TAG Heuer
Latest
Keepin' it real fake, part CXCVIII: TAG Heuer Meridiist gets way-too-low MSRP
You know how we know this here TAG Heuer Meridiist isn't the real deal? Not because it isn't sexy, and not because we don't really, really want to believe. No -- it's because the authentic handset can't be found for under five or six grand, while this little impostor can be had for the unfathomably low price of just $290. So yeah, you'll miss out on the fancy box and veritable bragging rights, but you will get twin SIM slots and a choice of black or red "leather." You know, come to think of it, maybe we would be willing to deal with a fake in order to save a few mortgage payments...[Via Tehnozona]
TAG Heuer launches official Meridiist site, still not on sale
Most of us aren't itching to pay over five grand for the privilege of putting TAG Heuer's first cellphone in our pockets -- or, rather, we simply don't have five grand to blow on such a lustworthy extravagance -- but the small handful of you still sitting there, tapping your fingers on the table with credit card outstretched are probably wondering where the hell you buy this thing. Turns out the Meridiist isn't really "on sale" yet, per se, but at least the company has finally done us the favor of whipping up a site where we can all ogle the luxury candybar at our leisure -- and, more importantly, place a pre-order. The timing of the site is no coincidence; watch show Baselworld starts this week, and the company (along with manufacturer partner Modelabs) wanted to be ready with some new action. It's not as cool as, say... a launch, but we suppose it's better than nothing. Update: It seems some retailers (even in the States) are stocking these, so we're not sure why TAG Heuer hasn't bothered to let site visitors know that their "pre-order" is more of an "actual order." Thanks, everyone!
TAG Heuer's ritzy Meridiist handset gets unboxed
All but the most affluent among us have likely purged the pricey Meridiist from our memories, but if you've ever wondered what exactly a £2,650 ($5,162) cellphone looks like (and really, who hasn't?), you'll definitely want to check this out. The fine folks over at Stuff were able to point their camera at TAG Heuer's exquisite handset ever-so-briefly, and while the images tell half the story, the folks handling it told the other. The chunky phone reportedly reeked of unnecessary luxury and was built solidly, but we didn't get the impression that they were champing at the bit to call this a bargain. At any rate, there are a few more shots where this one came from (that would be the read link, for the uninitiated).
TAG Heuer Meridiist hits FCC courtesy of ModeLabs
Looks just a little less glamorous when it's chilling in some clean-room lab somewhere, doesn't it? TAG Heuer's mighty Meridiist, the luxury set designed to compete with the Vertus and Mobiados of the world, has just navigated its way through the FCC's bureaucracy on the wings of French ODM ModeLabs complete with a posting of the user's manual. And let's be honest, at well over five grand, an online user's manual is about as close as most of us are ever going to get to this thing.
TAG Heuer's ???3,400 Meridiist handset gets official
Surely those rumored shots of TAG Heuer's luxurious first handset from last week are still stuck in your head, right? Go on and purge those puppies right on out, as we've got the very first press shots (more in the read link) of the now-official Meridiist to focus our attention on. Reportedly, the handset was indeed developed in partnership with Modelabs, and beyond the all-metal casing, you can also expect a sapphire crystal screen, 2-megapixel camera, multimedia player, 1.9-inch QVGA display, Bluetooth and a battery good for 7-hours of yappin' aimlessly about how pricey your new mobile is. Speaking of which, did we mention this prized piece will run you between €3,400 ($5,420) and €3,900 ($6,216), depending on customizations, when it sashays onto the scene in Q2? Yeah, ouch.
Shots, specs of TAG Heuer's Vertu killer?
When we first saw this picture, we immediately thought, "whoa, this thing could seriously give Vertu a run for its money for a fraction of the price." So yeah, we still think TAG Heuer's foray into the mobile market could give Vertu a taste of its own medicine (seriously, just look at it) all except for that "fraction of a price" bit; turns out the rumors have the candybar, named "Meridiist," priced somewhere around €3,400 to €3,900 (about $5,338 to $6,123) depending on how it's configured. Your fistful of euros will apparently get you a sapphire crystal display, 2 megapixel cam, 1.9 inch QVGA display (weak!), Bluetooth, and the full array of "luxury" materials like steel and leather when it launches later this quarter into the hands of the world's privileged.[Thanks, Aniki]
Creative-built TAG Heuer USB headset outed by FCC
We have no idea why luxury watch and occasional cellphone maker TAG Heuer would be getting into the PC peripherals game, yet according to an FCC filing we got our hands on, the 150-year-old Swiss watchmaker has a Creative Labs-built USB headset in the pipeline. And although this wireless unit is branded TAG and developed by Creative, the actual cans themselves will likely be sold by Listen To Believe (LTB) Audio, another accessories company with very similar products. Either way, what you're getting here is reportedly "the world [sic] first digital wireless headset that delivers high-quality 2.0-channel stereo audio with extra sound clarity and soft, deep bass effects," according to the manual. That's certainly a lot of caveats, so we'll have to wait for an actual product launch to really see what's what.
TAG Heuer teaming with Modelabs for branded phones
France's Modelabs does serious business brewing up custom devices for companies looking to slap their logo on a line of cellphones, and the latest to enter the fray is going to be decidedly Swiss. TAG Heuer, best known for its watches, is looking to grow the brand well beyond wrist candy; the CEO says he was encouraged by the success of its recently-launched eyewear line and figured that the luxury phone market was a good market to tap next, a rumor that has dogged the company for most of this year. Look for the fruits of Modelabs' and TAG Heuer's joint efforts to materialize in the second half of 2008. Here's our question, though: will it tell the time? These guys wouldn't want to put their bread-and-butter division out of work, right?[Via textually.org]
First Tag Heuer cellphone mockups surface
As we suspected, it looks like Tag Heuer will indeed be joining the ranks of D&G, Prada, Aston Martin, McLaren, and the host of other brands out there who are joining the cellphone craze. Dial-a-Phone is reporting that the forthcoming handset should be "a completely new design," unlike the D&G RAZR which was devoid of originality save for the branding, gold finish, and dangerously high pricetag. Additionally, the Paris-based ModeLabs will indeed be crafting the design, and if all goes as planned, should be launching in undisclosed locales "within a few months." Currently, all they know is that it should be "made of stainless steel" and closely resemble many of Tag's unmistakable timepieces, and while chances are slim that the phone will actually be in a watch, be sure to hit the read link for the first wave of mockups.[Thanks, Stokelake]
TAG Heuer to partner with ModeLabs on luxury handset?
It looks like the competition in the luxury phone market is heating up, as folks still trying to choose between Gresso, Vertu, GoldVish, the D&G RAZR, or the ridiculously pricey Black Diamond could see one more alternative in addition to the recently-unveiled LG Prada. According to Sybarites, TAG Heuer -- the folks responsible for Jeff Gordon and Tiger Woods' sumptuous wristwatches -- is teaming up with ModeLabs to introduce "a completely new phone" for deep-pocketed talkers. While details (including a sneak peek) are scant, the phone is "expected to be made of stainless steel and have many similarities to TAG watches," but it seems we'll just have to wait this one out before making any other far-reaching predictions.[Thanks, James]
