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Lot Essay
The present watch is one of only a small number of silver Autavia dials known to the Heuer collecting community. In fact, less than 10 of these dial configurations are known, including one that remains preserved in the collection of TAG Heuer.
Hunted with extreme interest by collectors and considered by some to be the most beautiful Heuer dials ever made, the exact story of the origin of these silver Autavia dials is unknown and has generated significant interest from experts and collectors. In fact, the silver Autavia dial owned by TAG Heuer generated tremendous excitement when revealed to a group of devoted Heuer collectors in 2013.
While some of these silver Autavia dials have been added to watches in recent years, the present watch recently emerged to the market with the possibility it was in this configuration since the 1970s, and perhaps even was originally in this configuration when first leaving the Heuer Headquarters. Given that the Heuer register of completed watches was lost following the company’s acquisition by TAG, we may never know the exact story behind this watch.
The son of the original owner, who had purchased this along with other chronographs in the 1970s, recently sold the watch. The watch has an unusual configuration of a tachymeter bezel that was placed on Orvis Solunagraphs made by Heuer, steel hands with red paint that could have come from an Autavia GMT in the “compressor” case, and steel register hands.
This Autavia has a large “compressor” case and combined with the striking silver dial, it conveys remarkable beauty and aesthetic power. It is also powered by the legendary Valjoux 72 movement.
Hunted with extreme interest by collectors and considered by some to be the most beautiful Heuer dials ever made, the exact story of the origin of these silver Autavia dials is unknown and has generated significant interest from experts and collectors. In fact, the silver Autavia dial owned by TAG Heuer generated tremendous excitement when revealed to a group of devoted Heuer collectors in 2013.
While some of these silver Autavia dials have been added to watches in recent years, the present watch recently emerged to the market with the possibility it was in this configuration since the 1970s, and perhaps even was originally in this configuration when first leaving the Heuer Headquarters. Given that the Heuer register of completed watches was lost following the company’s acquisition by TAG, we may never know the exact story behind this watch.
The son of the original owner, who had purchased this along with other chronographs in the 1970s, recently sold the watch. The watch has an unusual configuration of a tachymeter bezel that was placed on Orvis Solunagraphs made by Heuer, steel hands with red paint that could have come from an Autavia GMT in the “compressor” case, and steel register hands.
This Autavia has a large “compressor” case and combined with the striking silver dial, it conveys remarkable beauty and aesthetic power. It is also powered by the legendary Valjoux 72 movement.