The new Tag Heuer Autavia is back. One of the most beloved driver’s chronograph from the Sixties, the Autavia takes its name from the contraction of AUTomobile and AVIAtion. Collectors immediately associate its name to its rotating bezel, its large snailed counters and the excellent legibility of its black and white.
Created in 1962, this iconic model celebrates its 55th anniversary with a 2017 edition with updated functions and a proprietary movement. We will soon dedicate an in-depth article on the history of this model.
The new TAG Heuer Autavia is the result of an interactive campaign called the “Autavia Cup” run in 2016: from a choice of 16 vintage models, more than 50,000 web users voted for a reissue of the so-called Autavia “Rindt” from the name of Jochen Rindt, a famous F1 driver.
More imposing than its ancestor — 42 mm in diameter compared to 39 in the 1960s — the new Autavia maintains the aesthetic codes of the original but offers new functions which are tailored to modern requirements: a self-winding calibre, power reserve of 80 hours, date at 6 o’clock, water resistance to 100 metres.
In black aluminium, the bidirectional notched bezel with 12-hour graduation encircles a black dial with three white snailed counters in an optimal layout. The straight hands and the polished steel baton indexes are coated with beige Super-LumiNova.
The “Mushroom” push-pieces, a ridged crown, the Heuer logo and a distressed calfskin leather strap are clear vintage touches. But the inscription “Heuer-02” above the date aperture makes reference to one of the major innovations of this contemporary model: its proprietary movement, the new Heuer-02 chronograph calibre, with 4 Hz frequency for a power reserve of 80 hours.
Visible through the sapphire case-back, this 6.9 mm thick self-winding movement comprises 233 components, a pillar wheel and a vertical clutch.
The Autavia can be matched to a black calfskin leather strap, a distressed brown calfskin leather strap with ecru stitching or a Sixties-inspired 7-row steel “beads of rice” bracelet.
