Overall, I applaud TAG Heuer on their ability to stay on task using the dial of the Link Calibre 5. It is sporty, legible, attention-grabbing, and otherwise, as controlled as possible. The case is actually three distinct shapes all somehow rolled into one. How did that occur? This is because the dial is round, the bezel is cushion-shaped, and the instance itself is tonneau, with wide lugs that integrate directly into the bracelet. I know for certain that the way the Link appears on the wrist is quite different than previous ones and this will make some fans a bit standoffish at first. To those people, I’d urge patience and allow the new design grow on them. This may be a new character for the TAG Heuer Link, but it’s a welcome one using a more lively voice and awareness of purpose.The TAG Heuer Link assortment has and continues to be all about the bracelet. TAG Heuer retains the core DNA of this “S-curve” link, Link bracelet, but renders it in a totally new manner. The new hyperlink bracelet is beefier and a lot more polished. It also keeps that infuriatingly intricate bracelet building system that begs to be adjusted exclusively by a trained practitioner. Even though you may size this bracelet yourself (with the proper tools), I wouldn’t suggest it.

Consensus amongst many industry insiders at Baselworld 2017 was that the stable of watch and jewellery names owned by LVMH – Bulgari, Hublot, TAG Heuer and Zenith – are doing well relative to their peers. That appears to have been borne out by the luxury group’s first quarter results for 2017, with Bulgari and TAG Heuer singled out for “market share gains”.

Quarterly revenue at the luxury powerhouse that owns Louis Vuitton (its Parisian art museum designed by Frank Gehry is pictured above) rose 13% at constant exchange rates, while its watch and jewellery division saw an 11% rise in sales. In more ordinary times that might seem a meagre figure, but times are tough for the luxury watch business.

In comparison, LVMH rival Richemont’s most recent quarter (until December 2016) was less impressive, perhaps explaining the management overhaul earlier this year. The Swiss group that owns watchmakers like IWC and Panerai saw group sales rise only 6%, helped by its jewellery business, with the watchmaking division seeing a dip of 2%.

That being said, the sales growth at LVMH comes off from a low base. Last year the group recorded revenue growth of just 6%, with the figure for the watch and jewellery division being 5%. It prudently notes in the announcement: “The trend currently observed cannot reasonably be extrapolated for the full year.”