ICON IN BLUE
The iconic Autavia returned to the TAG Heuer collections in 2017. It again takes centre stage this year with a three-hand version featuring a smoky blue dial and a new Isograph hairspring.
The Autavia watch, first launched in 1962, was always more discreet than its younger brother, the Carrera. Its name combines two worlds and two industries, AUTomobile and AVIAtion, borrowing stylistic elements from both. In 2016, for the big comeback of the legendary watch, the brand from Le Locle launched a contest, asking watch fans to choose between 16 older models. The 50,000 people taking part voted to re-release the Autavia Rindt in 2017. This was a chronograph worn by the Austrian racing driver Jochen Rindt (1942-1970). The black watch with white sub-dials was joined in October 2017 by a limited edition unveiled for the 85th birthday of Jack Heuer, the founder’s great-grandson and honorary president of the brand. For Baselworld 2019, TAG Heuer again launched a new Autavia.
Although it is a similar shape to the previous models, the new watch stands out in different ways. It is not a chronograph but a three-handed watch with a date, to start with. Next, it does without the usual colours in the collection (black, white and silver), but comes in an attractive, delicately sanded blue with a Sfumato effect – that is, with a light colour in the centre that grows darker towards the outside of the dial. The large Arabic numerals for the hours are coated in white Super-LumiNova®, and there are silver, lume-coated hands for the hours, minutes and seconds. The date is at 6 o’clock.
The 42mm-wide steel case is topped with a bezel featuring a blue ceramic ring. Inside is the calibre 5, an automatic movement certified as a chronometer and including the Isograph hairspring made of a carbon composite, a new element developed in-house. It can resist gravity, shocks and magnetic fields.
The Autavia by TAG Heuer is equipped with a brown calf’s leather strap and a steel tang buckle.
Price: 3,500 CHF tagheuer.com
By Sharmila Bertin