Rule Breaker: The $376,000 TAG Heuer made with 12 carats of Lab Grown Diamonds
April 03, 22
(IDEX Online) - An innovative - and extremely pricey - new TAG Heuer watch exploits technical opportunities offered by lab grown diamonds.
The $376,000 Carrera Plasma (pictured) incorporates almost 12 carats, including a 2.5-ct gem grown to the shape of the crown.
The dial of the 44mm-diameter watch looks like it's been sprinkled with diamonds but has actually been grown as a single polycrystalline diamond - diamond grit that has been fused together under high-pressure, high-temperature conditions.
The case of the watch is also set with specially-shaped lab growns.
Diamonds are also used, more traditionally, as indices, and the two counters are made of polycrystalline black diamond.
The aluminum Carrera Plasma Tourbillon Nanograph has been described as TAG Heuer's most expensive, and most ground-breaking timepiece.
CEO Frédéric Arnault said: "We want to expand the possible palette and designs for diamond watches and diamonds in general, and create a new and breathtaking vision of mastering carbon and diamond design as well as cutting-edge light effects."
The lab growns have been specially manufactured by Lusix, Capsoul, Diamaze and others.