TAG HEUER – HERITAGE AUTAVIA Heuer-02 Chronograph 42 mm
TAG Heuer AUTAVIA
Return of an icon
Return of an icon
The Autavia, the legendary driver's chronograph from the Sixties beloved of collectors, is making a comeback in 2017.
A contraction of AUTomobile and AVIAtion, its name is synonymous with its rotating bezel, its large snailed counters and the exemplary legibility of its black and white. Created in 1962, this iconic model celebrates its 55th anniversary in the form of a neo-retro successor featuring updated functions and a proprietary movement.
Modern yet faithful to its roots, the new generation Autavia channels the spirit of the golden age of motor racing. As innovative as the original, this contemporary model 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 Autavia "Rindt" worn by the famous F1 driver Jochen Rindt.
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• A watch worn by the best-known racing drivers of the 1960s and 1970s: Jochen Rindt, Mario Andretti, Jo Siffert, Clay Regazzoni…
• A contraction of AUTomobile and AVIAtion, a name taken from the first dash counter for racing cars and aircraft created by Heuer in 1933.
• The interpretation of an icon coveted by collectors, combining the spirit of 1960s motor racing with contemporary functions.
• A design inspired by the Autavia "Rindt" from 1966, worn by the legendary F1 champion Jochen Rindt.
• Voted for by web users from among 16 historic models during the "Autavia Cup",
an unprecedented interactive online campaign hosted in 2016.
• A black rotating bezel, three large, snailed white counters, robust lines and perfect legibility inspired by the original model.
• Larger 42 mm diameter, water resistant to 100 metres, date aperture at 6 o'clock and Heuer-02 proprietary self-winding chronograph movement for the new model.
• See Now, Buy Now: Avant-garde right up to distribution, available as of today: TAG Heuer leads the way in the world of avant-garde luxury watchmaking as the first watch brand to apply the "See now, buy now" fast fashion concept. As of today, the watches will be on sale in TAG Heuer boutiques, from a selection of retailers, or available for delivery via the brand's online webstore.
• At the occasion of this launch, TAG Heuer is also selling the book “Autavia – Story of an Icon”, which will allow the reader to immerse himself in the history and heritage of this legendary watch.
Motor racing in the blood
Much more than a reissue of an iconic model, the new generation Autavia embodies a respect for the authentic world of motor racing and its roots, harnessing technology to improve functionality – TAG Heuer's signature accuracy. New execution, modern functions, a contemporary mechanism. An enduring, legendary style, coveted by fans of vintage chronographs with a rugged appeal. The watch of 1960s F1 heroes. Legendary figures running on kerosene, tobacco and adrenaline. The Autavia will always embody this exhilarating world in which everything can change in a second.
Winning features
The Autavia's comeback is the result of a unique collaborative campaign — the "Autavia Cup" — held in the spring of 2016. The principle: to consult the brand's community of fans and collectors and to talk to connoisseurs, offering them the opportunity to choose the historic model that would inspire the rebirth of the Autavia.
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More than 50,000 votes were registered over two rounds, resulting in four finalists and one overall winner: the famous Autavia Ref. 2446 Mark 3, designed in 1966. It was named the "Rindt", in honour of the celebrated Formula 1 champion Jochen Rindt, on whose wrist it was a semi-permanent fixture.
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To revive a cherished watch in consultation with its admirers: an innovative, collaborative project demonstrating TAG Heuer's commitment to and respect for these true devotees and advisors par excellence. An impressive response on social media resulting in the rebirth of the winning model, the Autavia "Rindt". Based on the second execution of the case, with a refined bezel, bevelled horns, a black dial, three white counters, straight hands and polished steel baton indexes with luminescent inserts, this iconic piece bears all the hallmarks of a winner. Its "ambassador", Jochen Rindt, one of history's greatest F1 drivers, actively contributed to its renown.
Updated codes
More imposing than its ancestor — 42 mm in diameter compared to 39 in the 1960s — with a 12-hour graduated bezel and a new Heuer-02 calibre proprietary chronograph movement, the latest generation Autavia carries the DNA and aesthetic codes of the original, updated for today's market. Its functions 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 encircles a black dial with three white snailed counters in an optimal layout. A legible, balanced display with hands and applique indexes in steel coated with beige Super-LumiNova®.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
A plus for purists
The inscription "Heuer-02" above the date aperture references 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. Just 6.9 mm thick, this self-winding movement comprises 233 components, a pillar wheel and a vertical clutch. Featuring traditional finishes visible through the sapphire case-back, this TAG Heuer proprietary mechanism offers maximum space for the counters on the dial side, resulting in a visual balance and perfect legibility.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
And for the purists, a choice of wristlet: a distressed brown calfskin leather strap with ecru stitching or a Sixties-inspired 7-row steel "beads of rice" bracelet. The Autavia transports its wearer into the stylistic world of the post-war boom years and its mercurial characters.
