In terms of the Golf series, the Connected watch occupies a very firm niche in the industry. You're also into crypto payments and NFCs. As one of the more aggressive watchmakers in this sector, what is your thought process behind this strategy?
We talked about it a lot last year because also it was a huge trending topic. But what we actually launched was limited yet impactful. First, we received crypto payments in dollars and we don't take any risk on it because it was managed by a partner. Second, we launched the NFT viewer which was a service we offered to be able to display NFTs on the Connected watch. Currently the crypto market is down, but we are still believers of the segment. This might actually be a good correction because only the most serious and passionate collectors remain incepted in it. We are still seeing growth in our NFT functionality in spite of the market.
The fact that the market is down doesn't dampen your enthusiasm, do you still believe in the underlying technology?
We still believe in the technology but that it will need more time to deploy and develop itself. We have more projects in the pipeline.
Even Mercedes-Benz, once a traditional carmaker, is creating the MBUX car operating system. Since the Connected watch is now a key pillar for TAG Heuer, is this a direction you see the brand headed towards?
We have a very strong tech team developing the Connected watch in-house, but we are also working with a series of partners because it's a very complex product and we cannot have it fully vertically integrated. Google provides the operating system but we are doing a lot of the UI and the UX for watch faces, apps and navigation; we have a dedicated team in-house in those areas.
Do you foresee this tech department within TAG Heuer growing faster than the manufacturer?
This story is from the Issue 186 edition of August Man SG.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Issue 186 edition of August Man SG.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE PASSION OF JAZMINE NIKITTA
ART INSPIRES. THIS IS A UNIVERSAL TRUTH. IN IMMERSING HERSELF IN ITS NURTURING WATERS, DJ, VISUAL ARTIST, PRESENTER, AND MUSIC CURATOR JAZMINE NIKITTA EMERGES WITH UPLIFTING TRANSMISSIONS EVERY TIME.
REVISITING A HOROLOGICAL CLASSIC
The Tudor Black Bay Burgundy might be an oldie, but it is still a goodie, especially the updated version.
Mercury In Retrograde
While it might be an optical illusion for the planet, the retrograde complication is one of the most fun watchmaking mechanisms to see in action. Franck Muller offers two interpretations.
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
As the co-founder of EMONIGHTSG, singer-songwriter, musician, and DJ Bryan Ulric Santa Maria is an expert on why the stirrings of the heart can resound with a seismic force—and how enduringly transformational their echoes are.
The Power Of Two
As Sivilian Affairs, the husband-and-wife duo of Sivanesh Pillai Siv) and Lillian Hautemulle Lil) are making the Asian nightscape more thrillingly next level, one trailblazing party at a time.
P.S. I LOVE YOU
THERE IS A POINT in adulthood when we truly understand the great complexities of human existence, when we realise that within all of us, there is both the sacred and the profane—or consider the possibility that sacredness and profaneness are just arbitrary constructs and we are all merely exploring different facets of the same human experience.
Gorgeously Undulating Soundscapes
Are JBL’s new Tour Pro 3 True Wireless stereo earbuds a game-changer? Testing them was a must.
Luxury In A Simple Statement
The Breguet Classique Tourbillon 3358 is a no-frills exercise in artistry and elegance. Its simplicity gives it its profound, multifaceted beauty.
The Boy In Blue
The sappy month of love calls for a sappy love story. Except this isn't just my story. It could also be yours.
A Kaleidoscopic Affair
Louis Vuitton and Japanese artist Takashi Murakami join forces once again, after 20 years.
