Tag Heuer Updates Autavia Collection With GMT and Chronograph Watches
The trio of luxe limited-edition timepieces channels 60 years of the elegantly innovative Autavia line.
History is often one of the best sources of inspiration in all matters of style, including modern watchmaking that nods to the past and thinks of the future, as is the case with Tag Heuer and three limited-edition watches. The trio of new timepieces mark 60 years of the famed Tag Heuer Autavia Collection, each in its own unique, precise and stylish way.
The Autavia Collection launched in 1962, but first appeared on dashboard timers, about three decades prior, a fitting start given Tag Heuer’s deep roots in racing and aviation. Its watches have always been overbuilt with technical specs aplenty in ways that don’t detract from the overall beauty of the timepiece.
Between the three new models (a GMT and two new chronographs), that legacy lives on.
Each watch is impressive in its own right, including two special-edition flyback chronographs. The two new Autavia timepieces incorporate the Calibre Heuer 02 COSC Flyback movement, one used for recording consecutive times racing laps (for example). It’s the first time the flyback movement has been used in the Autavia Collection, a milestone in its own right.
The CBE511C is our personal favorite, imbued with a tactical edge thanks to an all-black case and all-black ceramic bezel. The 42mm case diameter makes this a hard-wearing, rugged yet overwhelming watch, and given that it’s water-resistant down to 100 meters, Tag Heuer encourages you to use this model on adventures far afield.
The second flyback chronometer is no less visually striking or precise — model CBE511B uses a silver dial to accent a black bezel and textured black leather strap (it’s even interchangeable with quick-release strap functionality).
It’s another handsome watch crafted for adventure and yet elegant enough to be worn around the globe, with an 80-hour power reserve to give you plenty of flexibility and precision.
Tag Heuer’s Autavia COSC GMT is also quite the fitting addition to the dynamic Autavia Collection, billed as a “reinvented classic” and an “authentic pilot’s watch with a heritage feel.” The blue sunray brushed dial is visually striking and refined right from the jump, making this an enviable addition to the collection of any Tag Heuer enthusiast.
The GMT is also sized at 42mm and delivered in a stainless steel case for long-lasting durability, complete with 100 meters of water resistance.
With this GMT watch and the other two limited-edition Autavia models, Super-Luminova hands and indices provide maximum visibility in all sorts of conditions.
Again, Tag Heuer absolutely created these watches to be worn in the pursuit of adventure and high-speed (or perhaps high-flying) thrills.
The GMT clocks in, pun intended, at $4,200, while model CBE511B will set you back $6,300 (the CBE511C retails for $6,950). Given all the wear you’re likely to get out of these highly functional yet stylish watches, each seems like more than a fair price to celebrate 60 years of innovative watchmaking.