Past, Present And Future

Tag Heuer’s newly revived Autavia collection combines vintage aesthetics with cutting-edge watchmaking technology. Nicolette Wong reports

- Nicolette Wong

History always repeats itself. Watchmaking brands have taken the phrase to heart over the past few years, releasing countless new models that pay homage to their historical pieces. And while some may say that such a move lacks creativity, the fact is, the resulting pieces can be very impressive—if done right. And Tag Heuer has certainly ticked all the right boxes with its newly revived Autavia collection.

The original Autavia (whose name is a portmanteau of the words “automobile” and “aviation”) began life as a dashboard instrument in racing cars and propeller aircraft between 1933 and 1957. When production ceased, then-CEO Jack Heuer decided that it deserved a second life and turned it into a chronograph wristwatch in 1962. The watch proved enormously successful and was popular among watch enthusiasts until its production once again ceased in 1985. In the years since then, vintage Autavia watches have had a robust following among collectors, which also means that the new collection has been greatly anticipated.