The Reason

The Autavia Ref. 2446 with Mark Three dial, originally designed in 1966 and worn by Formula 1 champion Jochen Rindt.

The new Autavia is a three-register automatic chronograph. The first watch to carry (in 2017) TAG Heuer’s new “Heuer 02” movement, the dial uses a tri-compax layout, with the chronograph hour recorder at 9 o’clock and the minute recorder at 3 o’clock, with constant seconds and the date at 6 o’clock. The Heuer 02 beats at 28,800 VPH, and has a 80 hour power reserve.

The screwed on case back removed

The rotor removed revealing the complete calibre / the rotor with ball race / close up of minute conter

A close up of the balance construction

Dimensions across the dial is 42 mm; thickness is 15.9 mm; lug-to-lug is 51.3 mm; 21 mm between-the-lugs (width of strap) Water resistant to 100 meters Black aluminum bezel, marked for 12 hours, bidirectional rotation, with 60 clicks per rotation Domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment Case-back is screw-back design, with sapphire crystal, marked “Autavia”, “Swiss Made Since 1860” and “Automatic 100 Meters” Knurled crown, with Heuer shield Polished steel pushers at two o’clock (start / stop) and four o’clock (reset)

Internal ring, set into case back holding movement in place

Movement ring, sitting between mvt and case

Time and chronograph hands

Frequency 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 hertz) 80-hour power reserve 168 components / 33 jewels Construction column-wheel; circular oscillating rotor; vertical clutch Dimensions: diameter is 31.0 mm; height is 6.9 mm

Under dial mechanism, with calendar ring.

This calibre is more engineered than conventional watchmaking. Below you see a shim used as a means to add thickness to the balance cock, also the second hole in the cock in elongated, both techniques lean towards engineering rather than conventional watchmaking. Throughout the calibre there are multiple engineering executions of elements which are conventionally made differently in chronographs. The approach is congruent with the Tag approach to watchmaking as a technical instrument.