Tag Heuer WAH1315

01 WATER-RESISTANCE
The water-resistance of a sports watch

protects the components, reduces the

need for servicing and prolongs the life of

the movement. TAG Heuer performs tests

on 100% of its production, in water and

under pressure. The professional diving

chronograph, the Aquaracer 500M, must

also pass a special test to verify that its

push-buttons are water-resistant and

operational down to 500m. This procedure

has required specific testing equipment

to be created.

02 RESISTANCE TO U.V. AGEING
Heat and light often have an adverse

effect on plastics, varnishes and leather.

The TAG Heuer quality laboratory carries

out stringent tests to verify the stability of

these materials over time: they are

exposed to the equivalent of strong

summer sunlight for three full days.

This ensures that all the materials used are

highly reliable at all latitudes and in all

seasons.

03 EXTREME TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE
The temperature of a watch exposed to

the sun for a long period can exceed 40°C,

while in winter it can fall below zero. For

this reason, individual components as well

as complete watches are tested,

particularly in tropical conditions, to ensure

they will function correctly and accurately

between 0°C and 50°C.

04 RESISTANCE TO THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT
Chlorine, sulphur, perspiration and sea salt

can attack the materials in a watch or

reduce the mobility of certain components.

TAG Heuer carries out tests on cases,

crowns, metal bracelets, as well as leather

and rubber straps, to ensure that they are

resistant to potentially damaging elements

and have no effect on the skin. Only

materials that meet the brand’s standards

are approved for use.

05 TRACTION-RESISTANCE
Simply putting on and taking off a watch

causes wear and tear on the buckle of a

leather strap or the clasp of a metal

bracelet. TAG Heuer submits buckles and

clasps to a traction of 15-20 kg over

5,000 cycles, followed by twisting under

tension. No component must show any

signs of permanent deformation or tearing.

06 VIBRATION-RESISTANCE
In a Formula 1 car, on a motor-bike or on a

mountain bike, wristwatches are subjected

to brief, repetitive movements and intense

vibration. To test the robustness, precision a

nd integrity of its watches under these

conditions, TAG Heuer has developed

a machine that reproduces this vibration at a

level well above normal. The test must not

affect the operation of the watch, its

components, bracelet and screws, nor

reveal any sign of fatigue.

07 SHOCK-RESISTANCE
In everyday life or when playing a sport

it is easy to forget that you are wearing a

watch on your wrist. It only takes a

sudden quick movement and the watch

can hit something hard. To avoid watches

suffering such shocks, TAG Heuer carries

out rigorous tests on machines that

reproduce the shock waves of a significant

impact. The watch being tested must not

show any signs of mechanical damage.

08 RESISTANCE TO WEAR AND TEAR
All watch functions are subjected to tests

that reproduce not only a wearer’s

everyday movements but also typical

accidents. The turning bezel, crown and

push-buttons undergo more than 5,000

testing cycles, equivalent to several years

of use in normal conditions.

09 FRICTION-RESISTANCE
TAG Heuer watches are intended to

accompany their owner through all life’s

adventures. For this reason, the brand

carries out accelerated wear tests on

cases and bracelets so that, if necessary,

the coating of a case or a metal bracelet

can be modified to increase its resistance

to friction.

10 ANALYSIS OF MATERIALS AND METAL PLATING
All alloys and decorative plating in

precious metals are systematically tested.

Fluorescence X analysis tests the content

of precious elements (carats) and plating

thickness. Tests are carried out separately

and in tandem to obtain a realistic picture

of what the watch is subjected to on a

daily basis. This procedure is entirely new

in watchmaking.