THE AUTAVIA COLLECTION OPENS A NEW CHAPTER FOR TAG HEUER
Using history to forge a new path, the latest TAG Heuer collection takes inspiration from the original Autavia models and makes use of the most innovative watchmaking technology to appeal to a new generation of adventurers.
Bridging the gap between past and future
As one of the pillars of the brand, the Autavia was a natural choice for TAG Heuer to launch as its own line, with it joining the ranks of the Carrera, Monaco, Formula 1, Aquaracer and Link collections. From 1933 to 1957, the Autavia was a dashboard instrument used in racing cars and aircraft. The name itself comes from the combination of automobile and aviation. After production of the Autavia dashboard timer stopped, the name was still available, and CEO at the time Jack Heuer decided to use it for the chronograph wristwatch the Swiss watchmaker launched in 1962. Immediately recognisable, this innovative new timepiece captured the energy and excitement of rally racing and was legible in any conditions. Popular among racing enthusiasts and armed forces around the world, the Autavia enjoyed great success and a sterling reputation until production ceased in 1985. Today, the Autavia is being reintroduced as its own collection with seven references that have been designed with the adventurous and daring spirit the Autavia is known for.
Heritage and cutting-edge technology
Powering the Autavia three-hand timepieces is the chronometer-certified Calibre 5. The original Autavia was known for making use of the latest technology, and these models are no different. The new Autavia models feature the cutting-edge carbon-composite hairspring that the avant-garde watchmaker introduced earlier this year. The combination of the calibre and the carbon-composite hairspring gives every model in this collection Isograph distinction. The trademarked name comes from the Greek word iso, which means “equal”, and refers to the stable and consistent movement of the component.
Known as theheart of the mechanical watch because of its importance in the overall function, the hairspring is the most difficult part to produce. A team of TAG Heuer mathematicians, physicists and chemists are behind the creation of this newly reinvented hairspring. Not only does the carbon-composite hairspring shake up traditional watchmaking, it also improves the performance of watches fitted with the brand’s chronometer- certified movement. The key benefits of TAG Heuer’s carbon-composite hairspring include the fact that the lightweight, low-density hairspring is virtually unaffected by gravity and shock and is completely antimagnetic. Perfect concentric oscillations are made possible thanks to the hairspring’s geometry and improve the precision of the watch. Optimal thermal behaviour and aeroelasticity have been achieved by pairing the carbon-composite hairspring with an aluminium alloy balance wheel. The carbon-composite hairspring is produced with the collet already attached. TAG Heuer is the exclusive manufacturer of these hairsprings, which are designed and produced in its in-house laboratory in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
The propeller and tyre that are etched into the stainless-steel or titanium caseback are a nod to the collection’s rich heritage.
