The TAG Heuer Autavia is an extraordinary watch whose origins date back to 1933. At that time, a chronograph was developed by TAG Heuer to serve as an on-board instrument for the dashboards of racing cars, zeppelins and aeroplanes. The name is therefore based on the combination of ‘Automobile’ and ‘Aviation’. Ultimately, it became a cult chronograph that was reissued after a break.
History of the TAG Heuer Autavia
Initially designed as an on-board instrument, the history of the TAG Heuer Autavia picked up speed in 1962 when Jack Heuer personally developed a wrist chronograph with a rotating bezel. The sporty design, excellent readability and versatile functions particularly appealed to racing drivers, who in turn were responsible for the growing popularity of this extraordinary wristwatch. From 1969, the world's first automatic movement, the Chronomatic Calibre 11, was installed in the Autavia and Swiss Formula 1 driver Jo Siffert was hired as a brand ambassador, marking the beginning of TAG Heuer's sports sponsorship.
In 1985, a production break was taken for the TAG Heuer Autavia, the story of which continues in 2017. The manufacture calibre Heuer 02 was installed here and several model variants were launched in limited versions.
Jack Heuer Limited Edition
The best-known version is the Jack Heuer Limited Edition, which was designed to mark the 85th birthday of its creator. The silver dial with a panda look is striking in combination with three other smaller dials, which have been specially designed in black as a contrast. Fitted with a stainless steel bracelet, 1,932 versions of the Jack Heuer Limited Edition will be launched on the market.
Design of the modern TAG Heuer Autavia
The redesign of the TAG Heuer Autavia has external features that are reminiscent of the former chronograph, but there are significant differences. New requirements and technical progress necessitated this step by TAG Heuer.
The newer models are not only equipped with a modern movement, they also boast a case size of 42 mm and a 12-hour bezel made of aluminium that can be rotated on both sides. When designing the dial, TAG Heuer opted for a dominant colour scheme in black or white in combination with three smaller dials for the minutes, hours and small seconds. The indices are applied and have vintage-style luminous material at their ends.
The Autavia underwent its latest transformation with the Autavia Flyback Chronometer. In addition to the striking Arabic numerals, the totalisers at positions 3, 6 and 9 immediately catch the eye. The bezel is significantly narrower and has been fitted with a diving scale. The Autavia Flyback Chronometer can be purchased with either a blue or black dial.
Vintage Autavia in high demand
Of course, TAG Heuer wanted to move with the times and made a good decision in this regard, as the Autavia remains one of the most popular models. However, the vintage versions from the 60s and 70s are very popular. Racing legends Mario Andretti (Ref. 3646), Jochen Rindt (Ref. 2446) and Jo Siffert (Ref. 1163T) were known to wear the TAG Heuer Autavia and still ensure that the collector's items can achieve very high prices to this day.
Price of the TAG Heuer Autavia
For the modern versions of the TAG Heuer Autavia, interested parties can expect a ‘starting price’ of just over €2,000. As there are several limited editions, the price of such a watch can quickly rise to between 5,000 and 7,000 euros. The highest prices are achieved by the vintage models of the TAG Heuer Autavia, which cost more than €10,000 and can go up to €15,000.
