At Baselworld there are always a few vintage inspired watches being introduced, yet few were as highly anticipated as the Autavia by TAG-Heuer. While the original is a legend in watchmaking, the re-edition came with something very special: it was selected by the public.
TAG-Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver is a firm believer in giving the people what they want, and therefore the public could pick their favorite vintage Autavia from a pre-selection of 16 Autavia’s from the 1960’s, the decade in which the original model was introduced.
That didn’t stop TAG-Heuer from making a few improvements along the way. Although resembling the Autavia Reference 2446 Mark 3, the case is more robust, with a diameter of 42 mm, instead of 38 mm. While the original had a manual wind chronograph movement inside, the new version runs on TAG-Heuer’s manufacture caliber 02. Unlike with the original version, the movement is not hidden behind a closed case back but shows its full glory from behind the glass case back.
The bezel of the watch does not have the tachymeter or telemeter scale so typical for chronographs but rather shows the hours. Because the bezel is turnable you can use it to set a second time-zone. A simple yet ingenious addition that turns the Autavia all of a sudden in a full blown travel watch. 
While offered with various strap options, and looking good on each and every one of them, it was the metal bracelet that gives the watch even more style. Although based on a vintage design, it has all the comforts of a modern bracelet. This means solid links and a push-button folding clasp. With the new Autavia TAG-Heuer simply seemed to have made a vintage watch, only up to today’s standards
