TAG Heuer Autavia Isograph: Malaysia Price And Review

Ditulis oleh: Leong Wong Dicipta: 23 Julai 2019

TAG Heuer brings a 1960s heritage piece up to date for 2019.

TAG Heuer didn’t christen its new standalone collection, the Autavia, because it rolls off the tongue; it has actually been a part of the company’s timekeeping history for almost a century. With a name that’s a portmanteau of ‘automobile’ and ‘aviation’, it should come as no surprise to discover that the Autavia first appeared in the brand universe in 1933 as a dashboard instrument for racing cars and aircraft.

However, it is from another era that this new pillar’s debut collection takes its design cues: The 1960s, when the brand started making Autavia watches. From the rounded, first-generation case and bevelled lugs to the cockpit-inspired aesthetics, there are archival references aplenty to keep TAG Heuer fans happy.

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Unveiled at Baselworld earlier this year, the collection’s seven references—five 42mm stainless steel timepieces and two with the same dimensions in bronze—are all basic three-hand models.

Each one has a bi-directional rotating bezel with a 60-minute scale in coloured ceramic or stainless steel. It borders a smoked dial in a complementary colour that’s decorated with Super-LumiNova-coated Arabic numeral hour markers and indexes, and rhodium-plated sword hands.

One of the most distinctive features is the oversized crown with two-tiered fluted design, which is a nice, nostalgic nod to the Autavia’s aviation pedigree. Another plus-point is the easily interchangeable leather/NATO strap and stainless-steel bracelet. Simply engage the push buttons on the underside of the case—et voilà!

That being said, the Autavia collection is more than just good looks. Its real highlight took an army of mathematicians, physicists and chemists to develop and gives every model in the collection Isograph distinction: The automatic Calibre 5’s cutting-edge carbon-composite hairspring.

Lightweight and low-density, it is gravity-distortion and shock-proof, making it also anti-magnetic. The hairspring’s geometry improves precision, while its placement on an aluminium alloy balance wheel ensures optimal thermal behaviour and aeroelasticity.

If you’re looking for a new timepiece with an old soul, you can’t go wrong with an Autavia. Functionality, reliability and timeless style are practically guaranteed; the only thing not assured is that it’ll make you look as ruggedly handsome as Patrick ‘McDreamy’ Dempsey does in the publicity shots.