TAG Heuer got into the lab-grown diamond game by premiering at Watches & Wonders 2022 in Geneva. Specifically, it unveiled the new Carrera Plasma watch, which uses cultured diamonds through the chemical vapor deposition process. This is what TAG Heuer recommends to consumers as the “Diamant d'Avant-Garde”.
“The chemical vapour deposition (CVD) technology, known as “Diamant d'Avant-Garde” at TAG Heuer, allows us to explore the flexibility of carbon in the form of lab-grown diamonds. As a result, we have created a stunning watch where we use diamonds in very unique shapes and textures,” explained Edouard Mignon, Head of Innovation at TAG Heuer and LVMH's Watches and Jewellery division.
“Laboratory diamonds allow us to innovate and experiment with this extraordinary material. This opens up a new field of possibilities for designers, watchmakers and engineers.”.
The Carrera Plasma features CVD-grown diamonds from manufacturers Lusix, Capsoul and Diamaze.
The stones appear most creatively in two areas. First is the polycrystalline dial with diamonds. In this the diamond crystals grow as one entity on a specially created plate, an effect that does not occur naturally. The total weight of the diamonds in the plate is approximately 3.9 carats.
This creates a sparkling visual effect across the entire dial.
There are also two black polycrystalline diamond plates. One on the chronograph minute counter at 3:00 and one on the chronograph hour counter at 9:00.
The hours are marked by buget-cut diamonds, also lab-grown.
Another unique aspect of lab-grown diamonds is the 3:00 o'clock diamond crown. The entire item is a unique 2.5 carat crown-shaped diamond, made by the newly established Capsoul company.
The 44mm watch features a lightweight watch case with a sandblasted anodised aluminium coating. It also features a black ceramic polished bezel.
The Carrera Plasma is powered by the H02 Tourbillon Nanograph movement. The in-house automatic chronograph is Swiss-made and has a power reserve of 65 hours.
In total, the Carrera Plasma features 11.7 carats of laboratory-cultured diamonds from the dial, hour markers, crown and 48 baguette-cut diamonds in the case.
This groundbreaking watch is a demonstration of innovation. But don't expect to see it in stores, there is only one version and it is priced at around $375,000.
