TAG Heuer  Autavia  Watches

TAG Heuer Autavia: Timeless and Enduring Sports Watches for Men

Although it started off as a dashboard counter for airplanes and rally cars during the early 1930s, the TAG Heuer Autavia became one of the Swiss brand’s most famous collections. Jack Heuer himself, the great-grandson of the founder of TAG Heuer, re-envisioned and designed this wrist watch series in 1962. Additionally, its name honors the collection’s humble beginnings and bountiful heritage as a combination of the words “automobile” and “aviation”. After its successful release, the TAG Heuer Autavia became a top choice for race car drivers. Eventually, the collection became a must-have for avid sports watch aficionados. 

Prices at a Glance: Most Popular TAG Heuer Autavia Watches

How much does a TAG Heuer Autavia cost?

Depending on the model, TAG Heuer Autavia timepieces may approximately cost from $3,100 USD to $20,834 USD. And within this large price range, you have a variety of stunning and timeless Swiss watches.

Prices for the TAG Heuer Autavia Classic Watches

The TAG Heuer Autavia currently offers a selection of watches with a traditional dial design. These timepieces sport Arabic numeral hour indexes and a small date window at the 6 o’clock marker. They are also available in a variety of colors such as blue, green, black, and many more. Their sports features include a bi-directional turning bezel and a 100m water resistance. These functions are actuated by the in-house caliber Calibre 5 Chronometer, which gives it a 38-hour power reserve duration while allowing it to track time precisely. The 42mm TAG Heuer Autavia Ref. WBE5191.FC8276, for instance, features an elegant brown dial protected by a bronze case. The automatic watch also has rotating bronze and ceramic bezel and a brown calfskin leather strap.  A brand-new Tag Heuer chronometer piece retails at $3,850 USD.

The Swiss series also offers a spectacular special-edition model. The TAG Heuer Autavia Ref. WBE5192.FC8300 has a dashing appearance due to its matching deep red dial and leather strap. These are then complemented with a bronze case and bronze and ceramic bezel, just like with other models. While it may be a special-edition model, this TAG Heuer watch still costs the same as the rest at $3,850 USD.

Prices for the TAG Heuer Autavia Chronographs

Meanwhile, the Swiss watch collection also has its own variety of chronograph timepieces. A great example is the regal TAG Heuer Autavia Chronograph Ref. CBE2110.FC8226. At the reasonable price of $5,300, you’ll get a chronograph watch equipped with highly practical functions. On its black dial is a small date window and small seconds sub dial both located on the 6 o’clock marker. The model is also modified with 12-hour and 30-minute counters at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions respectively. And just like the other timepieces in the entire collection, it has Arabic numerals as hour markers. The dial is protected by a stainless-steel case which is accompanied by a rotating steel aluminum bezel and brown camel leather strap. Additionally, the watch is powered by the exquisite in-house caliber Calibre HEUER02 Automatic which gives it a power reserve duration of 80 hours. And with a water resistance of 100m, this timepiece is a great and reliable accessory fit for outdoor adventures.

Prices for the TAG Heuer Autavia Limited-edition Models

With its rich history as an iconic wristwatch collection, it’s not surprising that the TAG Heuer Autavia also has special models that honor famous people. For instance, the TAG Heuer Autavia Jack Heuer 85th Birthday Edition is an ode to the great-grandson of the Swiss brand’s founder, Jack Heuer, during his 85th birthday. This spectacular 42mm chronograph watch sports a stainless-steel case and bracelet which comes with a black aluminum bezel. Its bezel is engraved with markers for hours, minutes, and seconds while its silver dial is designed with stick hour indexes. On its silver dial is a chronograph function similar to other TAG Heuer Autavia chronograph models in black, creating a modern silver panda dial look. This $5,600 USD watch is not just all looks either as it is powered by the in-house caliber TAG Heuer Caliber Heuer 02, giving it a 75-hour power reserve.

