Recent years have witnessed a surge in avant-garde gem-set designs within the watch industry, coinciding with significant advancements in lab-grown gemstones. While some brands have utilized these technological strides to create entire cases from materials like manufactured sapphire, others have seized the opportunity to merge these trends, reshaping the boundaries of traditional gem-setting in watches. Replica TAG Heuer stands at the forefront of this innovative approach with the ultra-luxurious Carrera Plasma series. Initially unveiled at Watches and Wonders 2022 and revamped for 2023 with nearly 40 percent more diamonds (totaling 15.5 carats) than its predecessor, this design deviates from conventional gem-setting techniques, offering a futuristic, organic aesthetic that suggests the stones are naturally emerging from the case itself. Cutting-edge, visually striking, and remarkably capable, the TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant D’Avant-Garde Chronograph Tourbillon 44mm is a captivating, audacious creation, potentially setting the tone for the future of lab-grown diamonds in watchmaking.
Undoubtedly, the Super Clone TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant D’Avant-Garde Chronograph Tourbillon’s 44mm wide black-coated aluminum case makes a bold, likely divisive statement. While its fundamental shape remains reminiscent of a modern Carrera, featuring a broad smooth bezel and inwardly-beveled angular lugs, the matte black exterior serves as a backdrop for the 6.8 carats of lab-grown diamonds, courtesy of partner brand Capsoul. Unlike conventional gem-setting methods characterized by uniformity and repetition, this timepiece adopts a chaotic, angular approach, seemingly allowing the diamonds to organically emerge from the case or resembling a watch blasted with a shotgun loaded with diamond buckshot. In essence, it deliberately embraces non-traditionalism with exuberance, offering a design that either resonates with the viewer or doesn’t. Nevertheless, the meticulous craftsmanship involved in creating flush mounts for each uniquely shaped diamond ensures that the Carrera silhouette remains intact, even as some stones extend around the case’s sides and intersect chamfer lines.
Amidst this profusion of lab-grown gems, one diamond steals the spotlight—the custom-cut crown, boasting a substantial 2.5 carats. With its crisply faceted gear-toothed edge and Fake TAG Heuer shield emblem, this crown commands attention, catching the light from every angle and serving as a focal point during wear. While the watch’s sapphire display caseback may seem understated compared to its dazzling front, its functionality is undeniably impressive. Despite the intricacies of the diamond settings and irregular case perforations, the TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant D’Avant-Garde Chronograph Tourbillon 44mm upholds the performance standards of a standard Carrera, boasting a sporty 100 meters of water resistance.
Rarely does a watch dial featuring an openworked tourbillon encounter something that outshines this luxurious complication, both literally and figuratively. In this instance, the dial itself commands attention, as nearly every flat surface beneath the sapphire crystal is adorned with a continuous layer of diamonds. The secret behind this radiant, textured appearance lies in a trio of polycrystalline plates, serving as substrates for the growth of diamond crystals across the main dial surface and each subdial. Enhanced by traditional baguette-style diamond hour indices, this dial becomes an unrivaled light-catcher, sparkling dramatically in almost any lighting condition. Positioned at 6 o’clock, the tourbillon escapement features TAG Heuer’s minimalist finishing approach, with subtle radial texturing on the carbon fiber arms set against an otherwise unadorned backdrop. Beyond the diamonds and tourbillon, the dial maintains a remarkably traditional Carrera aesthetic, featuring sloping subdial chapter rings, striped baton hands, and a classic Carrera logo printed directly onto the crystalline diamond surface.
In an era marked by rapid advancements in lab-grown diamond technology and growing industry interest in innovative gem-set designs, the new TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant D’Avant-Garde Chronograph Tourbillon 44mm offers a daring, futuristic, and undeniably bold perspective on gem-set watches. Its striking aesthetics and stratospheric price point may not appeal to all enthusiasts, but in terms of sheer material innovation—and sheer enjoyment—it stands as a profoundly impressive release. Although the watch is not strictly limited in production, the TAG Heuer Carrera Plasma Diamant D’Avant-Garde Chronograph Tourbillon 44mm is exclusively available as a made-to-order piece through the brand, with an MSRP of 500,000 CHF as of press time. For further details, please visit the brand’s official website.