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JACK HEUER ’ S BIRTHDAY WATCH
TAG Heuer launched a special Autavia to celebrate Mr . Heuer ’ s 85th birthday .
O n Jack Heuer ’ s 85th birthday this past November 17 , the watch company his family founded in 1860 invited its customers to help celebrate by wearing one of the limited edition Autavia watches TAG Heuer launched to celebrate Mr . Heuer ’ s birthday . The honor is fitting in many ways . Not only is Mr . Heuer a fourth-generation member of the firm ’ s founding family ( and currently TAG Heuer ’ s Honorary President ), he designed the original Autavia wristwatch in 1962 .
TAG Heuer , with Jack Heuer ’ s input , has tweaked his original Autavia design for today ’ s market demands . Fortunately the new design , a re-issue limited to 1,932 pieces to reference Mr . Heuer ’ s birth year , retains the watch ’ s original racing spirit .
The new Autavia is slightly larger than the original , measuring 42mm in diameter ( compared to 39mm ), and offers a 12-hour graduated bezel and a new Heuer-02 caliber proprietary chronograph movement with automatic winding . The caliber offers a long power reserve of 80 hours , a date at 6 o ’ clock and water resistance to 100 meters . In black aluminum , the bidirectional notched bezel — a
defining feature of the original Autavia ( it was Heuer ’ s first rotating bezel on a wrist chronograph ) – here encircles a silver dial with three black snailed counters .
To retain a vintage feel , TAG Heuer has coated the new Autavia ’ s hands and applique indexes with beige Super-LumiNova . In addition , the watch ’ s vintage ‘ mushroom ’ style pushers , ridged crown , Heuer logo and a so-called “ grains of rice ” steel bracelet have been employed for a similar nod to the 1960s Heuer Autavias . Even the minute track is retro as it features subdivisions using “ 1 / 3-2 / 3 ” ergonomic rule of the era created by Jack Heuer to enhance legibility and accuracy .
TAG Heuer explains that in 1933 , Heuer designed the original Autavia chronograph as a dashboard counter for racing cars and aircraft . The name was a contraction of AUTomobile and AVIAtion . In 1962 , Jack Heuer , the fourth generation head of the company , re-activated the name as he created his first wrist sports chronograph , adding the aforementioned rotating bezel . TAG Heuer most recently reissued the Autavia at Baselworld this year with a specific historic design chosen via an online contest
This latest chapter in the Autavia story is as compelling as the original . With limited production and a case back engraving proclaiming “ Jack Heuer 85th Birthday Edition ,” customers will likely be racing to get this special Autavia onto their wrists very quickly . Price : $ 5,900
JACK HEUER 85TH BIRTHDAY EDITION AUTAVIA
Reference : CBE 2111 . BA0687 , limited edition of 1,932 Movement : Heuer 02 Manufacture - automatic chronograph with date , and 80-hour power reserve Case : 42mm polished steel with polished steel horns ( 2 facets ), notched black aluminum bezel with hour gradations , bidirectional rotation , sapphire crystal with double anti-reflection coating and fluted steel crown , polished steel ‘ mushroom ’ push buttons , caseback with special engraving , water-resistant to 100 meters . Dial : Silver sunray , date , 3 black snailed counters : - Chronograph minute counter at 3 o ' clock - Chronograph hour counter at 9 o ' clock - Small second counter at 6 o ' clock Rhodium-plated applique indexes with polished and satinfinished top , white SuperLuminova highlights , rhodiumplated hour and minute hands with white SuperLuminova , rhodium-plated chronograph seconds hand , " Heuer " logo and " AUTAVIA " inscription at 12 o ' clock , " HEUER-02 " inscription at 6 o ' clock Bracelet : seven-row bracelet in polished steel and polished ardillon buckle with Heuer logo
18 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | WINTER 2018 iWMAGAZINE . COM