One thing I am confident is that my next TAG Heuer watch will includes their still very fresh in-house Calibre Heuer 02 movement – which happens to be the engine powering the new for 2017 TAG Heuer Autavia. This excellent movement launched several years ago as the TAG Heuer Caliber 1969 and was later renamed to the CH 80 before its production was put on hold. Only a few movements were made and cased into watches called the Carrera CH 80, which will be rather in-demand collectors’ items. The caliber Heuer 02 came back in a more complicated form as the base of the Heuer 02T tourbillon, which powers the most accessible to Swiss Made COSC Chronometer certified tour billon, also made by TAG Heuer. Watch fans can finally rejoice after waiting for several years, as the Calibre Heuer 02 is finally ready for prime time production – as the retro-styled TAG Heuer Autavia is the first place to gain it.
It is true and just the fact that it takes many replica TAG Heuer educations to understand the huge appeal of a watch like this. Not only is there the historic placement of the Autavia in the Heuer family since the year of 1950s, but also the importance of vintage timepiece such as this in modern watch collecting. It takes a pretty sophisticating watch fan to learn why a re-issue of a retro watch with a brand new, rather technically sophisticated (albeit purely mechanical) movement has a top level of attractions for collectors.
What’ more, TAG Heuer in fact polled its own collectors on what particular vintage Autavia to remake in modern form, and a Blog to watch was obviously a huge part of that. Nearly one year ago, we published an article on the “TAG Heuer Autavia Cup,” which was an online poll to ask watch lovers what particular design TAG Heuer should make for the “new Autavia.” TAG Heuer commented to us that the aBlogtoWatch audience was a pivotal part of the voter base.
The TAG Heuer Autavia Calibre Heuer 02 comes in a polished steel case that is 42mm wide. True to the originals, it has a bi-directional rotating timing bezel with a black aluminum hour marker insert. The most desirable feature of the replica watch from a collector’ standpoint is the “panda dial” style which means the subdials are a contrasting color from the dial on a more or less monochromatic palette. This not only stresses legibility but happens to look so nice as well. Note the use of “Heuer” only on the dial even though this is a modern TAG Heuer watch. The brand keeps n doing this for its patently “retro” models such as the new TAG Heuer Autavia.
Appreciated, you can see the caliber Heuer 02 movement through the caseback – and it provides a large number of contrasts with the otherwise vintage style of the watch given how fashion it looks. It seems like opening up an old muscle car and finding a modern engine block inside. As a matter of fact, it is really fantastic.
Even though I mentioned it in the past, I have to talk about it again now -Today the TAG Heuer has a split feature. One arm of the brand is solidly in contemporary times producing bold, modern replica watches which intents to attract youngster audiences. For the most part, there are words like “TAG Heuer” printed on the dials. Then you have the part of the brand that is dedicated to meet the need of the traditionalist collectors whose passion lies with the legacy of what TAG Heuer was, and has the most appreciation for classic, conservative designs versus things which are “too new.” Few brands are this dynamic, and I think it is a credit to TAG Heuer that they can do both well, and talk to two audiences more or less at the same time.