The modern Autavia has had a bit of a troubled life, being resurrected in 2003 but failing to find traction and disappearing almost immediately. It wasn't until 2017 until the Autavia name was seen again, and this time (with a bit of Mr Biver magic) it managed to stick around a little longer. Even then, once the world had got used to the Autavia TAG Heuer decided (once again) to use the name on a watch that bore no resemblance to anything that had gone before and rather predictably it didn't go down all that well with the 'enthusiasts', which is a shame because the three handed pilot Autavia is actually quite a nice watch. Now, as I'm writing this in January 2022 we've just seen a further expansion of the Autavia line with two flyback chronographs and a GMT, once again resurrecting the Autavia as a chronograph... what's next? I have no idea... probably a 50mm carbon Autavia on a calfskin Bund!
Right, brief history lesson over, let's have a look at what's gone on...
Note, all Autavia watches are automatic (no quartz pieces)
TAG Heuer Autavia Re-Edition (2003)
The original re-edition of the Autavia appears in just one catalogue (2003) and is thereafter never heard from again. Both watches are offered on a choice of bracelet or a strap and also in a limited run of seventy pieces (per model) in a wooden case with a dash timer. With the later release of special editions featuring the Siffert and Rindt colour schemes these have had a small resurgence in recent years, but for the vintage collector the TAG Heuer logo on the dial still presents something of a stumbling block.
CY2110.FC6196: Men's, white/black dial, black insert, steel case, black leather strap
CY2111.BA0775: Men's, black/white dial, black bezel insert, steel case and bracelet
CY2111.FC6197: Men's, black/white dial, black insert, steel case, black leather strap
CY5140.FC8158: Men's, white dial, black insert, gold case, brown strap (L/E 150pcs)
CW2111.EB0016: Limited edition box set, wristwatch & dash timer (70 pieces)
CBE2110.BA0867: Men's, black/silver dial, black insert, steel bezel, case and bracelet
Heuer Autavia Heuer 02 Chronograph (2017-2020)
In 2017 then TAG Heuer CEO Mr Jean Claude Biver announced the second revival of the Autavia (this time sans the quirky case) and along with it proposed the 'Autavia Cup' where watch enthusiasts got to vote on which dial design would be chosen for the relaunch. The new model also featured TAG Heuer's second (or possibly first...) in house chronograph movement, the Heuer 02.
Over the next year or so various special/limited editions appeared including the Jack Heuer 85th Anniversary (CBE2111), the Calibre 11 Limited Edition (CBE2114), the United Arab Emirates Limited Edition (CBE2113), the Watches of Switzerland Limited Edition (CBE2115), the Harrods Limited Edition (CBE2116), the Hodinkee Exclusive 'Orange Boy' (CBE2117 and the US only 'Viceroy' Boutique Edition (CBE2118).
CBE2110.FC8226: Men's, black/silver dial, black insert, steel bezel and case, brown strap
CBE2111.BA0867: Men's, silver/black dial, black insert, steel bezel and case (JH85 S/E)
CBE2114.EB****: Men's, white/black dial, steel case, bracelet/strap (L/E 100pcs)
CBE2118.FC8246: Men's, black/silver dial, steel case, black strap (Boutique Edition)
CBE2117.BA0687: Men's, black/white dial, steel case and bracelet (Hodinkee S/E)
CBE2115.BA0687: Men's, blue/silver dial, steel case and bracelet (L/E 150pcs)*
CBE2115.FC8226: Men's, blue/silver dial, steel case, brown strap (L/E 150pcs)*
*CBE2115 (Total pieces 150, split between bracelet and strap is unknown)
WBE5110.EB0173: Men's, grey dial, black ceramic insert, steel case & bracelet (+NATO)
TAG Heuer Autavia Isograph 'Pilot' Watch (2019)
In 2019 TAG Heuer dropped a Baselworld bombshell, announcing an all new range of 'Pilot' style three handed watches featuring a carbon hairspring (and the TAG Heuer logo on the dial). The (steel) watches barely made it to market (the bronze pieces didn't make it at all) before the whole lot were recalled due to problems with the integration of the hairspring into the Calibre 5 movement.
WBE5110.FC8266: Men's, grey dial, black ceramic insert, steel case, brown leather strap
WBE5111.FC8267: Men's, smokey grey dial, steel bezel and case, tan leather strap
WBE5112.FC8266: Men's, blue dial, blue ceramic insert, steel case, brown leather strap
WBE5191.FC8276: Men's, brown dial, brown ceramic insert, bronze case, brown strap
WBE5114.EB0173: Men's, grey dial, black ceramic insert, steel case & bracelet (+NATO)
TAG Heuer Autavia 'COSC' Calibre 5 'Pilot' Watch (2019-)
The watches re-appeared much later in the year (possibly as late as January 2020) now sporting a COSC certified movement but with a conventional hairspring. During the recall it was decided to remove the WBE5111 from the line-up and since the blue and dark grey watches had actually been sold to the public in their 'Isograph' configuration the new models were renumbered. Again the bronze watches lagged behind, but eventually emerged (with their original numbers intact).
Both steel models were supplied on a choice of leather straps or steel bracelets, with the bracelet option also including a colour coded NATO as a bonus.
At the start of 2020 TAG Heuer announced a special 'Year of the Rat' watch featuring a red dial in a bronze case. This had a special backplate and also a Chinese character on the dial replacing the '1'. This was followed by a 'regular' version of the red dial, bronze case Autavia in March.
WBE5114.FC8266: Men's, grey dial, black ceramic insert, steel case, brown leather strap
WBE5116.EB0173: Men's, blue dial, blue ceramic insert, steel case & bracelet (+NATO)
WBE5116.FC8266: Men's, blue dial, blue ceramic insert, steel case, brown strap
WBE5190.FC8268: Men's, green dial, black ceramic insert, bronze case, green strap
WBE5191.FC8276: Men's, brown dial, brown ceramic insert, bronze case, brown strap
WBE5192.FC8300: Men's, red dial, black ceramic insert, bronze case, red leather strap
CBE511C.FC8280: Men's, black dial, black ceramic insert, PVD steel case, black strap
TAG Heuer Autavia Flyback Chronograph and GMT (2022-)
In January 2022, after much speculation and delay, TAG Heuer finally launched the long awaited flyback chronograph '60th Anniversary' models in black and silver dial options. Alongside this they issued a blue dial Autavia GMT with a blue/black ceramic bezel.
CBE511B.FC8279: Men's, silver/black dial, black insert, Steel case, black leather strap
WBE511A.BA0650: Men's, blue dial, blue/black ceramic insert, steel case and bracelet
In 2023, TAG Heuer added a black dial, steel case version of the flyback.
Please visit the 'History' index page by clicking the link below:
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