Welcome to our new luxxee magazine weekly wrap-up, where we bring you fresh news about what's going on in the watch world
TAG Heuer Autavia Chronometer Flyback
The TAG Heuer Autavia is a watch immersed in automotive and aviation history. The original Autavia was developed as a dashboard timer for aviation and automobiles, thus providing the collection with its name (AUTomotive & AVIAtion.) The Autavia is one of the most prestigious watches ever made, found on the wrists of pilots and racing drivers; one noted driver is Mario Andretti. The Autavia ref. 3646 are nicknamed “Andrettis” for that reason.
Released as a wristwatch in the 1960s, the Autavia is an iconic chronograph with an iconic design. In 2022, TAG Heuer decided to return to the original design with a modern twist, thus releasing the Autavia Chronometer Flyback chronograph watch. This new chrono is TAG Heuer doing what they do best and creating a watch that’s a blast from the past that fits in with modern watchmaking traditions.
The new Autavia Chronometer Flyback chronograph features a 42mm DLC coated case, TAG Heuer in-house calibre 02 Flyback movement and bold numerals on the dial, which are covered with bright white Superluminova, creating a perfect contrast against the blacked-out aesthetic. TAG Heuer took the time to create a modern version of a vintage classic, and they did a fantastic job.
Is the automotive industry entering its quartz era?
We’re going to stay in the automotive lane for a moment. If you are passionate about the automotive industry, you’ve heard that fuel-emission vehicles won’t be produced after 2030. The reasoning is to focus on “clean” energy with electric-powered cars. Digital is taking over, and mechanical will be taking an impact. That sounds very familiar.
In the 1970s, the Swiss watch industry dealt with the rise of the quartz movement, with the Japanese watch brand Seiko leading the charge. A battery-powered movement that required minimal maintenance and was far more convenient than the typical mechanical watch. The Swiss watch industry would attempt to create their Quartz equivalent, the Beta 21, but couldn’t keep up with the dominance of Seiko’s technological efforts and advancements.
Quartz would dominate the 1970s and 1980s when mechanical wristwatches would rise again due to hobbyists and celebrity endorsement of the almost derelict technology. If we fast forward 30 years into the future, there is a similarity between mechanical watches and gas-powered cars. Gas-powered vehicles with mechanical engines are beginning to feel a similar squeeze from electric cars to what Swiss mechanical timepieces felt in the quartz/digital era.
With classic or vintage cars, there is craftsmanship and a level of pride in each one. With consumerism and mass production, the modern automotive era is less quality-driven and more quantity. More technology, more electronic components, and more computers lead to an electronic motor in the next ten years - the automotive quartz era. In comparing the two, the electric car could be a fad for the next 20 years, seeing a return in gas-powered engines and vintage-styled vehicles, a similar take on what we’ve seen with timepieces. Is it a stretch? Maybe. A level of nostalgia always carries things from the past into the future, and some things stay.
Longines Master Collection 190th Anniversary
A brand that wears its heritage on its sleeve, Longines has announced a new release celebrating the brand’s 190th anniversary in their latest additions to their Master Collection. The Longines Master Collection has featured moon phases, chronographs and annual calendars. The newest piece for their 190th anniversary returns to a classic style with a beautiful three-hand dress watch.
The watch is the embodiment of vintage, Swiss luxury and styling. Featuring a 40mm slim case available in 3 material choices (18k gold, 18k rose gold and stainless steel), textured dial and Breguet-styled numerals, the 190th-anniversary edition is everything I love in a dress watch. A fantastic job by Longines watches to stay within the styling of the past. I tend to notice when a brand reaches into their archives and creates a re-issue, they tend to add unnecessary complications or changes, but Longines stayed in their lane and created something truly stunning.
Turning our focus to the back of the watch, greeted with the sight of a sapphire case back, the ETA A31.11. A movement found in many pieces across the Longines catalogue; the A31.11 has a 72-hour power reserve, the main plate decorated in Côtes de Genève stripes and perlage, and a rotor that features a cutout the same shape as the Longines wings. Surrounding the sapphire crystal is the Master Collection engraving and 190th Anniversary. The gold and rose gold editions are limited to 190 pieces, while the stainless steel will be a mass production model. While prices for any of these are not yet available in North America, the steel version will sell for EUR 2,300; the limited edition gold and rose gold don’t have a set price at the time of this article.
The Social Corner: @thedansome
It’s that time again to talk about some great timepiece content I’ve seen on social media. This week I’m featuring one of the most incredible guys I know. I’m talking about the one, the only, Dan Mann (@thedansome). His watch photography is fantastic, his passion for watches and golf knows no bounds, and he’s an amazing guy I’m lucky to call a friend—one of my mentors in the space.
If you check out Dan’s Instagram, you’ll find gorgeous golf photos, watch photos, and he has a badass approach to wristwatch and sports photography. Dan wears his passions on his sleeve (quite literally), and his content is fantastic.
Thank you for reading luxxee's weekly wrap-up and don't forget to come back next week to see what’s happening in the watch world!
