs.” The Evergraph links in with ergonomics and user experience, buzzwords of late in the watch industry. What could those words entail? At TAG Heuer it means creating a new movement that makes for a soft and smooth push button experience – a stark contrast to the industry standards where one might fear breaking something when manipulating a chronograph – I think you know what I mean? On too many a chronograph you push, push, and push and nothing happens. Eventually the button goes “KLACK!” And yes, normally it is not a problem, but that kind of insensitive experience is simply lightyears from that of the Evergraph.
The movement transforming the Monaco Evergraph into a smooth operator is called TH 80-00. It not only provides a soft and smooth experience; it also redefines the chronograph technology. For the start/stop mechanism, the pusher is connected to a bi-stable blade made in nickel-alloy – which has replaced the cam or column wheel. The reset hammer is also made from this flexible material, granting an equal pusher experience for the reset button. The TH 80-00 movement is developed by master watchmaker Carole Forestier-Kasapi, her team and Vaucher. Upon seeing this level of innovation, it starts to make sense why TAG hired Ms. Forestier-Kasapi back in 2020.
The 322-component COSC-certified TH 80-00, equipped with a carbon hairspring grown in TAG Heuer’s laboratory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, has no less than eight pending patents. The aesthetics are new as well, with an open-worked, reversed movement architecture, which enables a clear view of essential parts. The exteriors are not forgotten: the square Monaco case has undergone a proper design update including new pushbuttons and curved case sides.
The Evergraph is a high frequency (36,000 vph) bi-compax chronograph with two subdials, with the left one giving you the running small seconds. The red chronograph seconds hand is central as per usual, and the right subdial gives you the minutes of the chronograph. For me the most TAG Heuer version of the Evergraph is the one with subdials in the petrol blue color hue that we have come to associate with Monaco since the late 1960s. The Evergraph however also comes in a black version with red highlights, which subtly links it with the current red trend.
Through the caseback sapphire and inside the intricacy of the open-worked front you will see hand-beveled bridges and other haute horlogerie treatments. That, alongside years of R&D resources that have been poured into this revolutionary technology are explanations to hy this chronograph costs 23,000 CHF.
One word that is completely overused in watchmaking is DNA. But with TAG Heuer you can actually link the TH 80 movement and the Evergraph, which comes with a five-year warranty, with the so-called DNA of the brand: TAG Heuer has more or less continually been pioneering chronographs since the 1880s, and now, almost 150 years later, it is still coming with new innovations that are significant steps on the evolution of the chronograph. One might even talk about a revolution.
