The TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma features lab-grown diamonds, including an entirely diamond crown at 3 o’clock.
Geneva—TAG Heuer has entered the lab-grown diamond game.
Capping off its 2022 Watches & Wonders Geneva debuts is the new Carrera Plasma timepiece, which utilizes diamonds grown via the chemical vapor deposition process, or what TAG is marketing to consumers as “Diamant d’Avant-Garde.”
“Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology, which we refer to as ‘Diamant d’Avant-Garde’ at TAG Heuer, enables us to explore the versatility of carbon in the form of lab-grown diamonds—to create a stunning timepiece where diamonds are used in very unique shapes and textures,” explained TAG Heuer and LVMH Watches and Jewelry Division Chief Innovation Officer Edouard Mignon.
“Lab-grown diamonds allow us to innovate and experiment with this exceptional material, and this opens up a new realm of possibilities for designers, watchmakers, and engineers.”
The Carrera Plasma features CVD-grown diamonds from manufacturers Lusix, Capsoul, and Diamaze.
The stones feature most creatively in two areas. The first is the polycrystalline diamond dial, in which diamond crystals are grown as one entity on a specially created plate, an effect that isn’t naturally occurring. The total plate diamond weight is about 3.9 carats.
It creates a sparkling visual effect across the entire dial.
The Carrera Plasma
There are also two black polycrystalline diamond plates at the 3 o’clock minute chronograph counter and the 9 o’clock chronograph hours counter.
Baguette-cut diamonds (also lab-grown) mark the hours.
Another unique lab-grown diamond aspect is the diamond crown at 3 o’clock. The entire element is a uniquely crown-shaped 2.5-carat diamond, made by the start-up Capsoul.
The 44 mm timepiece has a lightweight watchcase rendered in sandblasted anodized aluminum. It has a black ceramic polished bezel.
The Carrera Plasma is powered by the H02 Tourbillon Nanograph movement. The in-house automatic chronograph is Swiss-made with a 65-hour power reserve.
In total, the Carrera Plasma features 11.7 carats of lab-grown diamonds from the dial, hour markers, crown, and 48 baguette-cut diamonds set in the case.
This novelty is a showpiece for innovation, but don’t expect to see it in stores—there’s only one edition, and it’s priced at approximately $375,000.
