TAG Heuer Link Calibre 36 and Calibre S

Racing is a way of life. TAG Heuer has had a long association with motor racing, and this is in no small part to the fact that from the company's inception, chronograph watches were at the center of its development.

In 1889, during the Universal Exhibition in Paris, the TAG Heuer (than named the Heuer Company) won a silver medal for its collection of pocket chronographs. In 1916, Heuer introduced the "Micrograph", the first stopwatch accurate to 1/100th of a second.

In 1969, TAG Heuer (than named Heuer-Leonidas) inpartnership, with Breitling, Hamiliton-Bruen and Dubois Depraz, that introduced the worlds first automatic chronograph watch.

Now in the 21st century, TAG Heuer still concentrates on the manufacture of chronograph watches, and their concentrated efforts have paid off.

How accurate can a watch measure time? The typical mechanical watch runs between 18,000 to 28,800 vibrations per hour (vph). A vibration is how many times a clock ticks in an hour. A watch running at 18,000 vph ticks 5 times a second, while one running at 28,800 vph ticks at the rate of 8 times in a second. These small movements, repeated 5 to 8 times over a second is what gives these watches illusion of the hands sweeping forward smoothly.

A 18,000 vph chronograph watch can measure with an accuracy to with 1/5th of a second. A 28,800 vph chronograph watch can measure with an accuracy to with 1/8th of a second.

TAG Heuer Link Calibre 36. The TAG Link Calibre 36 is you typical chronograph watch, but it has a automatic movement which runs a at amazing 36,000 vph. This is what TAG Heuer calls its Calibre 36. This allows it to measure accuracy to within 1/10th of a second. While this was a great feat, the clocks typical chronograph dial and bezel would make it hard for the user to take advantage over it 1/10th of a second accuracy versus a chronograph accurate to within 1/8th of the second. The problem is the display. Trying to figure out if 40.6, 40.7 or 40.8 seconds could be pretty difficult.

TAG Heuer Link Calibre 36

TAG Heuer Link Calibre S. Not satisfied with 1/10th of a second accuracy in a wrist watch, TAG Heuer created the Calibre S. This is an amalgation of mechanical with quartz components to come up with a movement that can measure intervals of time at the accuracy of 1/100th of a second.

TAG Heuer Link Calibre S

Mated with the traditional chronograph interface, there would be no way for the user to take advantage of the 1/100th of a second capability. For this purpose, TAG Heuer created a new interface with a 1/10th and a 1/100th of a second sub-dials which clearly display the timing.

Practical application. The practical application of these watches is questionable. It has to do with human reaction time. Reaction time is defined as the time required for an observer to detect the presence of a stimulus. For example, an observer might be asked to press a button as soon as a light or sound appears. Mean reaction time is approximately 180 to 200 milliseconds to detect visual stimuli, whereas for sound it is around 140-160 milliseconds. Roughly that means it takes a person 1/5th of a second to 1/6th of the second to react to something. Reaction time varies between person to person. Because of this a chronograph wristwatch with 1/100th of a second accuracy is actually, in part, measuring the difference between reaction times between different persons. Accuracy, is so precise if two persons were to time the same event, their readings would vary simply because one person reacts faster than another.

Maybe 1/5th to 1/8th of a second accuracy, is good enough, until TAG Heuer figures out a way to start and stop the clock without human intervention.

About TAG Heuer. TAG Heuer is a Swiss watch company founded by Edouard Heuer who founded a watchmaking company in 1860. The lines include Formula One, Aquaracer, Link, Carrera, Monaco, and others.