Simply Abu Dhabi XXVI

1 7 2 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I T AG Heuer delighted legions of its fans and created a whole body of new admirers with the relaunch of this legendary driver's chronograph from the 1960s. The Autavia – the name being a contraction of AUTomobile and AVIAtion – is a collector’s favourite and this vintage model received a total of 55,000 votes when TAGHeuer put to a public vote the option of a new watch revival. Sixteen historic models were up for selection in a savvy interactive online campaign hosted in 2016. Jack Heuer, who is well into his 80s now, is the great-grandson of the TAG Heuer’s founder and also honorary chairman and continuing inspiration at the brand. The return of the Autavia must be a personal pleasure for him as he designed the first one back in 1962 – the first wrist chronograph with a rotating bezel. This design classic was seen on the wrists of some of the best racing drivers of the 1960s and 1970s, the likes of Jochen Rindt, Mario Andretti, Jo Siffert and Clay Regazzon. The overall winner of the Autavia Cup online vote was the famous Autavia Ref. 2446 Mark 3, a model that came out in 1966. It was nicknamed the Rindt, in tribute to the celebrated Formula 1 champion Jochen Rindt on whose wrist it was a semi-permanent fixture. This new re- interpretation of an icon joins together the spirit of 1960s motor racing with modern day functionality. With a refined bezel, bevelled horns, a black dial, three white counters, straight hands and polished steel baton indexes with luminescent inserts, this iconic piece caused a real stir during the Basel fair. The size has increased for more contemporary tastes and is now 42mm in diameter rather than the 1960s size of 39mm. At the heart of the watch is a new Heuer-02 calibre proprietary chronograph movement. Its functions are tailored to modern requirements, so it’s a self-winding calibre with a power reserve of 80 hours. The codes are clear – vintage aesthetics updated to be neo-retro. The bidirectional notched bezel encircles a black dial with three white snailed counters in a perfectly legible layout. It’s balanced, harmonious and instantly pleasing. Legibility at night time is also assured as the hands and applique indexes in steel are coated with beige Super- LumiNova. The Autavia is already guaranteed to be a future collector's item. The combination of its retro look updated with contemporary tweaks like the addition of a date aperture and a sapphire case-back add up to a perfect package. The Heuer logo, minute track subdivisions on the dial and a distressed calfskin leather strap round off the vintage feel. It’s also available on a 1960s-inspired seven-row steel beads-of-rice bracelet. For purists, the inscription Heuer-02 above the date aperture references one of the major innovations of this contemporary model: its proprietary movement, the new Heuer-02 chronograph calibre. TAG Heuer says, “Out of respect for its ancestors, the new Autavia is much more than a replica of a retro watch. It revives the past and roots it firmly in the present.” TAG Heuer Autavia