Weekly Watch Photo – TAG Heuer Autavia

25/08/2013 | By Frank Geelen | 2 min read |

Some years ago – in a period when TAG Heuer had advertisements with celebrities who know how to strap a watch on their wrist instead of holding them in their hands – they had a “Classics” collection comprising a variety of re-issues of important watches from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Today our Weekly Watch Photo is dedicated to one of these watches, which is also one of my all time favorites… the TAG Heuer Autavia.

The Classics collection featured the first re-issues of the Monaco, but also featured the Monza (and the gorgeous Monza Calibre 36 with an El Primero movement), several Carrera models and the Autavia was the last model to become part of this collection. The first years these models came out with just “Heuer” on the dial, later “TAG” and the new logo were added. My first expensive watch was a vintage (and by that I mean it’s from the 1970’s and not a re-issue that is a few years old) Autavia, a rare one with a decompression bezel. The photos we show you today feature Miguel Seabra’s TAG Heuer Autavia watches, both the Siffert and the Orange Boy.

Siffert and Orange Boy are nicknames for both watches of course. Siffert refers to a vintage Heuer Autavia with a white dial, black chronograph sub dials and some blue accents on the dial that was worn by legendary Swiss racing driver Jo Siffert. Hence the white dial and black sub dials version is the Siffert; the one with black dial and orange accents is the Orange Boy.

Miguel Seabra, a befriended watch journalist who also covers tennis for Eurosport TV (you can follow him on Facebook here), made all these photos with his iPhone and Instagram app. As you can see, he loves NATO strap and therefore wears most of his watches on variety of these straps. Seeing these photos bring back my love for this beautiful TAG Heuer Autavia re-issue and tickle the desire to own one (once again).

Whenever I meet Miguel at a watch fair or an event organized by a brand, Miguel is taking wrist shots. Always! But as you can see his practice has paid off and his photos are piece of art. I hope you will enjoy Miguel’s photos. Miguel… thanks for letting us use them!