TAG Heuer Celebrates 60 Years Of The Autavia With Three New Models

The Autavia has been part of the TAG Heuer core foundation since its inception in 1962. Sixty years later, TAG Heuer celebrates another trip around the sun for the Autavia with three new models added to the collection. The TAG Heuer Autavia combines the elements of their automotive heritage and aviation spirit to create a collection of distinctly designed watches that has stood the test of time.  The 60th Anniversary TAG Heuer Autavia release consists of a pair of bold flyback chronometer chronographs and, for the first time in the collection, a three-hand GMT, all of which are ready for your travels in the air or on the road, and everything in between. Let’s take a closer look.

The Autavia Flyback Chronograph duo will come in two different variations, one in stainless steel with a silvery dial and the other in a DLC coated case paired with matching black dial. Both will use the new chronometer certified Calibre Heuer 02 movement, giving the Autavia Flyback the ability to reset the running chronograph timer with a push of a button, eliminating the traditional three step, Stop/Reset/Start, method in a regular chronograph in the event something needed to timed consecutively. The flyback chronograph would prove to be very useful, in situations such as accurately timing race laps, aviation navigation or for more less stressful activities such as timing a couple of pizzas in the oven.

The two Autavia Flyback Chronographs differ from one another and suit a wide range of tastes. The more refined Autavia Flyback Chronograph is constructed in a stainless steel case combined with brushed finishing and polished lug facets. The crown and pushers, positioned on the three o’clock side of the case, have a presence of their own. The pushers are thick, anchored at the bottom by a crown-like groove and extend outwards with a flat button-top. I’m not a chronograph guy (I’m trying though), but the way these pushers are fashioned look as though they’d be pretty satisfying to press. Like the pushers, the crown is sizable and bold with its double stacked groove build, taking after the original dashboard timers used on racing cars, boats and planes.

Encircling the case of the Autavia Flyback Chronograph is a bidirectional ceramic bezel with a count up display. With the silver sunray dial acting as the backdrop for the white applied markers with polished surrounds, black sub-registers at three and nine, and the small running seconds sub-register seamlessly blending in with the dial make for a crisp presentation.

The DLC coated variation of the Autavia Flyback Chronograph takes on more of a stealth vibe. Like its stainless steel counterpart, the case comes in at 42mm, date at six and a sapphire caseback putting the Calibre Heuer 02 on display. Unlike its silver dialed partner, this variation is restrained and embodies more of a military aesthetic. The 12 hour totalizer, 30 minutes totalizer and running seconds sub-registers would stay hidden within the black dial if it weren’t for their white marker displays. The bezel follows along with the theme with its charcoal bezel markers, although I do wish they were lighter for legibility purposes. Speaking of legibility, that isn’t an issue at all with the sickly green filled Arabic numeral hour markers and hands. Although it may look like the lume is always on, when the lights are off the markers and hands are powered by Super-LumiNova.

Last, but most certainly not least, is the Autavia GMT. As mentioned above, this is the first three-hand GMT for the Autavia line. It’s a standout not only for its multiple timezone tracking capability, but for the use of color on the dial. The Autavia GMT shows off a brushed sunray blue dial and is contrasted well by the stark white Arabic numerals, hands and TAG Heuer logo, as well as the use of orange with the GMT hand and the Autavia insignia.

The Autavia GMT is built in a 42mm stainless steel case with a mixture of brushed and polished finishing. The big crown is even more accentuated sans pushers. Surrounding the watch is a bicolor and bidirectional ceramic 24 hour bezel to assist with keeping track of a third timezone. The Autavia GMT is powered by the chronometer certified Calibre 7 equipped with a 42 to 50 hour power reserve range beating at 28,800 vph (4Hz), and the ability to independently move the GMT hand. The Autavia GMT is still what we in the community refer to as a Caller GMT, rather than a Flyer GMT, which most enthusiasts covet. I’m fine with the Caller GMT, as nowadays I am WFH, and in the event I do travel, readjusting the watch isn’t a hassle for me. All three Autavia models will come equipped with 100m water resistance making each one a great companion for any domestic or international travel endeavors.

The three new Autavia models come on a leather alligator strap or a steel bracelet equipped with quick release capabilities. The Autavia GMT on a steel bracelet will retail at $4,200, and although it’s not cheap and adds to the growing amount of options for sub five thousand dollar GMT watches, that would be the move for me out of the three. The refined silver dial Autavia Flyback Chronograph will retail at $6,300 and the rugged DLC coated Autavia Flyback Chronograph will retail at $6,950. The TAG Heuer Autavia looks fantastic for sixty, and looks to confidently stay that way for years to come. TAG Heuer