The roots of the Autavia
To better understand the motoring roots of the Autavia, let's take a quick look back at its history. In 1933, Heuer designed the first dash counter for racing cars and aircraft: the Autavia chronograph. The name was a contraction of AUTomobile and AVIAtion - as ingenious an invention as the model's timekeeping functions. Three decades later, in 1962, Jack Heuer, the fourth generation head of the company, created his first wrist sports chronograph. Its innovative signature: a rotating bezel. The Autavia name was reborn with this new, complete and extensive range. In the catalogue until 1986, its numerous executions were extremely successful, remaining to this day among the most sought-after collector's chronographs.
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Its ambassadors were the greatest Formula 1 drivers of the 1960s and 1970s: Jo Siffert, Mario Andretti, Jochen Rindt, Derek Bell, Clay Regazzoni, Gilles Villeneuve, Jacky Ickx, Emerson Fittipaldi, Graham Hill, Mario Andretti, Björn Waldegård and even Steve McQueen wore the model. At the time, the Autavia was an essential accessory for champions. Aside from cigarette manufacturers, Jack Heuer was the first Formula 1 sponsor. With his keen interest in cars and a remarkable flair for marketing, this visionary strengthened the ties between the watch brand and motor sport. Worn by F1 champions, the Autavia became an icon of a sexy, thrilling and dangerous world. The drivers were sources of fascination, at a time when motor racing provoked a heady mix of euphoria and suspense. The excitement was inflamed by an acute sense of danger: out on the track, cocooned in their cars, drivers gambled with their lives. An extremely dangerous sport; a chillingly short life expectancy. Driven by forces of nature alive with a fiery impulse. Living intensely, without calculation, taking risks... these stars, who shone so very brightly, chose the Autavia for its versatile character, its robustness and its reliability. They turned it into a symbol.
A multifaceted icon
An iconic model is often distinctive for its bold, unique design. By contrast, the Autavia made its name thanks to its numerous variants. Two or three counters, different scales on the bezel, a GMT model, a diving version and military variants… its multiple facets bewitched collectors. The original Autavia was a classic, dressed almost entirely in black and white. It took on more colours in the 1970s, echoing the trend for the cars of the era. Over 55 years, the design of this historic chronograph has undergone constant evolution in line with fashion and technological innovations. Out of respect for its ancestors, the new Autavia is much more than a replica of a retro watch. It revives the past and roots it firmly in the present.
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Technical details
Reference
- CBE2110.FC8226 with brown strap
- CBE2110.BA0687 with 7-row steel "Grains of rice" bracelet
Calibre Heuer 02 Manufacture - automatic chronograph with date
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Diameter: 31.0 mm
Total Height: 6.95 mm
33 Jewels
Power Reserve: 75 Hours
Components: 168
Display Features: Hour, Minutes ; Date;
Central Chronograph Second Hand;
12 Hour Chronograph Counter At 9 O’clock;
30 Minute Chronograph Counter At 3 O’clock;
Permanent Second Counter At 6 O’clock
Mechanical Features:
Column Wheel; Circular Oscillating Weight; Vertical Clutch; Single Barrel
Case
Diameter: 42 mm – in polished steel
Polished steel horns with 2 facets
Notched black aluminium bezel with hour gradations, bidirectional rotation
Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflection coating and fluted steel crown
Polished steel mushroom push-buttons and sapphire case-back
Dial
Black opaline - date window at 6 o'clock
Three white snailed counters:
- Chronograph minute counter at 3 o'clock
- Chronograph hour counter at 9 o'clock
- Small seconds counter at 6 o'clock
with beige SuperLuminova™ highlights and minute track
Rhodium-plated beige SuperLuminova™ hour and minute hands
Black varnished chronograph hands
White varnished chronograph seconds hand
"Heuer" logo and "AUTAVIA" inscription at 12 o'clock,
"HEUER-02" inscription at 6 o'clock
Water-resistance: 100 metres
Strap
In vintage brown calfskin leather with ecru top-stitching
Polished pin buckle with Heuer logo
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Press Release - 2017
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TAG Heuer International – Media Relations:
Annette Berthod, PR International Director: annette.berthod@tagheuer.com - +41 79 512 13 90
Cécile Luisier, PR Coordinator: cecile.luisier@tagheuer.com – M. +41 79 579 74 66
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