TAG Heuer is more closely associated with motorsport than almost any other well-known watch brand. Founded in 1860 by Edouard Heuer under the original name “Heuer,” the brand has since made a name for itself by developing precise stopwatches and chronographs. As early as the start of the 20th century, the brand’s range was expanded to include on-board instruments for cars and aircraft, establishing Heuer as a specialist for reliable timekeeping in motorsport and aviation. In the 1960s, Heuer presented its most successful collections to date exclusively for racing. Edouard Heuer’s grandson, Jack Heuer, was in charge of design and development at the time. Under his leadership, legendary chronograph lines like the Carrera, Autavia, Monza, and Monaco were created. The name of the watches already makes it clear where they feel most at home – as timekeepers on the world’s most famous racetracks. Over the course of its long history, TAG Heuer has established itself as an innovative player in the watch industry and has maintained that position to this day. The manufacturer from La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, often integrates materials that are found in racing or the aerospace industry into its watch models. In this article, I’ll introduce you to three modern chronographs from TAG Heuer that bear great names and continue the legacy of their iconic predecessors with the latest technology.
TAG Heuer Autavia CBE2110
The name Autavia is derived from the words “AUTomobile” and “AVIAtion.” Back in the early 1930s, the chronograph was used as an on-board clock in the dashboards of racing cars and airplanes. In 1962, Jack Heuer further refined the model and launched it as a wristwatch. Formula 1 racing drivers were particularly enthusiastic about the sporty chronograph. The reverse panda dial and its bi- or tricompax look is typical of many Autavia variants. The Autavia ref. CBE2110, which was presented in 2017 after a long production stop, also has that design. The watch pays homage to the Autavia ref. 2446 introduced in 1966, which was the watch of choice for racing legend Jochen Rindt. The watch is also special in that its design was determined by watch fans, who voted on the look of reference 2446 in an online poll. Unlike the 1960s original, which had a case diameter of only 38 mm, the new interpretation measures 42 mm across. The case itself is fully polished, giving the watch an eye-catching but not overly bulky presence on the wrist. The white subdials are located at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, which is typical of the Autavia “Jochen Rindt.” While the original model did not have a date, the CBE2110 has a date display discreetly integrated into the subdial at the 6 o’clock position. Applied indices serve as hour markers, with dark vintage-style Super-LumiNova at the ends. With a water resistance of 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft), you can also take the Autavia with you for a swim. The watch is equipped with the in-house caliber Heuer 02, which was newly developed in 2017. The movement offers a power reserve of 80 hours and is visible through a display case back made of sapphire crystal. An unworn Autavia CBE2110 on a stainless steel bracelet in the “Beads of Rice” style changes hands on Chrono24 for roughly $4,700. On a leather strap, the watch costs around $100 less.
TAG Heuer Carrera CBS2216
The TAG Heuer Carrera has been a watch world classic since its launch in 1963. Designed by Jack Heuer, the chronograph is distinguished by its precision and highly legible dial. The timepiece takes its name from the legendary Carrera Panamericana rally, which has been held on Mexican roads since the 1950s. The Carrera watch has evolved over the years and is now a versatile collection. TAG Heuer presented the Carrera Chronograph Panda ref. CBS2216 at Watches and Wonders 2024. The design of this model is reminiscent of the Carrera 7753SN that the manufacturer introduced in the 1960s. The “glass box” construction of the 39-mm watch is new and innovative. In this case, the crystal extends over the entire case, with the domed tachymeter scale located on the edge of the dial under the glass. With a water resistance of 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft), the Carrera is ideal for almost all everyday situations. The silver-colored dial has three subdials, with the two at 3 and 9 o’clock being black. At first glance, you’ll see a bicompax design – an optical illusion, because a small seconds hand rotates against a silver background at 6 o’clock. TAG Heuer has discreetly integrated the date below the second hand. Colorful accents are provided by the red hands of the subdials at 3 and 9 o’clock. The watch is powered by the in-house caliber TH20-00, which is built on the Heuer 02 and also has a power reserve of 80 hours. You can view the movement through the sapphire crystal case back. The price for a mint-condition example on a three-link stainless steel bracelet will set you back about $5,400 on Chrono24.
Monza Flyback Chronometer CR5090.FN6001
The third and final TAG Heuer in this short list is a true underdog. The Monza model is generally overshadowed by the great icons Autavia and Carrera, but offers the same quality and corresponding functions. The Monza is characterized by its cushion-shaped case, which sets it apart from the brand’s other models. TAG Heuer presented the Monza in 1976, the result of a collaboration between TAG Heuer and Scuderia Ferrari. The watch was designed as a tribute to Niki Lauda’s world championship title in 1975, which he won with the Ferrari team. Like the brand’s other sports chronographs, the Monza is intended to appeal to watch enthusiasts and motorsport fans who value sporty design combined with high functionality. A very special variant is the Monza Special Edition with the reference number CR5090.FN6001, which TAG Heuer presented in 2023. In contrast to the classic stainless steel versions of the Monza, the 42-mm case and the bezel of this watch are made of carbon. The dial of this watch is particularly striking, with a skeletonized look, blue indices and subdials, and a stop-seconds hand in the same color. Red accents, as on the hands of the subdials, round out the design. The dial layout is a little unusual, but typical of the Monza. The subdials are located at 3 and 6 o’clock, while the date is at the 9 o’clock position. Inside the watch ticks the automatic in-house caliber TH20-12 with a flyback function. The movement has a power reserve of 80 hours and is largely visible through the skeletonized dial and sapphire crystal case back. A black synthetic strap with blue decorative stitching holds this special Monza securely on the wrist. Plan on spending approximately $12,000 for an unworn specimen on Chrono24.