Another iconic limited-edition model from this series is the TAG Heuer Autavia 1971 'Jo Siffert'. This vintage model honors Jo Siffert, a personal friend of Jack Heuer and the collection’s first ambassador. This gorgeous model has stunning accents of blue across its monochrome panda dial. And as a tribute to the collection’s first ambassador, you’ll be glad to know that this $8,900 USD model has amazing qualities. For starters, it is equipped with a stainless-steel case and plexiglass crystal. These protect the timepiece’s white dial that has a small date window, 30-minute counter, and 12-hour counter on the 6, 3, and 9 o’clock positions, respectively. The 42mm vintage watch’s bezel is also equipped with a tachymeter, leather strap, and self-winding mechanical movement.

History Behind the TAG Heuer Autavia Collection

As mentioned, the TAG Heuer Autavia was originally a dashboard counter for planes, rally cars, and zeppelins during 1933 until Jack Heuer revamped it as a wrist watch in 1962. Famous race car drivers were then attracted to the collection due to its selection of watches with cool designs and reliable functionality. And when TAG Heuer released its first automatic movement in 1969, Autavia became one of the first collections to apply this movement along with the TAG Heuer Carrera and TAG Heuer Monaco series. Jack Heuer then chose his friend Jo Siffert, a Swiss race car driver, to be Autavia's first ambassador. This enabled the Autavia to become a staple of the Swiss brand. 

Many years after its first debut, the collection then made an amazing comeback in 2017 when the Swiss brand manufactured the in-house caliber Heuer 02. And in 2019, a selection of newer models was created and added to the series with the aim of introducing the collection to a younger audience. At first, the Swiss brand released the TAG Heuer Autavia Isograph series. This lineup featured watches modified with an intriguing carbon composite hairspring technology. However, TAG Heuer stopped manufacturing these timepieces after the introduction of Caliber 5 chronometer models.

Famous Patrons of the TAG Heuer Autavia

Aside from Jo Siffert, there are many other celebrities who love Autavia watches due to their eye-catching designs and unparalleled practicality. Former F1 racer Mario Andretti, for instance, became fond of this series. In fact, the Swiss brand honored the Italian driver as a patron by creating the limited-edition TAG Heuer Autavia 3646 H “Mario Andretti” 1968. Another celebrity fan of the Swiss collection is American actor Steve McQueen, the “King of Cool”. A friend of Jo Siffert, McQueen was often seen with a ‘Jo Siffert’ Autavia timepiece. 

Reasons to Buy a TAG Heuer Autavia Watch

1. Classic and Stylish Designs

If you want a timepiece that will stay in fashion, then a TAG Heuer Autavia watch is worthy of consideration. Many race car drivers wore these timepieces when the series was first released in 1962 due to their eye-catching appearance. And when they were reintroduced in 2017, the Swiss brand gave the models an even more elegant appearance while retaining TAG Heuer’s classic design.

2. Precise and Durable Models

You’ll be glad to know that losing track of time is impossible with TAG Heuer Autavia timepieces. These watches are equipped with exquisite calibers that allow for accurate timekeeping and fair power reserve durations. Pair this precision with durable and water resistant cases, and you’ll have a timepiece that can be rocked from corporate affairs to outdoor adventures.

3. Long and Rich Heritage

With its history going back to the early 1930s, the TAG Heuer Autavia has its own great share of history. Not only was it reinvented from cockpit counters, but it was also one of the first TAG Heuer collections applied with automatic movement. Indeed, this series shows the Swiss brand’s fascinating history, superior creativity, and continuous innovation.

TAG Heuer Autavia: Classic Sports Watches for Adventurers

TAG Heuer Autavia watches showcase the Swiss brand’s innovation, technology, creativity, and rich history. Because of these qualities, it’s not surprising why watch collectors are fond of this collection. So, if you’re looking for an excellent men’s watch for yourself or a special man, then a TAG Heuer Autavia watch is definitely a great pick.