The Autavia was the first watch released under Jack Heuer’s care of the Heuer company. The TAG Heuer Autavia Jack Heuer Edition is an icon of Heuer and motor racing history. When I put this watch on, I feel a bit of that nostalgia and heritage. It just makes me want to go for a drive or time something flying around a race track.

The TAG Heuer Autavia Jack Heuer Edition is heavily influenced by the original design from the sixties and Jack himself was involved in the development of this watch commemorating his 85th birthday. This was a limited production watch of 1932 pieces. Why 1932, well that was the year of Jack’s birth.

The TAG Heuer Autavia Jack Heuer Edition features Tag Heuer’s new in-house H02 movement equipped with a vertical clutch, column wheel and 80 hours of power reserve. It is a vintage inspired watch with a modern movement and components. The bracelet also harkens back to the Gay Feres beads of rice bracelets made famous in the sixties but with today’s robust and modern build quality. The fine grains add a bit more character, interest and finesse to the look of the bracelet. The size of the links and fine adjustment points on the clasp make the bracelet easy to find just the right fit and enhance the comfort.

The three-register panda dial has a dynamic silver sunburst finish that seems to have just a touch of champagne color in the right light. The finely polished hands and indices reflect light and make it easy to tell time in low and well-lit circumstances. There is a good amount of lume for low light reference as well. The black registers and crisp white numerals make for easy reading of elapsed time and running seconds. The date window is perfectly hidden and placed in the lower sub register. The Autavia bezel is extra versatile containing a sixty click bi-directional bezel with both minute timing ability and 12-hour GMT tracking.

Some may look at the specs and write the watch off as too big but the case design helps the watch wear thinner than it is. The case back fits right into the top of the wrist and the downturned lugs help wrap it around the wrist. The way the case back, mid and bezel are split help shrink the size of the watch. For a reference it wears just slightly bigger than my super case Submariner.

I really enjoy the TAG Heuer Autavia Jack Heuer Edition. When I feel in the mood for a statement watch on the wrist, its my go to piece in my collection. The polished surfaces, distinct dial and faceted indices and bracelet make it hard to go unnoticed. Is it a one watch collection, for some maybe. If you have a few different pieces in a collection and missing a statement piece or chronograph, I would recommend it. In comparison to the more praised and popular Black Bay chrono or Navitimer, I think the history and styling of this watch beat both out.