Hello everyone! In this article, I’ll be shining the spotlight on the TAG Heuer Autavia Heritage Chronograph, which is currently available for sale at The Shiok Shop. This marks the inception of a new series – aptly titled For Sale – whereby I take a closer look at some of the pieces from my collection that I’m letting go.
First launched in 2017, the Heuer Autavia Heritage Chronograph marked the rebirth of the Autavia line. The eventual design was the result of the “Autavia Cup” design campaign, where fans voted on which historic Autavia chronograph to re-release. In the end, the Reference 2446 Mark 3 “Rindt” (from 1966) won, featuring a 12-hour rotational bezel and a sleek reverse panda tri-compax aesthetic. I found this “crowdsourcing” of design eminently intriguing – I can’t think of another modern watch that followed such a path.
However, it would be a mistake to dismiss the Heuer Autavia Heritage Chronograph as yet another heritage re-release (of which there have been many recently). That’s because it’s equipped with TAG Heuer’s in-house chronograph movement, the Heuer 02. Featuring a vertical clutch, the Heuer 02 was (and still is) the brand’s most advanced chronograph calibre, boasting COSC certification and an impressive 80-hour power reserve. That’s no mean feat, especially considering that chronographs are TAG Heuer’s claim to fame.
And as the icing on the cake, the watch is also eminently useful due to its 12-hour rotational bezel, which allows one to track a second-time zone, effectively allowing the Autavia Chronograph to pull double duty as a travel watch. I tested it out during a recent overseas trip, and had no issues keeping tabs on home time.
Furthermore, I’m also a huge fan of the beads-of-rice bracelet, which is not only very comfortable on the wrist but is also a sight to behold. The vintage charm is through the roof, and it’s also unlike any other bracelet that the brand offers – to date, TAG Heuer only offers the beads-of-rice bracelet on this particular model.
The TAG Heuer Autavia Heritage Chronograph is truly an all-rounder. It has the heritage, the looks, the functionality, the technical prowess, and is unique and different from the rest of TAG Heuer’s offerings. It even stands out from the rest of the Autavia line, with latter models being arguably more generic and less special.
So if the Autavia Heritage Chronograph is so great, why am I selling it? Well, that’s because I happen to own another retro-inspired Heuer chronograph – the Monaco CAW211B, which I wrote about here. As my watch collection grows, I sadly no longer have space for both, given their obvious similarities. And between the two, my heart leans towards the Monaco, which I believe to be the more iconic of the two, although the Autavia does possess the technically superior movement.
The TAG Heuer Autavia Heritage Chronograph had a retail price of S$9050. I’m selling my piece (full set, dated 2017) at just $3699, which is nearly 60% off MSRP. I’ve checked online – it’s by far the cheapest full-set piece available. If you’re interested in the piece, it is available for purchase at The Shiok Store. And if you require more photos, feel free to drop me an email at qile@wahsoshiok.com.
P.S: Check out The Shiok Store here – it serves as a curation of my favourite products from my favourite brands.
P.P.S: Do check out the new “Discounts!” page for exclusive discounts for Wah so Shiok readers! More brands will be added very soon – stay tuned!
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P.P.P.P.S Shiok is a common word Singaporeans use to express admiration or approval. As of 2016, you can find the definition of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.
