ON THE WRIST: TAG Heuer Autavia 60th Anniversary Heuer 02 Flyback Chronograph

 
CBE511C.FC8280

TAG Heuer Boutique / Beaverbrooks, Milton Keynes, 5th March 2022

I'll be the first to admit that when this TAG Heuer Autavia 60th Anniversary Flyback Chronograph was announced at the start of the year it didn't exactly get me hot under the collar. I mean I liked it, but I can't honestly say that it 'excited' me to any great degree. In fact if anything it rather confused me because I had thought the Autavia chronograph was a thing of the past and the model was now firmly established as a three handed 'Pilot' watch. Bringing back the Autavia chronograph once again seemed like muddying waters that were just starting to clear, no?

But having now had the opportunity to see the CBE511C in person and also to get it around my wrist, I can honestly say that this might just be my favourite Autavia yet. Yes, at last there is an Autavia (and a readily available, production model at that) which can take the fight to the Calibre 11 limited edition and finally put to bed my regret at not buying one of those back in 2017.

One criticism that was levelled at this when it came out was that it was too thick (well I don't know about you, but I never tire of hearing that...), but honestly it really didn't strike me as a chunky, thick watch when I tried it on. This could be in part because the watch has a black PVD coating on the steel case which always helps to 'shrink' a watch, but I certainly wouldn't put this in the same league thickness wise as my titanium CV2A80 Carrera Calibre 16 even if the tape measure says otherwise.

I will say I'm not crazy keen on the pushers and for sure the crown could happily be a bit smaller, but even pulled out as it was (see picture above, taken in the boutique) it was not remotely in the way or troublesome.

On release the ceramic bezel was also negatively highlighted for it's overly polished appearance, but it really didn't bother me. I get that some will say that a watch so obviously inspired by the Heuer Bundeswehr should not be so shiny, but this is an expensive, luxury product and I think the majority of potential purchasers will appreciate this detail regardless.

My photograph gives the impression of a monotone watch, but this is wholly inaccurate; the green is very visible whatever the light level and I think it looks fantastic. I've always been a sucker for a green and black watch and nearly bought the green and black Calibre 16 Aquaracer multiple times from Bicester Village, so this is a major plus point for me.

The large white lumed hands and Arabic numerals make this watch super legible too and it kind of reminds me of the TAG Heuer Carrera Drive Timer (which I also really like), such is the degree of 'at a glance' readability.

I got a chance to try the quick release system on the strap and I have to say it works really well. It's tricky enough that you won't activate it by accident and lose your watch, but simple enough that when you want to take the strap off it's a doddle. I still don't quite see the point because all the other straps and bracelets that are technically 'available' at the current time for this watch are aesthetically unsuitable... but I guess as more straps are added in the future perhaps this feature will become more useful.

The red backing to the strap is nice, but it would have been cool if TAG Heuer had given the watch a mint green liner to match the lume as there is no red on the front of the watch. Having said that the movement/rotor does have some red highlights so it makes sense from that point of view.

In conclusion, this was quite easily my favourite of the four watches I tried on that day (the new 40mm Aquaracer post will be along soon), but unfortunately at £5800 it's not something I will be adding to my collection any time soon. But I really was pleasantly surprised by this one and it definitely doesn't wear as big as the specs suggest, so I would try it on if you can before discounting it on measurements alone.

Autavia CBE511C Flyback Chronograph on the Beaverbrooks website:

https://www.beaverbrooks.co.uk/0128917/TAG-Heuer-Autavia-Chronometer-Flyback-Black-Automatic-Mens-Watch/p?text=cbe511c